Eze's wizardry against his old club stokes Arsenal's irresistible momentum

It had to be him.

- Sam Dalling

It could only be him, really. Eberechi Eze would not have wished his first Premier League goal for Arsenal to come against Crystal Palace. Somewhat because they are his former employer, a club he holds dear. But, frankly, more so that it has taken a while to arrive.

However, Eze's timing was impeccable. With Liverpool's fourth consecutive league defeat coming at Brentford on Saturday night, Arsenal were presented an opening. Opportunities such as this simply must not be missed if a first league title since 2003-04 is to be won. There was a gap to be extended.

After his team had spent nearly an entire half offering up stodgy bread pudding when light and fluffy meringue was required, Eze provided the momentary magic for which Mikel Arteta et al longed.

Both feet off the ground, with the ball not quite settled, the 27-year-old adjusted and struck a first-time shot that whipped the home crowd into delight. Three times the stadium announcer bellowed into the north London air: “Eberechi!” Three times the call was met with a loud response. One-nil to the Arsenal. The watching George Graham purred.

And so, nine games in, Arteta is in the unusual and unexpected position of glancing into his wing mirror and catching flashes of Bournemouth and Sunderland. Yes, you read that right. More pertinently, despite defeat in August at Anfield, one in which Arteta was criticised for driving with both handbrake and steering lock on, Liverpool are seven chevrons back and Manchester City are only a point closer.