Nervy Arsenal go back to top as Eze seals vital win over Newcastle

LONDON, April 25 : Arsenal arrested their slump in form with Eberechi Eze's superb early goal securing an ugly 1-0 home win against Newcastle United to reclaim top spot in the Premier League on Saturday.

After successive league defeats to Bournemouth and Manchester City, Arsenal were knocked off the summit for the first time since October by City on Wednesday but they responded to secure three vital points.

It was far from convincing, and the quality of Eze's sublime ninth-minute strike was at odds with the rest of a laboured display by Mikel Arteta's side, but all that mattered for the hosts was getting back to winning ways.

The nervousness around the stadium was apparent throughout a tight contest and there was relief when Newcastle substitute Yoane Wissa blazed a glorious late chance over the crossbar.

With Manchester City otherwise engaged in FA Cup semi-final action, Arsenal took the chance to move to 73 points from 34 games with City on 70 from 33.

"It's never going to be a path of roses," Arteta said. "We knew at halftime we wanted to score the second goal but we were not efficient enough. But we did the job."

Newcastle's fourth successive league defeat, and 13th in their last 14 league visits to Arsenal, left them in 14th place and with pressure mounting on Eddie Howe, although he said he was pleased with his side's improved display.

"I can't be too critical of the players today, it was a much better performance," Howe said.

Arsenal's stuttering run in the past month began with a tame League Cup final defeat by Manchester City followed by a surprise loss to second-tier Southampton in the FA Cup.

But it was the back-to-back league defeats and the evaporation of a nine-point lead in the title race that has really spooked