Eberechi Eze’s Historic Hat Trick Leads Arsenal to Victory Over Tottenham

LONDON — Eberechi Eze made history by scoring the first league hat trick in a North London derby since 1978, leading Arsenal to a commanding 4-1 victory against Tottenham Hotspur. This win propels Arsenal six points clear at the top of the Premier League.

With title contenders Liverpool and Manchester City both suffering defeats on Saturday, Arsenal seized the opportunity to extend their lead. After Leandro Trossard opened the scoring for the Gunners in the 36th minute, Eze took center stage to achieve this remarkable feat, becoming the first player to net a hat trick in this fixture for the Premier League.

Tottenham, who missed the opportunity to sign Eze when he left Crystal Palace in August, struggled to challenge their fierce rivals. Richarlison’s stunning long-range strike provided only a brief moment of solace for Spurs.

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

Mikel Arteta emphasized the significance of capitalizing on rival mistakes, recalling their previous similar success back in October. With Manchester City defeated by Newcastle United and Nottingham Forest beating Liverpool at Anfield, Arsenal had the chance to widen the gap, which they accomplished convincingly.

The atmosphere before the match was electrifying, with a new tifo honoring Arsenal legends as players took the field, accompanied by an impressive video montage and a display of fireworks.

Historically, Arsenal’s dominance in this fixture is evident, having lost only once at home to Spurs in 32 years, with that loss occurring in 2010. While it is still early in the season, Arsenal undeniably appears to be the favorites to claim the title this year.

On the other hand, Thomas Frank, having been at the helm of Spurs for less than six months, faces increasing scrutiny following this defeat at the Emirates. Despite the potential to climb into fourth place with a win, Spurs never seemed likely to achieve that, leading to growing discontent among fans regarding Frank’s cautious tactics.

This marks Frank’s fifth defeat in 19 games, and urgent changes are needed as Spurs face challenging fixtures ahead, including a UEFA Champions League match against Paris Saint-Germain and a crucial home game against Fulham.

Eze’s key role in the match was somewhat expected. The 27-year-old was on the verge of joining Tottenham during the summer transfer window when he reached out to Arteta, expressing his interest in signing for Arsenal. Following Kai Havertz’s injury, Arteta indicated they would make a bid, leading Eze to prioritize a move to the Emirates Stadium.

Spurs were left scrambling after losing out on Eze, who showcased his immense talent with three exquisite goals, becoming the first player since Alan Sunderland to score a hat trick in this derby. This performance further highlights Arsenal’s depth and serves as a painful reminder for Spurs of what they missed.

In contrast, Xavi Simons, who Spurs signed from RB Leipzig, found himself starting on the bench under Frank’s strategy focused on physicality, which ultimately did not yield positive results.

Arsenal’s attacking prowess has been bolstered this season with the addition of Eze, Viktor Gyökeres, and Noni Madueke. Trossard, however, played a pivotal role in the win against Spurs, netting his 10th goal contribution in all competitions, which currently leads the team.

Having nearly left Arsenal in the summer, Trossard’s new contract underlines his importance to the squad and emphasizes that contributions from all players, not just the stars, will be vital for Arsenal’s title aspirations.