Eberechi Eze turned a bitter rivalry into a personal coronation as Arsenal dismantled Tottenham 4-1 in a derby that felt more like a proclamation than a result.
The England international produced his first senior hat-trick, the first in a north London derby since 1978, and did so with the kind of swagger that will be replayed for years. For a player once linked with Spurs, the afternoon was a delicious twist of fate and a statement of intent from Mikel Arteta’s side.
Arsenal’s victory arrived at a pivotal moment in the season. With Liverpool stumbling and Manchester City dropping points elsewhere, the Gunners seized the initiative and stretched their lead to six points over Chelsea at the summit.
Depleted by injuries to Gabriel, Martin Ødegaard, Kai Havertz and Viktor Gyökeres, Arsenal still produced a dominant display that underlined their depth and collective belief.
Tottenham offered little resistance beyond Richarlison’s spectacular consolation chip; Arsenal fired 17 shots to Spurs’ three and left the Emirates with a message: they are not just contenders, they are the team to beat.
Eze’s journey reads like a script. Released by Arsenal at 13 and turned away by Fulham, Reading and Millwall, he rebuilt his career at QPR before returning to the spotlight.
A resurfaced tweet from 2015—“I swear imma make it and when I do, they’re gonna show this tweet”—now reads like prophecy fulfilled. Signed for £67m, Eze has answered questions about his fit in Arteta’s system by delivering decisive moments: a key pass for Gabriel Martinelli, a winner against Palace, and now a derby hat-trick that cements his place in the starting XI.
Arteta’s praise was as glowing as the headlines.
The manager highlighted Eze’s hunger to train, learn and improve, and likened his blend of talent and intelligence to the rarest of packages. Eze himself called it a “special day” for him and his family and insisted he remains relentless in pursuit of chances.
That combination of natural flair and relentless work-rate has added a new unpredictable edge to Arsenal’s attack.A six-point cushion after 12 games is significant.
Historically, teams with that advantage at this stage have gone on to lift the title, and Arsenal’s margin is the largest they’ve enjoyed at this point in a Premier League campaign. Yet football is a long season and the numbers can be misleading.
Chelsea, sitting second, have momentum and will not surrender easily. Aston Villa and Crystal Palace lurk close behind and can still mount a challenge. Still, with Liverpool now 11 points adrift, the scale of the task facing Arsenal’s rivals is growing.
Concerns about missing Gabriel were eased by the summer overhaul that injected quality and depth into the squad.
The club’s heavy investment has paid dividends, offering Arteta options and resilience when key players are sidelined. New additions provide cover and versatility, ensuring Arsenal can sustain intensity across a gruelling campaign.
With big fixtures looming against Bayern Munich and Chelsea, the Gunners will be tested, but Eze’s emergence and the squad’s depth make them a formidable force as the title race heats up.
