Eze’s Historic Hat Trick Leads Arsenal to Victory in North London Derby

omidbasir- LONDON — Eberechi Eze delivered a historic performance by scoring the first league hat trick in a North London derby since 1978, leading Arsenal to a commanding 4-1 victory over Tottenham Hotspur. This result positions the Gunners six points clear at the top of the Premier League.

With title contenders Liverpool and Manchester City both suffering defeats on Saturday, Arsenal seized a significant opportunity to distance themselves from their closest rivals. After Leandro Trossard opened the scoring in the 36th minute, Eze showcased his talent by making Premier League history in this fierce fixture.

Tottenham, who had missed out on signing Eze during the summer, struggled to pose any real threat to their North London rivals, with Richarlison’s spectacular long-range goal serving as a mere consolation.

This victory keeps Arsenal firmly on track for their first league title since 2004, with their upcoming challenge being a match against Chelsea, who climbed to second place with a 2-0 win over Burnley.

Mikel Arteta emphasized the importance of capitalizing on rivals’ slip-ups, recalling how Arsenal succeeded in doing so when both Liverpool and Manchester City lost in the same matchweek back in October. With City falling to Newcastle United just hours after Nottingham Forest’s upset of Liverpool at Anfield, Arsenal had the chance to build a six-point lead over Chelsea at the top of the table. Historically, they have often missed such opportunities, but this season feels different.

The pre-match atmosphere was electrifying, marked by the unveiling of a new tifo celebrating Arsenal legends, complemented by a video montage and fireworks that energized the crowd.

While nothing is secured in November, Arsenal’s current form places them as favorites for the title, having maintained dominance in this derby with only one home defeat to Spurs in the last 32 years.

For Spurs, under Thomas Frank’s leadership for less than six months and facing their fifth defeat in 19 matches, this loss has intensified scrutiny of his approach. Despite having a chance to climb to fourth place, their lackluster performance left fans dissatisfied, particularly given the defensive tactics employed by Frank.

Eze’s influence on the match was anticipated. He was close to joining Tottenham from Crystal Palace over the summer when he contacted Arteta regarding a potential move. After receiving interest from the Gunners in light of Kai Havertz’s injury, Eze expressed his preference to join Arsenal, which left Spurs to sign Xavi Simons from RB Leipzig instead. This defeat reopened the wound of their missed opportunity.

Eze’s three stunning finishes made him the first player to achieve a hat trick in a North London derby since Alan Sunderland in 1978, further underscoring Arsenal’s depth of talent. In contrast, Simons, who started on the bench, was unable to impact the game positively when introduced.

Arsenal’s array of attacking talent has been bolstered by the additions of Eze, Viktor Gyökeres, and Noni Madueke. However, it was Trossard, the unsung hero, who initiated the Gunners’ victory with his goal. The Belgian international, a £27 million signing from Brighton & Hove Albion, contributed significantly to the team’s success, marking his 10th goal contribution in all competitions this season.

Trossard, who nearly departed Arsenal in the summer but ultimately signed a new contract, exemplifies the essential role that both he and other key players will play as Arsenal strives for the league title.