LONDON — Eberechi Eze delivered a sensational hat-trick as Arsenal claimed north London bragging rights and opened up a six-point cushion at the top of the English Premier League with a commanding 4-1 win over Tottenham Hotspur.
With defeats for Liverpool and Manchester City Saturday offering Mikel Arteta’s men the chance to pull away, the Gunners seized it despite a lengthy injury list — and with help from the man Spurs thought they had signed.
Eze, who was on the verge of joining Tottenham from Crystal Palace in August before Arsenal swooped in late, produced his finest performance yet in red and white. After a quiet start to life at Emirates Stadium, the England international lit up derby day with a ruthless treble.
Leandro Trossard broke the deadlock on 36 minutes, finishing after a clever ball from Mikel Merino and a deflection off Micky van de Ven.
Four minutes later, Emirates erupted again. Kevin Danso’s header fell to Declan Rice, who teed up Eze.
The midfielder weaved between Rodrigo Bentancur and Joao Palhinha before drilling low into the corner.
A brief VAR check confirmed Trossard wasn’t obstructing Guglielmo Vicario, and the Gunners took a deserved 2-0 lead into the break.
Within 35 seconds of the restart, Eze struck again. Unmarked once more, he collected Jurrien Timber’s pass, turned smoothly and arrowed a precise finish into the far corner — matching his goal tally from his previous 17 Arsenal appearances.
Tottenham, stunned and stretched, clawed back a lifeline in the 55th minute. After Palhinha robbed Martin Zubimendi in midfield, Richarlison spotted David Raya off his line and lobbed home spectacularly from 40 yards.
Thomas Frank introduced Pape Sarr and Randal Kolo Muani in search of momentum, and Vicario denied Bukayo Saka with a sharp save, but Arsenal was relentless.
Trossard again broke behind the Spurs backline and squared for Eze, who glided past a sliding Destiny Udogie before whipping in his third on 76 minutes — becoming just the fourth player ever to net a hat-trick in a north London derby.
“It is special,” Eze said according to AP. “Words can’t explain this.”
A day to forget for Tottenham, a day to savour for Arsenal — and a statement win from a side looking increasingly ready for a title fight.
Tottenham goalkeeper Guglielmo Vicario apologized to the team’s supporters for Spurs’ meek performance.
“As a collective, we didn’t fight,” Vicario said.
Aston Villa playmaker Morgan Rogers has just returned from international with England, where he is currently keeping Real Madrid star Jude Bellingham out of the starting team. He showed exactly why against Leeds.
Rogers clipped in a finish from Donyell Malen´s cross for the equaliser in the 48th before demonstrating wonderful technique to whip a free kick over the defensive wall and into the net in the 75th to seal a 2-1 comeback win for Villa.
Leeds took the lead at a highly charged Elland Road when Lukas Nmecha bundled in from close range after Villa defender Ezri Konsa cleared the ball off the goalline following Anton Stach´s header. There was a video review to check if Villa goalkeeper Emi Martinez was impeded in the build-up but the goal was allowed.
