EZE SINKS SPURS WITH HAT-TRICK AS ARSENAL DOMINANCE EXTENDS LEAGUE LEAD NOW
Eberechi Eze's hat-trick powered Arsenal to a dominant 4-1 North London derby win over Tottenham. The victory sends the Gunners six points clear at the top of the Premier League table.
Arsenal's team proved too much for a hesitant Tottenham, with Leandro Trossard and Eze scoring in the first half at the Emirates Stadium.
Eze, who chose Arsenal over Tottenham during the off-season, scored again in the second half.
Richarlison's great long-range goal narrowed the score, but it wasn't enough, as Eze completed his hat trick and pushed Arsenal six points ahead.
This was only the fourth North London derby hat-trick, following Ted Drake, Terry Dyson, and Alan Sunderland.
Arsenal's ten-game winning streak ended with Sunderland's late tie in a 2-2 draw before the break.
But Eze's display since his £60 million ($78 million) transfer from Crystal Palace made up for that as Tottenham took a beating at the Emirates again.
Arsenal hasn't been defeated in the last seven North London derbies. They've only lost once in 33 home games against their rivals.
Arsenal's biggest victory over Tottenham since 2012 was the start to a time that includes a visit from Bayern Munich in the Champions League on Wednesday and a trip to second-place Chelsea next weekend.
Arsenal is now 15 games unbeaten in all competitions, meaning they took advantage of Manchester City's 2-1 loss at Newcastle on Saturday.
With City struggling and Liverpool in trouble, Arsenal has a real chance to end its wait for a title since 2004.
Tottenham came with the best away record in the league, but the end of their five-game run on the road has raised questions about manager Thomas Frank's strategy.
The absence of injured Arsenal centre-back Gabriel Magalhaes was thought to be a weakness for Tottenham to take advantage of.
Yet Tottenham didn't get close enough to the Arsenal box to test this.
Frank told Tottenham to welcome the controlled chaos of a derby.
But the manager hasn't won over Tottenham fans with his conservative style, and his choice to play five defenders backfired so much that his defence was.
Tottenham tried to slow the game down, wasting time on throw-ins and goal kicks.
But Arsenal were better in passing and movement and scored in the 36th minute.
Mikel Merino played as a striker because Viktor Gyokeres was injured, but the Spain midfielder dropped back to assist Trossard's goal.
Merino passed to Trossard, who was kept onside by Kevin Danso.
Trossard turned to make space for a shot that went past Guglielmo Vicario from 10 yards.
If Tottenham had had it their way this summer, Eze would be on their team, but Arsenal made a deal with Palace to sign the star at the last minute.
Frank joked, "Who's Eze?" when questioned this week about the transfer.
Eze had the perfect answer in the 41st minute when he took Declan Rice's pass and scored past Vicario.
Frank sent on Xavi Simons for Danso at half-time, but the Tottenham-signed forward did not.
Eze scored again after halftime, taking advantage of Tottenham's defence with a finish from just inside the box.
Richarlison briefly quieted the Arsenal fans when he lobbed David Raya from 35 yards in the 55th minute.
But that was Tottenham's first shot of the game, and Eze, picked out by Trossard's pass, finished his with a strike from 12 yards in the 76th minute.
WHAT IS THE "AURA" MIKEL ARTETA SEES IN BUKAYO SAKA’S RECENT PERFORMANCES?
"He shifts momentum." Read Mikel Arteta’s full analysis of Bukayo Saka’s importance ahead of the crucial West Ham showdown.
Mikel Arteta sees something special in Bukayo Saka’s presence on the pitch, an “aura” that he believes could drive Arsenal toward a Premier League title, just three games away from ending a 22-year wait.
During Saka’s recent absence with an Achilles injury, Arsenal managed only a single win in five matches. His return, however, seemed to breathe new life into the squad. Saka set up Viktor Gyokeres for the opener before scoring himself in a solid 3-0 victory over Fulham last weekend.
More crucially, Saka netted the decisive goal that helped Arsenal secure a 2-1 aggregate win over Atlético Madrid, booking their first Champions League final appearance since 2006.
Since making his debut for the Gunners seven years ago, the England international now carries the hopes of pushing Arsenal for vital points, starting with a key clash against relegation-threatened West Ham at the London Stadium, followed by matches against Burnley at home and Crystal Palace away on the season’s final day.
When asked about Saka’s importance, Arteta highlighted the growing role he plays not just within the team but also in how opponents see him. There’s a clear presence, a certain quality that sets him apart. According to Arteta, Saka can shift a game’s momentum at any time, and instilling that kind of respect or even fear in the opposition is invaluable.
Arteta also touched on managing Saka’s comeback after injury, emphasising the idea of channelling fresh energy and motivation into his performance rather than rushing him back too soon. He described it as a privilege to have a player like Saka, someone who embodies core values and principles, both on and off the pitch. Beyond the football, there’s a human connection that makes working with him rewarding. What Saka showed, especially in the recent Champions League semifinal, was nothing short of remarkable.
Alongside Saka, Declan Rice has also become a pivotal figure since his £100 million move from West Ham last year. Now 27, Rice will make his 59th appearance of the season when Arsenal faces his former club on Sunday. His impact has been significant, earning him runner-up in the Football Writers’ Association Footballer of the Year award behind Bruno Fernandes.
Arteta praised Rice as a key leader and a major force for the team, underlining the powerful role he plays as Arsenal chase success this season.
WHY DID JURRIEN TIMBER’S "SIMPLE" INJURY TURN INTO A SEASON-ENDING MEDICAL MYSTERY?
After reaching the Champions League final, Arsenal face a fitness race for key stars ahead of their clash with West Ham.
Mikel Arteta has admitted that both Mikel Merino and Jurrien Timber are running out of time to get fit before the season ends – a tough setback for Arsenal right now.
Both have been out for weeks, dealing with foot and ankle injuries. The hope was always that they’d be back for the final stretch, giving Arsenal a boost when it matters most. This week, Merino at least made it back onto the training pitch, but Arteta has confirmed neither he nor Timber will be involved in Sunday’s big match against West Ham.
Arteta said he has no new injury problems elsewhere, but for Merino or Timber to play before the end of the season, their recoveries would have to be almost perfect. Timber’s situation in particular has turned out to be more complicated than they first thought.
“That’s probably been the hardest part for everyone. For me, for the player,” Arteta said. “We really didn’t think it would take this long, and he’s still not ready.”
Meanwhile, things are going well for Arsenal on the pitch. They’ve pulled five points clear at the top of the Premier League, and they just beat Atletico Madrid, booking a spot in their first Champions League final in two decades.
There’s still a twist, though. Manchester City play Brentford first this weekend, and they still have a game in hand. Even so, if Arsenal win their last three matches, the title is theirs.
Next up is West Ham, who are fighting to avoid relegation and could easily trip Arsenal up. Arteta knows his team can’t afford any slip-ups. “After the Atletico win, I was completely caught up in the emotion. You could feel what it meant to everyone fans and the staff. But straight after, my focus went to West Ham,” he said.
“We talked as a team about how we’ve earned the chance to be in the final, and we have time to get ready, but right now, all our focus and all the details need to go into West Ham.”
