It has been one other large weekend for Arsenal.
A fortnight after the Gunners’ shock draw at Sunderland gave their Premier League title rivals new hope, Sunday’s resounding win over Tottenham has put them firmly again within the sizzling seat.
Commercial
Eberechi Eze, a Spurs summer time goal, was the hero, scoring his first hat-trick in senior soccer and the primary in a north London derby since 1978 as Arsenal thrashed Tottenham 4-1 in an ominous show for the remainder of the Premier League.
A day after defending champions Liverpool misplaced a sixth of their previous seven matches and closest rivals Manchester Metropolis had been crushed at Newcastle, Mikel Arteta’s males had no such issues to maneuver six factors away from second-placed Chelsea.
And this felt like a press release win in opposition to their bitter rivals – who went into the sport unbeaten away from dwelling all season – particularly going into the sport with Gabriel, Martin Odegaard, Kai Havertz, Viktor Gyokores on the damage listing.
Taking away Richarlison’s unbelievable chip from distance to earn the guests a comfort objective, there was solely ever one winner in as one-sided a north London derby as you may get.
Commercial
Arsenal had 17 pictures in comparison with Tottenham’s three, with the guests ending with an anticipated objectives (xG) of simply 0.07.
“That’s loopy. Big day, man. Big day for me, my household,” Eze instructed BBC Match of the Day.
“I do not assume I may have ever dreamt of it. That is extra particular than that. I can solely thank god.
“We had been ready for no matter set-up they had been coming with due to the diligence of our workers. Enormous credit score to them, and naturally the gamers in our crew – the flexibility, the expertise. From no matter angle, we’re threatening to attain objectives.
“I most likely ought to have scored 4. I am at all times attempting to attain, at all times attempting to take my probabilities. It is vital to be relentless.”
Commercial
Eze makes north London derby historical past
What a day it turned out to be for boyhood Arsenal fan Eze.
Earlier than the match Tottenham supervisor Thomas Frank joked “who?” when questioned about how shut Eze was to changing into a Spurs participant in the summertime. These phrases definitely got here again to hang-out him.
A primary senior hat-trick is a giant landmark in itself, not to mention a primary treble in Premier League north London derby historical past.
Eze signed for Arsenal in a deal price £67m and is beginning to cement himself as one of many first names on the teamsheet for supervisor Mikel Arteta.
When he signed for the Gunners there have been questions on the place he would match into the facet however, after an damage to captain Odegaard, Eze has taken his alternative with each arms.
Commercial
The 27-year-old has taken time to settle as he obtained used to a special position on this Arsenal crew than the one he was used to at Crystal Palace, however he has already began to ship huge moments.
He supplied a wonderful cross for Gabriel Martinelli’s stoppage-time equaliser in opposition to Metropolis, scored the winner in opposition to Palace and now has a primary senior hat-trick in opposition to rivals Tottenham.
Eze offers one thing completely different to the remainder of the Arsenal forwards and his unpredictability provides one other edge to Arsenal’s ahead line.
The Gunners have one other two huge video games arising, with matches in opposition to Bayern Munich and Chelsea, however Eze will relish the problem given the shape he’s now in.
Commercial
“That is him. He had two days off after the England camp and after day one he wished to coach,” Arteta mentioned.
“He wished to return again and enhance and ask questions. When you could have such a expertise and such an intelligence and you then add that willingness to be higher and practise, this stuff occur.
“Once I spoke to Thomas Tuchel (about him) I mentioned how good is he? He mentioned to me among the best I’ve seen. I fee him among the best when it comes to expertise. If we add in now his work fee, willingness to play for this crew and the enjoyment I sense when he’s the constructing now we have a particular participant there.”
No English participant has been concerned in additional objectives that Eze in 2025 within the Premier League. Solely Erling Haaland (25), Mohamed Salah (23), Bryan Mbeumo (21) and Antoine Semenyo (18) been concerned in additional Premier League objectives than the Arsenal quantity 10 (18 – 10 objectives, eight assists).
Commercial
“I understand how a lot this transfer from Crystal Palace meant to him and what a efficiency from him. Greatest participant on the pitch,” former Crystal Palace ahead Clinton Morrison instructed BBC Radio 5 Dwell.
“That is the place his Arsenal profession takes off.”
How important is Arsenal’s lead?
Sure, there are nonetheless 26 video games left to play for every crew this season, we hear you say.
So a six-point lead at this level is unquestionably removed from unsurmountable? Right, however the stats recommend Arsenal’s lead is pretty important.
That is the fifth time Arsenal have been high of the Premier League after 12 matches however – look away now, Arsenal followers – they’ve didn’t go on and win the title the previous thrice they’ve led the best way at this stage.
Commercial
Nevertheless, that is the largest lead they’ve had at this stage of a Premier League marketing campaign.
And it will get even higher, Gunners followers. No crew has didn’t win the title with a lead of six factors or extra after 12 video games of a Premier League season.
That stat is a bit deceptive, although, as groups have come from additional again to win the title.
So the extra pertinent query is what number of instances have groups been six or extra factors behind the leaders after 12 video games and nonetheless been topped champions?
It nonetheless seems fairly wholesome for Arsenal, with the reply being simply 5 instances – the newest being in 2013-14 when Metropolis had been six factors behind leaders Arsenal.
Commercial
Chelsea should be thought-about title challengers now they’re sitting in second spot.
They’ve gained 5 of their previous six league video games, successful three successive league matches with out conceding for the primary time since 2022.
Aston Villa and Palace, two and three factors behind Chelsea respectively, may also think about themselves challengers.
With Liverpool now 11 factors behind Arsenal, Arne Slot’s males must do one thing no crew has completed in Premier League historical past to return again and win the title.
Solely two groups have come again from Metropolis’s present seven-point deficit to win the league.
No Gabriel, no downside
Arsenal followers would have been fearful going into the north London derby with out arguably their finest centre-back, Gabriel.
Commercial
The Brazilian had been an ever-present in Arsenal’s extremely sturdy defensive begin to the season, main the best way in aerial duals and clearances and making the joint second highest variety of blocks within the league.
Final season Arsenal gained solely 4 of their 12 league matches when Gabriel and William Saliba didn’t begin collectively.
However this seems to be a special Arsenal after a summer time after they spent £250m and introduced in eight gamers as they aimed to extend their squad depth with high quality gamers.
A kind of who performed on Sunday was Piero Hincapie, who got here in for Gabriel.
The defender has joined on mortgage from Bayer Leverkusen, with a £52m choice to make the deal everlasting, and is a favorite of Arteta, who known as him a “warrior”.
Commercial
Hincapie is a Bundesliga winner and may also play at left-back, giving Arteta choices whereas guaranteeing there may be not a drop-off in high quality if Saliba or Gabriel are unavailable.