Eberechi Eze scored the first North London derby hat-trick of the Premier League era as Arsenal routed Tottenham Hotspur 4-1 on Sunday, extending their lead at the top of the table to six points following a weekend of upsets for their title rivals.
In a commanding performance at the Emirates Stadium, Mikel Arteta’s side capitalised on defeats for Manchester City and Liverpool to solidify their status as title favourites. Despite missing key starters—including captain Martin Ødegaard and defenders Gabriel Magalhães—Arsenal delivered a statement victory against a Tottenham side that had previously been unbeaten away from home this season.
Eze, a boyhood Arsenal fan who joined the club from Crystal Palace in a £67 million summer deal, produced a masterclass in finishing. His treble was the first hat-trick recorded in this fixture since 1978, and the first ever in the Premier League era.
The victory was emphatic. Arsenal registered 17 shots to Tottenham’s three, limiting the visitors to an Expected Goals (xG) figure of just 0.07. Tottenham’s only consolation came via a long-range chip from Richarlison, but the result was never in doubt.
“It is a special day for me and my family,” Eze told BBC Match of the Day. “I don’t think I could have ever dreamed of it. We were prepared for whatever set-up they were coming with… From whatever angle, we’re threatening to score goals.”
The result leaves Arsenal in a commanding position after 12 matches. They now sit six points clear of second-placed Chelsea.
The weekend proved disastrous for Arsenal’s traditional rivals. Defending champions Liverpool suffered their sixth defeat in seven matches, leaving them 11 points off the pace. Meanwhile, Manchester City’s loss at Newcastle United leaves them trailing the Gunners by seven points.
Statistical history favours Arsenal; no team in Premier League history has failed to win the title holding a lead of six points or more at this stage of the season. However, the Gunners will be wary of complacency, having surrendered leads in previous campaigns.
Perhaps most encouraging for Arteta was the performance of his squad players. With Gabriel, Kai Havertz, and summer signing Viktor Gyökeres all sidelined, the depth of the squad was tested.
Piero Hincapié, on loan from Bayer Leverkusen, deputised impressively in defence. The Ecuadorian international, who Arsenal hold a £52 million option to buy, seamlessly replaced Gabriel, ensuring the defensive solidity that has characterised Arsenal’s season remained intact.
For Tottenham manager Thomas Frank, the afternoon was a humbling experience. Before the match, Frank had jokingly asked “Who?” when questioned about Spurs’ reported interest in Eze during the summer transfer window.
Conversely, Mikel Arteta was effusive in his praise for his number 10, highlighting Eze’s work ethic since returning from international duty with England.
“He wanted to come back [early] and improve and ask questions,” Arteta said. “When I spoke to [England manager] Thomas Tuchel about Eze, I asked ‘how good is he?’ He said to me ‘one of the best I have seen’. If we add in his work rate and willingness to play for this team, we have a special player.”
Eze has now been involved in 18 goals (10 goals, 8 assists) in 2025, a tally bettered only by Erling Haaland, Mohamed Salah, Bryan Mbeumo, and Antoine Semenyo.
Discover more from
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.