North London Derby Match Report

The North London Derby delivered its usual chaos, emotion and high-stakes drama — but this time it belonged almost entirely to Arsenal. In front of a roaring Emirates Stadium, the Gunners produced one of their most complete derby performances in recent years, dismantling Tottenham 4–1 in a match defined by intensity, technical quality, and the birth of a new derby hero: Eberechi Eze, whose stunning hat-trick will enter Arsenal folklore.

Arsenal were hungry, sharp, and purposeful from the opening whistle. Tottenham, meanwhile, never looked settled. Their shape shifted between a back three and back five but neither offered much protection against Arsenal’s fluid, mobile front line. The warning signs were obvious even before the first goal — Arsenal moved the ball quickly through the thirds, always finding pockets behind Tottenham’s midfield, and it was only a matter of time before the breakthrough came.

First Half: Arsenal Take Control

Trossard Opens the Scoring

The deadlock was broken in the 36th minute. Arsenal carved Spurs open with a sequence of quick, vertical passes. Mikel Merino picked up possession centrally, drove forward with confidence, and slipped a beautifully weighted pass into Leandro Trossard on the left. Trossard cut inside onto his right foot and fired low; the ball took a deflection off Micky van de Ven and wrong-footed the goalkeeper. The Emirates erupted — the breakthrough had come, and Arsenal looked energised, not relieved.

Eze’s First Moment of Magic

Tottenham barely had time to process the setback before Arsenal struck again. Just five minutes later, Eberechi Eze announced himself to the derby with a moment of pure individual brilliance. Picking up the ball at the edge of the box, he danced effortlessly between two Spurs midfielders before driving a precise, low shot into the far corner. It took a faint touch along the way, but the quality of the move was unmistakable. Arsenal went into halftime leading 2–0, fully in command, while Tottenham were visibly shaken.

Second Half: Eze Takes Over the Derby

Arsenal started the second half with a ruthlessness that spoke to their new-found maturity. Tottenham attempted to adjust their structure, but before they could settle, Eze struck again.

Eze Makes It 3–0

Barely seconds after the restart, Arsenal pressed high, regained possession, and found Eze in a central position. This time he curled in a left-footed strike from outside the area, catching the keeper off-guard. The Emirates exploded — 3–0, derby effectively done, but Arsenal weren’t finished.

Richarlison Pulls One Back

Tottenham, to their credit, responded with their only real moment of quality. Richarlison spotted Arsenal’s keeper slightly off his line and executed a spectacular long-range lob from well outside the box. It was an outrageous hit — the kind that would have been talked about for weeks had the scoreline not been so lopsided. The goal gave Spurs a flicker of hope, but they never found the belief or momentum required to stage a comeback.

Eze Completes His Hat-Trick

With 15 minutes remaining, Arsenal delivered the final blow. Trossard, already influential, drove down the left and cut the ball back into the penalty area. Eze arrived with perfect timing, showing composure and cold-blooded finishing as he curled home his third of the afternoon. A North London Derby hat-trick — something incredibly rare — and a performance that stamped his authority on one of the fiercest rivalries in English football.

The celebration was iconic: Eze standing in front of the home crowd, arms outstretched, expression calm. A star-making moment.

Why Arsenal Dominated

1. Total Midfield Control

Arsenal’s midfield trio dictated the entire match. Their ability to rotate positions, switch play quickly, and find spaces between Tottenham’s lines left Spurs constantly chasing shadows. Declan Rice, in particular, was immense — breaking up play, distributing sharply, and setting the tempo.

2. Spurs’ Structural Problems

Tottenham struggled to maintain their shape defensively. Whether in a back three or five, they were repeatedly dragged out of position by Arsenal’s movement and quick combinations. Their midfield screen was too easily bypassed, leaving the defence exposed.

3. Attacking Cohesion

Arsenal’s attackers worked as a unit — interchanging positions, pressing with synchronised aggression, and consistently making intelligent runs. Trossard’s creativity, Eze’s unpredictability, and the control behind them created a dynamic Spurs never came close to matching.

Standout Performers

Eberechi Eze

A derby hat-trick — enough said. But beyond the goals, he was everywhere: gliding past defenders, finding pockets of space, linking play, and providing the spark Arsenal have long craved in the final third. This performance will be remembered for years.

Leandro Trossard

One goal, one assist, and constant threat. His dribbling, energy, and combination play tore Tottenham’s right side apart.

Declan Rice

The engine of the team. He dictated the tempo, won battles, and transitioned Arsenal from defence to attack with authority.

Tottenham’s Struggles

Tottenham simply couldn’t cope with Arsenal’s intensity. Their attack lacked creativity, their defence was disorganised, and their midfield never got close enough to disrupt Arsenal’s build-up. Their only true highlight was Richarlison’s sensational goal, but it served more as consolation than catalyst. The match exposed structural problems that Tottenham will need to address quickly if they intend to compete with the league’s elite.

What the Result Means

For Arsenal

This win was more than three points — it was a statement. A derby victory, sparkling attacking football, and a performance dripping with title-challenger authority. Arsenal moved six points clear at the top of the table, strengthening their grip on first place and showcasing a squad full of confidence, maturity, and flair.

For Tottenham

It’s a sobering moment. Their weaknesses — defensive vulnerability, lack of midfield control, and inconsistency in attack — were laid bare. The manager will need to regroup the team mentally and tactically to avoid a slide in the coming weeks.

Verdict

Arsenal were absolutely dominant — fast, aggressive, clinical, and confident. Spurs had moments, but this was a derby dictated by one side. Eze’s hat-trick will go down as one of the great individual performances in the rivalry’s modern history, and Arsenal’s supporters will remember this afternoon as a landmark moment in their season.