Eberechi Eze Leads Arsenal to Historic Victory Over Tottenham in North London Derby

omidbasir- LONDON — Eberechi Eze made history by scoring the first league hat trick in a North London derby since 1978, leading Arsenal to a decisive 4-1 victory over Tottenham Hotspur. This triumph allows the Gunners to extend their lead at the top of the Premier League to six points.

Following the defeats of title contenders Liverpool and Manchester City earlier that day, Arsenal seized a crucial opportunity to pull away from their rivals. After Leandro Trossard opened the scoring for Arsenal in the 36th minute, Eze took center stage, etching his name into the history books with his impressive performance.

Tottenham, who had missed out on signing Eze when he left Crystal Palace in August, struggled to make an impact against their fierce rivals. The only highlight for Spurs came from Richarlison’s spectacular long-range goal, which provided minimal consolation in an otherwise disappointing match.

This victory keeps Arsenal on track for their first league title since 2004, with their next challenge being a match against Chelsea, who secured second place with a 2-0 win against Burnley on Saturday.

Mikel Arteta highlighted the significance of capitalizing on rival setbacks, a sentiment echoed after Liverpool and Manchester City both lost. Arsenal’s strong performance against Tottenham allowed them to open a six-point lead over Chelsea and extend their advantage to seven points over City and eleven over Liverpool.

The lead-up to the match featured heightened excitement, with a new tifo celebrating Arsenal legends unveiled, accompanied by a video montage and fireworks that energized the crowd. The Gunners recognized the moment as a vital opportunity to assert their dominance at the top of the table, capitalizing effectively on their historical home advantage against Spurs.

However, the defeat adds pressure on new Spurs manager Thomas Frank, who has been in charge for less than six months, overseeing fewer than 20 games. His side failed to capitalize on the chance to move into fourth place, and the lack of a clear attacking strategy has led to growing dissatisfaction among fans.

Despite the loss, Eze’s significant impact was evident. The 27-year-old had been on the verge of joining Tottenham from Crystal Palace before reaching out to Arteta, which resulted in a bid for his services. Eze’s move to Arsenal has proven pivotal, especially highlighted by his historic hat trick, making him the first player to achieve this feat in a North London derby since Alan Sunderland in 1978.

Arsenal’s attacking prowess is bolstered by the recent additions of Eze, Viktor Gyökeres, and Noni Madueke, alongside the dependable Trossard. The Belgian international, who scored the opening goal, has consistently been a valuable asset to Arteta, further emphasizing the importance of all players contributing to the team’s title aspirations.