Arsenal 4-1 Tottenham: Gunners run riot in derby victory as Eze has hat-trick

Eberechi Eze scored the first hat-trick in a Premier League North London derby as Arsenal crushed Tottenham 4-1 to move six points clear at the top of the table.

Match Report

Eze has admitted to rejecting interest from Spurs prior to swapping Crystal Palace for the Emirates Stadium in August, and he left his former suitors reeling after a sensational individual showing.

It was Leandro Trossard that scored Arsenal's opener in the 36th minute, though, after they penned Spurs back in the early stages.

Makeshift centre-forward Mikel Merino found Trossard with an excellent chipped pass, and after a fine first touch, the Belgian saw his shot trickle in off Micky van de Ven.

Eze then took centre-stage, doubling Arsenal's lead five minutes later with the aid of another slight deflection off Van de Ven, having squirmed between Joao Palhinha and Rodrigo Bentancur on the edge of the area.

Eze got his second goal just 35 seconds into the second half, finding the far corner on his left foot, with Spurs not attempting a shot of any description until the 55th minute.

Their first attempt, from Richarlison, sailed into the net from 40 yards out to give the away fans something to cheer, but Eze had the final say.

He completed his first Premier League hat-trick with a confident finish 14 minutes from time, having taken in Trossard's cutback from the left, and he could have had a fourth goal late on if not for a strong save from Guglielmo Vicario.

The result leaves Arsenal six points clear of Chelsea ahead of their trip to Stamford Bridge next week, while Manchester City are another point back in third.

Data Debrief: Eze's derby day

Eze was released by Arsenal, his boyhood club, as a 13-year-old. But the England international never hesitated when given the opportunity to return in August.

Spurs were the team he rejected to join Mikel Arteta's side, and he tore them apart on Sunday, scoring just the fourth hat-trick in North London derby history.

The previous three all occurred before the Premier League era, scored by Ted Drake (for Arsenal, October 1934), Terry Dyson (for Spurs, August 1961) and Alan Sunderland (for Arsenal, December 1978).

Eze's treble was also the 400th hat-trick in Premier League history, while he is the 23rd player to net a treble for Arsenal – no team has had more different hat-trick scorers.

Spurs could have few complaints about the result, having only recorded 0.07 expected goals (xG). That is the lowest figure by any Premier League team this season, with the second-worst mark also coming from Thomas Frank's men, against Chelsea earlier in November.

Match Events

0' The match is about to start!

3' Eze dinks one over defenders and Rice smashes it on the volley which is saved

9' A lovely touch from Trossard almost sets up a shot but Romero makes the block

12' Trossard is clipped by Palhinha and receives medical attention

17' Arsenal win a free-kick after Bukayo Saka gets in a tussle with Destiny Udogie

18' Saka's free-kick curls nicely but it's just a touch too high to the top corner

31' Highlight from Arsenal vs Tottenham

32' Bentancur goes into the book when he brings down Saka

33' Saka goes for the curling effort on the free-kick but it's well saved by Vicario

36' GOAL! Trossard turns superbly and slots into the bottom! Arsenal 1-0 Tottenham

41' GOAL! Eze slots home to double the lead! Arsenal 2-0 Tottenham

45' GOAL! Eze scores his second one right after kick-off! Arsenal 3-0 Tottenham

46' Match Event for Arsenal vs Tottenham

46' Tottenham make a change at the second half as Danso makes way for Simons

51' Trossard whips one across for Eze again but it's just got a bit too much zip

52' Highlight from Arsenal vs Tottenham

54' GOAL! Richarlison scores with a brilliant long-range lob! Arsenal 3-1 Tottenham

61' Djed Spence's challenge on Martin Zubimendi is heavy but well timed

62' Rice's free-kick causes a few problems as Eze forces a save from Vicario

64' Match Event for Arsenal vs Tottenham

66' Pape Sarr and Randal Kolo Muani replace Wilson Odobert and Rodrigo Bentancur

70' Romero goes into the book for his reaction to a challenge on Mikel Merino

70' Match Event for Arsenal vs Tottenham

72' Saka goes for goal but it's parried away by Vicario and Arsenal win a corner

74' Highlight from Arsenal vs Tottenham

74' Rice's corner comes to William Saliba but Guglielmo Vicario blocks off the line

76' GOAL! Eze has his hat-trick with a great finish! Arsenal 4-1 Tottenham

78' Eze is not done! He strikes powerfully and Guglielmo Vicario punches away

78' Pedro Porro and Brennan Johnson are on for Djed Spence and Mohammed Kudus

Line-ups

Arsenal XI: Trossard, David Raya, Merino, Rice, Eberechi Eze, Martín Zubimendi, Saliba, Saka, Timber, Calafiori, Hincapie

Subs: Christian Nørgaard, Kepa, Ben White, Martinelli, Madueke, Cristhian Mosquera, Nwaneri, Lewis-Skelly, Max Dowman

Tottenham XI: Palhinha, Vicario, Bentancur, Danso, Richarlison, Cristian Romero, Mohammed Kudus, Spence, Udojie, Van de Ven, Odobert

Subs: Muani, Porro, Brennan Johnson, Pape Sarr, Xavi Simons, Kinsky, Tel, Gray, Bergvall