Eberechi Eze once again proved to be Tottenham Hotspur’s tormentor as Arsenal delivered a powerful statement in the title race with a commanding victory in the north London derby.
The win restored Arsenal’s five-point cushion at the top of the Premier League table, easing the pressure that had mounted after their midweek collapse at Wolverhampton Wanderers. Having surrendered a two-goal lead at Molineux, questions had resurfaced about Arsenal’s composure in the title run-in—especially after Manchester City closed the gap with victory over Newcastle United.
But in the cauldron of the derby, Arsenal answered emphatically.
Eze, whose form had dipped since his memorable hat-trick against Spurs in December, chose the perfect stage to rediscover his spark. The 27-year-old England forward had featured in all 15 of Arsenal’s subsequent league fixtures but started only four, accumulating limited minutes. Under the watchful gaze of England head coach Thomas Tuchel, he delivered a performance brimming with intent and authority.
Arsenal were briefly rattled when Spurs found an equaliser, but there was no sense of panic. Instead, Mikel Arteta’s side maintained control, dictating tempo and exposing the defensive frailties of their rivals.
Critics had questioned striker Viktor Gyökeres in recent weeks, yet he responded with two clinical finishes, including a powerful late effort after outmuscling Archie Gray in stoppage time to seal the result. It was a display of physical dominance and sharp finishing that underlined Arsenal’s attacking depth.
For Spurs, the evening underscored the scale of the task facing new manager Igor Tudor, who recently succeeded Thomas Frank until the end of the season. Tudor had spoken candidly about the challenge ahead, but any lingering optimism was swept away by Arsenal’s ruthlessness.
Randal Kolo Muani offered Spurs fleeting hope with a bustling equaliser, yet once Arsenal regained the lead early in the second half, the contest effectively ended. Spurs showed endeavour, but their depleted squad struggled to cope with Arsenal’s cohesion and quality.
Now sitting 16th and only four points above the relegation zone, Tottenham face an anxious run-in. Tudor returns to the training ground confronted by the stark reality of a relegation battle—an uncomfortable position for a club accustomed to European ambitions.
For Arsenal, however, this was more than a derby win. It was a message to the chasing pack. After the wobble at Wolves and the mounting scrutiny, they responded with calm authority. With Eze rediscovering form and Gyökeres silencing doubters, the Gunners’ title credentials look increasingly robust.
In north London, the balance of power felt emphatically clear—and in the broader title race, Arsenal have once again tightened their grip.
