ARSENAL'
Forget Saka: ‘Monumental’ Arsenal Man Improves ‘Every Premier League Team’ After Palace Win
Arsenal have gone four points clear at the top of the Premier League table following their 1-0 victory against Crystal Palace on Sunday. And Mikel Arteta’s side are benefitting from the performances of one individual in particular as they continue their title charge.
The London rivalry provided a stern test for the Gunners, with Oliver Glasner’s men making a stellar start to the 2025/26 season. But Arsenal continued to combine defensive solidity with attacking threat, as former Eagle Eberechi Eze lashed a loose ball home to score his first goal for the north Londoners since his £68m move from Selhurst Park.
Arsenal continued to push for a second goal, hitting the woodwork after half-time, all while locking their opponents out. It’s a combination of ruthlessness in front of goal and stubborn defence that has seen them become favourites for Premier League silverware this term, with rivals Liverpool and Manchester City dropping points early on.
Declan Rice Excellent Against Crystal Palace
Premier League – Arsenal v Crystal Palace – Emirates Stadium, London, Britain – October 26, 2025 Arsenal’s Declan Rice in action Action Images via Reuters/Paul Childs
One man who has played a part in Arsenal’s attacking and defensive setup has been Declan Rice. The England international has become the complete midfield package since arriving at the Emirates from West Ham United, with Arteta giving him the licence to get forward and create rather than simply sit in front of the defence and act as a shield.
That freedom has been expanded further following the signing of Martin Zubimendi from Real Sociedad. Rice has a goal and two assists in the league after nine matches so far, but it’s his all-round play that has impressed viewers so much. His range of passing is superb and his set-piece delivery makes him a huge threat from multiple areas on the pitch.
And the 26-year-old was up to his usual tricks against Palace. While he did not add to his goal or assist tally against the Eagles, he might well have done had Arsenal possessed more cutting edge. Rice played three key passes and racked up an expected assist total of 0.61, with him at his creative best. And it was his set-piece delivery which led to Eze’s all-important goal.
Check out Rice’s statistics against Crystal Palace below:
Declan Rice in Arsenal 1-0 Crystal Palace
Touches
72
Expected Goals
0.37
Expected Assists
0.61
Key Passes
3
Passing Accuracy
73%
Crosses (Accurate)
6 (2)
Tackles (won)
3 (2)
Interceptions
2
Clearances
1
It’s hard to deny that he is one of the best midfielders in the world at this point, and many Arsenal fans took to social media during the game express how delighted they were with his performance. One said, “Declan Rice has been monumental today,” a sentiment that was echoed by another fan, who wrote, “Declan Rice is soo good to watch.”
Others chose to highlight his consistent threat from set pieces, which has helped give the Gunners an extra edge in attack. “Nicolas Jover is an excellent set piece coach, no doubt,” one fan stated. “That said, every single Premier League team would score more goals if they had Declan Rice’s quality of delivery.” Someone else said, “We need to have a discussion on Declan Rice and his deliveries because not even David Beckham was this consistent.”
The only downside to Rice’s Sunday was his early withdrawal from the game, as he trudged off the pitch after seemingly picking up a knock. Arsenal fans will hope that Arteta’s substitution was only precautionary and that he’ll be fit enough to feature in their upcoming games against Brighton and Burnley next week.
ARSENAL'
Arsenal player ratings vs Wolves: That was lucky! TWO own goals give Gunners dramatic late win over Premier League strugglers as Viktor Gyokeres blanks again
Player ratings
Lucky Arsenal were let off the hook in dramatic style as they claimed a 2-1 win against Wolves thanks to two own goals from the Premier League’s basement boys, with Yerson Mosquera heading what proved to be the winner past his own keeper Sam Johnstone deep into stoppage time at the Emirates. Mikel Arteta’s league leaders looked to have dropped two costly points when Mateus Mane glanced a header past David Raya with just seconds remaining to cancel out Arsenal’s opener, which had come when Bukayo Saka’s inswinging corner had struck the far post and gone in off the back of the unfortunate Johnstone.
But they somehow found a way to claim a crucial victory moments later when Saka’s ball in from the right was flicked beyond the despairing Johnstone. It initially looked like substitute Gabriel Jesus, making his first Emirates appearance in just under a year, had got the decisive touch, but replays showed it was in fact Mosquera who got his head to the ball first and inadvertently deflected it into his own net.
It was a hugely fortunate moment for Arsenal, who were poor throughout, but they will take their bit of luck, with the win moving them five-points clear at the top of the table ahead of Manchester City, who play at Crystal Palace tomorrow.
GOAL rates Arsenal’s players from Emirates Stadium…
Goalkeeper & Defence
David Raya (6/10):
Made one comfortable save in the first half to deny Hee-Chan. Swept up well and looked set for a clean sheet before Mane’s late header.
Ben White (N/A):
Awful to see him limp of with a hamstring injury early on, just as he’d got himself back in the side.
Jurrien Timber (6/10):
Started off at centre-back, but ended up at right-back after White’s injury. Comfortable night’s work for the large part.
