Eze's hat-trick crowns Arsenal's derby demolition of Spurs
Arsenal surged six points clear at the top of the Premier League with a ruthless 4-1 dismantling of Tottenham Hotspur at the Emirates Stadium, inspired by a sensational hat-trick from Eberechi Eze in the North London derby. Leandro Trossard struck the opener before Eze — the midfielder Spurs had come close to signing in the summer — produced three outstanding finishes, with Richarlison's long-range lob offering only brief consolation for a Spurs side outplayed from the first whistle to the last.
Defeats for title rivals Liverpool and Manchester City on Saturday opened the door for Mikel Arteta's team, and they strode through it with an assured, dominant display against their fiercest rivals. Thomas Frank's decision to start with a back five and cede territory backfired badly as Tottenham failed to register a first-half shot and finished with just three efforts and 0.07 expected goals, their unbeaten away start under the new head coach ending in chastening fashion even as they remain only three points off the Champions League places in ninth.
Derby narrative shaped by Eze's homecoming