Arsenal
Tosin Ogunrinde
Arsenal reclaimed the top spot in the Premier League with a nervy 1-0 victory over Newcastle United at the Emirates Stadium on Saturday, April 25, 2026. The win ended a difficult run for Mikel Arteta’s side and put them three points clear of Manchester City, who have a game in hand.
Eberechi Eze produced the game’s only goal in the 9th minute. From a cleverly worked short corner, Kai Havertz laid the ball off to Eze on the edge of the box, and he curled a stunning right-footed strike into the top corner past Nick Pope. It was Arsenal’s 17th goal from a corner this season — a new Premier League record — but this one came from open-play variation rather than the usual aerial routine.
Despite the early lead, Arsenal were made to sweat. Newcastle grew into the game and had spells of possession, with Bruno Guimarães and Sandro Tonali testing the Gunners’ midfield. Yoane Wissa missed a glorious late chance to equalize when he blazed over from close range. Piero Hincapié led a disciplined defensive effort to keep Eddie Howe’s side out, but Arteta admitted it was “never going to be a path of roses” and that his team was “not efficient enough” to kill the game off.
The result takes Arsenal to 73 points from 34 games, three ahead of Manchester City on 70 points from 33 games. City had briefly gone top on goal difference after beating Burnley in midweek, ending Arsenal’s stay at the summit that had lasted since October. With both teams virtually level on goal difference, Declan Rice said Arsenal need “five wins from five” to take the title. Their run-in: Fulham, Burnley, West Ham, and Crystal Palace.
The win came at a cost. Both Kai Havertz and goalscorer Eze were forced off with injuries — Havertz in the 34th minute and Eze in the 53rd. Arteta confirmed Havertz “had a little niggle” and said the schedule is “crazy” with a Champions League semi-final first leg against Atletico Madrid coming Wednesday. Bukayo Saka returned from a month-long layoff, coming off the bench for the final 10 minutes.
For Eddie Howe, it was a fourth straight league defeat and Newcastle’s 13th loss in their last 14 visits to Arsenal. The Magpies remain 14th on 42 points, with pressure mounting. Howe said he “can’t be too critical” as it was a “much better performance” but rued missed chances.
Arsenal had won just one of their last six in all competitions before this, including back-to-back league losses to Bournemouth and Manchester City that saw a nine-point lead evaporate. Rice summed up the mood: “It was about winning no matter how we win”. The Gunners now head into the final month with the title race set to go down to the wire, while also balancing European commitments.
