Eze Shines in North London Derby as Arsenal Triumphs Over Tottenham

This summer, Eberechi Eze made a high-profile move from Crystal Palace to Arsenal for £67.5 million ($88 million), igniting enthusiasm among fans about what the 27-year-old could bring to Mikel Arteta’s attacking lineup. Following a series of promising performances, Eze finally delivered in a spectacular fashion during a 4-1 victory over arch-rivals Tottenham.

The lifelong Arsenal supporter expressed his delight with the team’s performance and his personal contributions, stating to Sky Sports, “That’s a good feeling. Enjoyable day, happy to help the team and to win today is special. It feels special, man. I’m grateful again, this is what I pray for. I prayed for it today, a hat-trick, and I got it today, so I’m grateful to God.”

Manager Mikel Arteta shared in the excitement following the north London derby win, emphasizing the match’s significance to the fans. In his remarks to BBC’s Match of the Day, he stated, “It’s a very special day for us. We knew the importance of the match and what it means to our fans. To be able to give them that joy, it’s a beautiful day. We dominated every part of the game, created massive chances, and had many actions that were very close to scoring. We stayed patient. Whoever we put in there does the job for us. This squad has the belief and quality to deliver consistently.”

Former Tottenham manager and player Tim Sherwood has suggested that Eze should earn a starting position in next year’s World Cup. He believes Eze is the ideal candidate for the number 10 role, despite competition from notable players like Jude Bellingham, Chelsea’s Palmer, and Aston Villa’s Morgan Rogers. Sherwood remarked, “We can get a bit carried away because he scored a hat-trick in the North London derby; it’s massive for Eze and for Arsenal. But if you asked me before who’s the most talented number 10, I would say Eze. He’s quick, plays off both feet, and has the vision—he’s the most talented number 10 we have in England.”

Eze was also questioned about his thoughts on scoring against a Tottenham team he nearly joined this summer. Although he avoided a direct answer, Sherwood commended him for maintaining his composure amidst the intense atmosphere. He commented, “Credit to the boy; he didn’t look like he was bothered by the atmosphere. He knows the noise surrounding that game. For him, he just took it on his shoulders. And big players do that.”

While Arteta celebrated Eze’s remarkable performance, he noted that the former Queens Park Rangers star might have secured even more goals in the match. He praised Eze’s ability to create “magic moments” that can unbalance opposing teams. Arteta elaborated to BBC Sport, “To be fair, he could have scored four or five. He’s a big player who can create magic moments that unbalance a team. We dominated every part of the game, but you can see how difficult every game in the Premier League is. It’s a long run; let’s go game by game. Let’s enjoy tonight, then we have Bayern Munich here and Chelsea away. We have a tough week ahead.”

While Arsenal has successfully navigated one significant challenge, they are set to face an even greater test on Wednesday against a formidable Bayern Munich side in the Champions League. Following that, the table-topping Gunners will travel to second-placed Chelsea in the Premier League, marking two crucial fixtures on their calendar.