Arsenal Lead After Palace Win; City Stunned

Arsenal beat Crystal Palace 1-0 at the Emirates as Eberechi Eze volleyed home from a Declan Rice set-piece six minutes before half-time. The win extended Arsenal’s run, handed them a four-point lead at the top and was their fifth successive clean sheet — they have conceded just three times in 13 matches in all competitions. The victory was tempered by injuries to William Saliba and Declan Rice. Aston Villa beat Manchester City 1-0 at Villa Park through Matty Cash, ending Erling Haaland’s 12-game scoring run and exposing City’s lack of other regular Premier League scorers. Bournemouth’s 2-0 win over Nottingham Forest moved them into second, and slip-ups for Liverpool and Chelsea left Arsenal in a strong position but with injury concerns to monitor.