William Saliba (6/10):
Back in the side after injury and looked quite sharp. Not tested too much until those final seconds.
Piero Hincapie (7/10):
Started out at left-back but shifted back into the centre after White’s injury. Solid.
Getty Images Sport
Midfield
Martin Zubimendi (6/10):
Replaced in the second half, neat and tidy but unable to make the sort of impact he did in midweek.
Declan Rice (7/10):
Set piece delivery was unusually poor. Put it a disappointing corner early on which set the tone for a frustrating night. Not at his best, but still probably the best player on the pitch.
Eberechi Eze (5/10):
No real impact. Was often picking the ball up deep and never really looked like hurting Wolves.
Attack
Bukayo Saka (7/10):
Probably the pick of Arsenal’s attackers, but that’s no saying much. Put in one great ball in the first half that deserved better. It was his corner that led to the Johnstone own goal and his crossed that forced the eventual winner.
Viktor Gyokeres (5/10):
Just couldn’t get into the game. Improved a bit after half-time, but Arsenal need more from him. Had one nice moment just before being replaced when he fired just wide.
Gabriel Martinelli (5/10):
His best moment came seconds before he went off when he drove into the box and curled an effort wide. Disappointing.
Subs & Manager
Myles Lewis-Skelly (6/10):
Replaced the injured Ben White in the first half. Decent enough showing. Looked to get forward when he could.
Martin Odegaard (6/10):
Added a bit more energy, but is passing was a bit off.
Leandro Trossard (7/10):
Certainly improved Arsenal down the left flank.
Mikel Merino (6/10):
Used the ball well having come on in midfield.
Gabriel Jesus (7/10):
On for the final 10 minutes. Got a great reception on his first Emirates appearance in nearly a year and was really lively. Not credited with the winner, but made a difference.
Mikel Arteta (6/10):
Made five changes, but would have been hoping for far more from his side. In hindsight, starting White for the fourth time in a row did not look like a great decision.
Arsenal 2-1 Wolves
FT: Arsenal get away with it!FREE match highligts HERE📺📺📺👇👇👇
Watch Premier League goals and highlights
In stoppage time it looked like Wolves had grabbed a hard-fought point.
It looked like Man City would have the chance to go top.
But a SECOND own goal of the game from the visitors brought Arsenal the precious three points.
Top vs bottom? Never assume it’s going to be straight forward!
Arsenal go five points clear at the top of the table. Wolves remain on two.
GOAL! Arsenal 2-1 Wolves (Mosquera, 90+4)
ARSENAL STRIKE BACK!
Saka’s cross is directed in!
At first it looks like Jesus on his Emirates comeback but replays suggest it’s gone in off Mosquera!
TWO Wolves own goals!
Arsenal go five points clear
Arsenal extend their lead at the top of the Premier League to five points despite struggling against winless Wolves.
Mikel Arteta’s side triumph thanks to two own goals.
First Half: Arsenal 0-0 Wolves
📺📺STREAMING LIVE HERE 👇👇👇👇
Arsenal aiming to go five points clear | Teams
FREE highlights after FT! 🚨 | ALL PL Highlights ▶️
Live PL table | Sky Bet | Latest: Arsenal | Wolves
IRISH CUSTOMERS: Stream this game contract-free on NOW 📺
Commentary by Peter Smith, Nick Wright & Gary Cotterill at Emirates Stadium
Wolves team news
Team to play Arsenal: Johnstone, Doherty, Mosquera, Agbadou, Toti, Wolfe, Krejci, Andre, J. Gomes, Hwang, Strand Larsen.
Subs: Sa, Bueno, Arias, Arokodare, Chirewa, Hoever, Lopez, Mane, Tchatchoua.
Arsenal team news
Team to play Wolves: Raya, White, Saliba, Timber, Hincapie, Zubimendi, Rice, Eze, Saka, Martinelli, Gyokeres.
Subs: Kepa, Odegaard, Jesus, Norgaard, Trossard, Madueke, Nwaneri, Merino, Lewis-Skelly.
-
Featured3 months agoVAR AND REFEREE ERROR Why Manchester United goal stood despite head injury to Liverpool star Alexis Mac Allister
-
ARSENAL'3 months agoArsenal’s next five fixtures compared to Liverpool and Man City after Crystal Palace win
-
Liverpool3 months agoPremier League explains two controversial Liverpool penalty decisions as referee replaced
-
ARSENAL INJURY UPDATE2 months agoGabriel Jesus training footage sends clear message to Mikel Arteta ahead of Tottenham clash
-
Featured2 months agocentre-backs available THIS SUMMER for Liverpool FC
-
Arsenal predicted XI3 months agoFulham 0-1 Arsenal 69: NO PENALTY! Finally the decision is made. Anthony Taylor steps away from the screen and announces that Kevin played the ball. It seemed pretty clear but it took an age to get there.
-
Liverpool3 months agoGOAL! Brentford 2-1 Liverpool | Kerkez ’45+5
-
Arsenal predicted XI3 months agoFormer Arsenal star training with first-team ahead of Atletico Madrid