Eze fires hat-trick as ruthless Arsenal sweep aside Spurs to open six-point lead

Eberechi Eze delivered a stunning first senior hat-trick as Arsenal overpowered Tottenham Hotspur 4–1 in the north London derby, moving six points clear at the top of the Premier League, Sport360NG reports.

Thomas Frank set Spurs up with a defensive back five at the Emirates Stadium, but the approach unravelled under Arsenal’s relentless control.

Leandro Trossard broke the deadlock on 36 minutes after latching onto a precise through ball from Mikel Merino, capping a dominant first-half display from the league leaders.

Eze doubled the advantage shortly before the interval. The England midfielder, who came close to joining Spurs in the summer before Arsenal swooped late, cut inside, beat two defenders on the edge of the area and fired beyond Guglielmo Vicario.

Frank abandoned his defensive shape at half-time and introduced Xavi Simons to energise a flat Tottenham attack. But within 23 seconds of the restart, Arsenal stretched their lead further as Eze curled a left-footed effort into the bottom corner from distance.

Tottenham struggled to gain any foothold, though Richarlison briefly reduced the deficit with an audacious long-range finish that sailed over the stranded David Raya.

Eze completed his memorable treble in the 76th minute, finishing confidently once again to restore Arsenal’s three-goal cushion.

The win gives Arsenal their largest points lead at this stage of a Premier League season, as they continue their push for a first title since 2004 following three consecutive runners-up finishes.

Arsenal Analysis: Eze Justifies Transfer Gamble With Match-Winning Brilliance

Arsenal’s decision to hijack Tottenham’s planned move for Eze has proved inspired. The 27-year-old, a lifelong Arsenal supporter and former academy hopeful, arrived amid questions over where he would fit into Mikel Arteta’s already stacked midfield.

An injury to Martin Ødegaard created the opening Eze needed, and he has flourished ever since. Instead of operating from the left as he did at Crystal Palace, Arteta has deployed him in a right-sided central role to complement Bukayo Saka.

His impact has been immediate: an assist against Manchester City, a decisive goal versus Crystal Palace, and now a derby hat-trick. With five goals and three assists in 15 appearances, Eze has more goal involvements than any English player in the Premier League this year.

For a side aiming to stay top, his creativity and ability to unlock tight matches are becoming invaluable weapons.

Tottenham Analysis: Pressure Mounts on Frank After Derby Setback

Frank’s cautious approach has made for an uneasy start to his tenure at Tottenham, and this defeat will heighten concerns among supporters. Spurs arrived unbeaten away in the league but never threatened to trouble their rivals.

Their attacking issues have persisted throughout the campaign, averaging fewer than 10 shots per game, one of the lowest tallies in the division. They failed to register a shot in the first half for the second time this season, after a similar showing against Bournemouth in August.

Frank accepted his tactical misstep by shifting shape at half-time, but Eze’s immediate strike after the restart ended any hope of a comeback.

Despite sitting ninth, Spurs remain only three points outside the Champions League places. Even so, Frank will need to quickly find a more adventurous balance to prevent frustrations among the fanbase from deepening.