ARSENAL nervously edged their way back to the top of the table with a crucial 1-0 win over Newcastle.
The Gunners climbed back on top of the tree after Ebere Eze fired home a sensational first-half goal from distance.
Arsenal returned to the top of the Premier League table with a 1-0 win over Newcastle Credit: Reuters
However, their victory will be marred by two huge injury blows ahead of their title run-in.
Both and Eze were withdrawn with injured throughout the game, leaving sweating.
will now have to hope their two stars will be fit enough to return with the title still alive and four games left to play.
Here’s how SunSport Arsenal Reporter Joshua Hall rated each individual performance…
DAVID RAYA – 7
Made a crucial low stop to prevent ‘s distance effort from levelling the scores on the 30 minute mark.
His high claims helped calm Arsenal down defensively on more than one occasion, too.
BEN WHITE – 6
Arsenal are a better team when Jurrien Timber plays at right-back, there’s no doubt about it.
But White is doing an ample job of filling the gaps until the Dutchman is back. Nothing special, but nothing terrible.
Ben White did well as stand-in at right-back again Credit: Getty
WILLIAM SALIBA – 7
Nothing outstanding about the Frenchman’s performance, but another solid performance.
His calmness is evident and helps to avoid unnecessary anxiety at times.
GABRIEL MAGALHAES – 7
Like Saliba, Gabriel was solid enough to help Arsenal see out this game.
Even when he isn’t pulling off his last-ditch tackles and blocks, he is still very impressive.
PIERO HINCAPIE – 8
A really good showing from the Ecuadorian, who was really the only Arsenal defender to offer threat going forward and be solid defensively.
Hincapie has settled into Arteta’s side really well in the second half of the season and you would expect him to keep his place in the starting XI even when returns.
He fought until the last second to ensure Arsenal took all three points and returned to the top of the tree.
MARTIN ZUBIMENDI – 8
For the most part this was a really good defensive performance from Zubimendi.
He was crucial in breaking up Newcastle’s attacks in the middle of the park.
However, there were a few nervy moments including when he gave up the ball cheaply in his own half to allow Bruno Guimaraes a golden opportunity which he blasted over.
Martin Zubimendi was impressive defensively Credit: Getty
DECLAN RICE – 6
An unusually quiet performance from a player who is usually doing a bit of everything for this Arsenal team.
It was the same against Man City last weekend, but perhaps the tiredness is finally catching up with him.
MARTIN ODEGAARD – 7
It took the Arsenal captain a little while to settle into this game, making some poor decisions and dallying on the ball in the opening exhanges.
But once he found his rhythm, Odegaard was able to knits together defence and attack in his usual invaluable way.
He should have done more to find Gyokeres in the second half, but his sharpness wil surely return over the coming days and weeks.
EBERECHI EZE – 8
Some really bright moments playing from the left flank and an absolutely sensational finish to put Arsenal 1-0 up.
He was Arsenal’s brightest attacking spark when he was on the pitch, but had to be forced off with injury after just 52 minutes.
Eberechi Eze put Arsenal in front with a superb finish inside 10 minutes Credit: AFP
NONI MADUEKE – 4
Arsenal fans appear to be running out of patience with Madueke, who can be such a frustrating player to watch at times.
It’s clear that he has bag of ability, but a lack of end product and a tendency to hold on to the ball for too long so often lets him down.
KAI HAVERTZ – 7
Arsenal’s goal does not come about if is in Kai Havertz’s shoes.
Havertz is so much more technically sound than the Swede and made it look like he had an age to get the ball under control and lay it off to Eze.
Unfortunately, he was forced off after just over half an hour with an injury an replaced by Gyokeres.
That could be a huge injury blow in this title race for the Gunners.
Kai Havertz was forced off in the first half with an injury Credit: Getty
SUBSTITUTES
VIKTOR GYOKERES (for Havertz, 34min) – 4
As soon as he came on the drop-off in Arsenal’s attacking threat was obvious.
Gyokeres may be a brilliant finisher, but the other aspects of his game just come nowhere close to Havertz.
His substitution was met by a mixture of cheers of encouragement and genuine resignation from the home support.
One positive was his lung-busting run to close down Sandro Tonali after following his own booted clearance up the other end of the pitch.
Viktor Gyokeres’ intorduction disrupted Arsenal’s attacking rhythm Credit: PA
GABRIEL MARTINELLI (for Eze, 53min) – 5
Didn’t offer much going forward at all, other than a speculative overhead kick out of nothing from a corner.
MYLES LEWIS SKELLY (for Zubimendi, 80min) – N/A
Played in midfield for the first time and looked comfortable doing so.
BUKAYO SAKA (for Madueke, 80min) – N/A
A huge cheer for the the winger, who returned to action for the first time since the final.
His first action was dragging Arsenal forward and getting a shot away.
A welcome return.
Bukayo Saka made his return from injury Credit: Shutterstock Editorial
Eze Chidiebere Paul
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