Oliver Glasner reserved special praise for Declan Rice after Crystal Palace’s 1-0 defeat to Arsenal, applauding the midfielder’s efforts in shutting down Ismaila Sarr.

Eberechi Eze arrowed home the only goal of the game against his former club to help Arsenal tighten their grip on top spot in the Premier League table.

Gabriel Magalhaes and Bukayo Saka both had opportunities to double the hosts’ lead after the break, but Eze’s stunning 39th-minute strike ultimately proved the difference in north London.

The win was Arsenal’s seventh on the spin in all competitions and Mikel Arteta’s men will be looking to pick up where they left off when they return to top-flight action away to Burnley next Saturday.

Manchester City, Liverpool and Chelsea all slumped to defeats on a massively productive weekend for the Gunners, who sit four points clear at the summit after nine games.

‘I haven’t seen many teams creating a lot of chances here,’ Glasner told reporters after his Palace side were consigned to only their second loss of the campaign.

‘We had a few moments where we could have been more dangerous and we missed a few opportunities to create more chances because it took us...