Eze’s Historic Hat Trick Secures Arsenal’s Dominant Victory Over Spurs

LONDON — Eberechi Eze recorded a historic hat trick, marking the first league achievement of its kind in a North London derby since 1978, propelling Arsenal to a commanding 4-1 victory against Tottenham Hotspur. This triumph places the Gunners six points ahead at the top of the Premier League.

After title contenders Liverpool and Manchester City both suffered defeats on Saturday, Arsenal seized a significant opportunity to distance themselves from these rivals. Following Leandro Trossard’s opening goal in the 36th minute, Eze took center stage, etching his name into the record books with his remarkable performance.

Tottenham Hotspur, who previously missed out on acquiring Eze when he departed Crystal Palace in August, failed to challenge their arch-rivals effectively. Richarlison’s stunning long-range goal provided only scant consolation for Spurs.

With this result, Arsenal remains firmly on track for their first title since 2004, with their next challenge being an away fixture against Chelsea, who recently claimed second place with a 2-0 victory against Burnley on Saturday. — Mark Ogden

Mikel Arteta emphasized the significance of capitalizing on rivals’ missteps, a sentiment he reiterated after both Liverpool and Manchester City lost in October. Arsenal did not squander this opportunity.

City fell to Newcastle United hours after Nottingham Forest defeated Liverpool at Anfield, allowing Arsenal to widen the gap to six points over Chelsea at the top of the table. Historically, Arsenal has often failed to capitalize on such chances, but this season feels markedly different.

The pre-match atmosphere reached new heights with the unveiling of a new tifo celebrating Arsenal legends and a dramatic video montage complemented by a spectacular fireworks display, invigorating the crowd.

The Gunners recognized the importance of this match to pull clear in the standings, achieving a seven-point lead over City and an eleven-point advantage over defending champions Liverpool.

Despite the early November date, Arsenal is undeniably the favorite for the title, showcasing their dominance in this fixture with only one home defeat to Spurs in the past 32 years, the last occurring in 2010. — James Olley

Thomas Frank’s tenure at Spurs has spanned less than six months, during which he has managed fewer than 20 matches across all competitions. Following this loss at the Emirates, he now faces critical scrutiny. Losing to Arsenal is always a bitter pill for Spurs, but aside from Richarlison’s stellar goal, this defeat offered little to celebrate for Frank’s squad.

Although Spurs had the chance to ascend to fourth place with a victory, that possibility never materialized. Frank’s conservative, defensive tactics have only intensified dissatisfaction among the Spurs fanbase.

This defeat marks Frank’s fifth loss in 19 games, and he must urgently reverse this trend. The team faces a challenging schedule ahead, starting with a UEFA Champions League match against Paris Saint-Germain, followed by a must-win clash against Fulham at home, and then a fixture against Newcastle at St James’ Park. Should pressure persist following these matches, Frank’s subsequent game against Brentford at home could prove pivotal for his future at the club. — Ogden

Eze’s influence in this match was perhaps inevitable given his recent performance.

The 27-year-old was close to joining Tottenham from Crystal Palace over the summer when he contacted Arteta to inquire about Arsenal’s interest. Following Kai Havertz’s serious hamstring injury, Arteta expressed his intention to make a bid for Eze, who, as a lifelong Arsenal fan, expressed his preference to join the club, ultimately leading him to the Emirates Stadium.

This turn of events left Tottenham’s plans in disarray, resulting in them signing Xavi Simons from RB Leipzig instead. Missing out on Eze was a painful blow for Spurs, and this match reopened that wound.

Eze’s three goals were remarkable, making him the first player to achieve a hat trick in a North London derby since Alan Sunderland in 1978 and only the fourth in history. This performance underscores Arsenal’s depth in talent, while serving as a stark reminder of what Spurs lost out on.

In contrast, Simons began the match on the bench as Frank prioritized physicality, and his introduction at halftime failed to alter Tottenham’s fortunes. — Olley

Arsenal boasts an impressive array of attacking talent this season, particularly after adding Eze, Viktor Gyökeres, and Noni Madueke to Arteta’s squad. However, it was the often-overlooked Trossard who initially set the stage for their victory against Spurs.

The Belgium international, a £27 million acquisition from Brighton & Hove Albion in January 2023, has consistently proven to be a reliable asset for Arteta, even though he rarely starts high-stakes matches. Yet, with a starting role against Spurs, Trossard opened the scoring in the 36th minute, marking his tenth goal contribution in all competitions, the highest on the team.

Although he nearly departed Arsenal during the summer, he ultimately signed a new contract, reflecting his importance to the team. His contributions, alongside those of Arsenal’s star players, will be crucial as the club aims for the title. — Ogden