In the Matchweek 12 North London Derby, England forward Eberechi Eze delivered a stunning performance, scoring a hat-trick and leading Arsenal to a dominant 4–1 victory over Tottenham Hotspur at the Emirates Stadium.
Arsenal Extend Unbeaten Run to Nine Matches and Remain League Leaders
With this win, Arsenal have now gone nine Premier League matches unbeaten and extended their overall unbeaten streak across all competitions to 15 matches.
The Gunners sit comfortably at the top of the table with 29 points, holding a six-point lead over London rivals Chelsea. Defending champions Manchester City follow in third with 22 points, while Tottenham remain ninth with 18 points.
The derby kicked off with high intensity and a fiery atmosphere. In the 36th minute, Leandro Trossard opened the scoring after receiving a well-timed pass from a teammate.
Eze then struck twice, once in the 41st minute and again in the 46th minute, sending Arsenal into a commanding 3–0 lead early in the second half.
Spurs Struggle as Eze Completes a Derby Hat-trick
Although Richarlison pulled one back for Spurs in the 55th minute with a superb long-range chip, it wasn’t enough to shift the momentum.
In the 76th minute, Eze capitalised again, completing his hat-trick and sealing a comfortable 4–1 victory for the home side.
Eze was signed from Crystal Palace for €79 million shortly before the summer transfer window closed. Before this match, he had only scored once for Arsenal.
Still, his explosive performance in this derby not only delivered three goals but also etched his name into history, becoming the fourth player ever to score a hat-trick in a North London Derby and the first to do so in the Premier League era.
After the match, Eze was visibly emotional and said, “This match was absolutely crazy. It’s such a special day for my family and me. I never dreamed of scoring a hat-trick in a derby like this. It’s incredible, and I thank God for it.”
Arteta Praises His Star Forward
Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta was full of praise for his new signing: “If Eze had been even more clinical, he could have scored a fourth or even a fifth goal. He showed he’s the kind of player who can create magic in an instant and break open a match. We’re grateful for the club’s support in bringing in a player of his quality.”
Spurs Manager Admits Gap Between the Two Sides
Tottenham manager Frank admitted there is still a gap between the two rivals: “We wanted to play with greater aggression, but compared to Arsenal, our level still falls short. They’ve been building their squad for six years, we’ve had just four months.”
Aston Villa Come From Behind Against Leeds to Climb Into Top Four
In another match played on the same day, Aston Villa came from behind to beat Leeds United 2–1, thanks to a second-half brace from Rodgers. The victory lifts Villa into fourth place with 21 points.
Although Leeds took an early lead through Nmecha in the 8th minute, they were unable to hold on and remain 18th with 11 points.
