Arsenal midfielder Eberechi Eze announced himself in emphatic style in the north London derby, scoring a brilliant hat-trick as Mikel Arteta’s side crushed Tottenham 4-1 at the Emirates Stadium on Sunday. The performance not only delighted Arsenal fans but also showcased what Spurs missed out on after Eze’s summer decision to join the Gunners instead of their club.
The Premier League leaders dominated from the start. Leandro Trossard opened the scoring in the first half, with Eze following shortly after to give Arsenal a commanding 2-0 lead at halftime.
Eze struck again just 35 seconds into the second half, punishing Tottenham’s flat-footed defence. Although Richarlison briefly reduced the deficit with a stunning 35-yard effort, it was little consolation, as Eze completed his treble with a clinical strike in the 76th minute, sealing Arsenal’s sixth-point lead at the top of the table.
His feat made Eze only the fourth player to score a hat-trick in a north London derby, following in the footsteps of Ted Drake, Terry Dyson, and Alan Sunderland.
Arsenal’s victory also marked their 15th game unbeaten across all competitions and maintained their dominance over Tottenham, with seven consecutive derby wins and just one loss in 33 home meetings. It was the club’s biggest win over Spurs since 2012 and came ahead of a crucial Champions League clash against Bayern Munich and a Premier League showdown with Chelsea.
Tottenham, who arrived with the league’s best away record, struggled to impose themselves. Manager Thomas Frank’s conservative five-defender setup backfired, leaving his side exposed to Arsenal’s superior passing and movement. Attempts to control the game through time-wasting and tactical disruption were ineffective against Arteta’s well-drilled team.
Eze’s performance was also a personal vindication. Spurs’ fans had seen their club miss out on signing him in the summer, while Frank had dismissed him jokingly as “Who’s Eze?” ahead of the match. The England international’s dazzling display served as a perfect riposte, highlighting why Arsenal secured his £60 million move from Crystal Palace.
With Manchester City dropping points at Newcastle and Liverpool in turmoil, Arsenal now find themselves in a prime position to mount a serious challenge for their first English title since 2004.
