Eberechi Eze scored a superb hat-trick as Arsenal comfortably beat Tottenham Hotspur 4-1 in the North London derby, giving the Gunners their fourth straight derby win, their longest run this century.
Arsenal almost scored inside three minutes when Eze set up Declan Rice, whose volley was struck well but saved by Guglielmo Vicario. The home side kept pushing, with Cristian Romero blocking a Mikel Merino effort and Bukayo Saka causing constant problems for Destiny Udogie.
Arsenal eventually took the lead in the 36th minute when Mikel Merino picked out Leandro Trossard, whose turn and shot deflected off Micky van de Ven and wrong-footed Vicario. Just five minutes later, Eze created space in the box and fired in a second, again with a slight touch off van de Ven helping the ball past the goalkeeper.
Within 40 seconds of the second half starting, Eze struck again, picking out the bottom corner from Jurriën Timber’s pass to complete a brilliant hat-trick. Spurs briefly lifted themselves when João Palhinha won the ball and Richarlison smashed in a stunning long-range goal, their first shot of the match.
Romero’s booking for dissent added to Spurs’ frustration, ruling him out of their next game. Arsenal kept control, and Eze almost added a fourth with another effort saved late on.
The win means Arsenal are now unbeaten in 15 matches and move six points clear at the top of the Premier League. Tottenham, meanwhile, have won only once in their last five games and drop to ninth place.
