Eberechi Eze bagged a hat-trick as Arsenal beat Tottenham
Eberechi Eze bagged a sensational hat-trick as Arsenal moved six points clear at the top of the Premier League with a 4-1 demolition of north London rivals Tottenham Hotspur at the Emirates Stadium.
Eze, who came close to joining Spurs before signing for Arsenal in August, delivered a ruthless masterclass in his first north London derby.
After Leandro Trossard opened the scoring, the England midfielder struck three superb goals to punish a shaky Spurs side and strengthen Arsenal’s title charge.
Tottenham briefly hinted at a comeback when Richarlison lobbed David Raya from 35 yards, but Arsenal were already 3-0 up, and Eze’s third, a brilliant curling finish beyond Guglielmo Vicario, killed the game.
The 27-year-old had made a relatively slow start to life at Arsenal following his £60 million move from Crystal Palace, but against the club he rejected, he delivered his best performance yet in red and white.
“That’s a good one, man. Enjoyable day. “Happy to help the team, and to win today was special,” Eze said.
“I prayed for a hat-trick today. God gave it to me, and that is faith.”
Eze, once rejected by Arsenal as a teenager, has risen to become one of English football’s standout attacking talents. His display provided a major lift to Arsenal’s bid for a first Premier League title since 2004 after three consecutive second-place finishes.
It was the first hat-trick in a north London derby since 1978 and only the fourth in the long history of the rivalry.
Asked to pick his favourite, Eze chose his second goal, a crisp finish just 35 seconds into the second half.
“Maybe the second one. That was my favourite. All of them are good for me.”
