Of course the clichés are true and a derby is a duel in itself, but in the first half it became quite clear why Arsenal are at the top of the Premier League and arch-rival Spurs are concerned about relegation. The visitors were masters in the enemy’s lair and created the best opportunities. However, this did not result in any goals in the first half hour.
Then it was Eze who broke the spell. Bukayo Saka was rewarded for his perseverance on the right flank and was able to select a teammate. He found Eze, who was working inside. Extra painful for Spurs, because Eze was almost a Tottenham player last summer. On his own initiative he eventually went to the rival. He won’t get to play too much at the Emirates Stadium this season, but Arteta will be counting on him in the North London Derbies. Eze decided the first of the season with a hat trick, his last goals The Gunners until Sunday.
Spurs did not give up, because two minutes after the opening goal the score was level again. Declan Rice lost the ball to Randal Kolo Muani, who raced into the penalty area and beat David Raya with a slider. The Tottenham Hotspur Stadium exploded. It was the only real chance for Spurs in the first half, compared to two handfuls of goal attempts from the visitors. Still, the score was level at the break and there was still plenty to play for in the second half.
They understood that best at Arsenal. The visitors took off after the break. Jurriën Timber, who started in the starting line-up, found Viktor Gyökeres on the edge of the penalty area and the Swedish striker once again showed why Arsenal paid deep for him last summer. After his acceptance, the ball was immediately in the right position and with a vicious kick he defeated Guglielmo Vicario: 1-2. Spurs once again thought they would tie the score very quickly, but the arbitration spoiled the party. Once again it was Kolo Muani who cleared the ball, but Peter Bankes saw that he pushed his opponent slightly and disallowed the goal.
Even then the best chances were ahead The Gunners and after an hour of play it happened again, shortly after Cristhian Mosquera had come to relieve Timber. Micky van de Ven – who started in the starting line-up at Tottenham together with Xavi Simons – stopped Saka, but the ball fell at the feet of Eze, who curled in. It was his sixth Premier League goal of the season. He scored five of those against Spurs.
Even after that, Spurs could hardly make a fist and Arsenal tried to kill the game, on their way to a crucial win for the mood at the Emirates Stadium. After two draws in a row, Manchester City came awfully close, but missed a visit to their arch-rival The Gunners see that their nerves have not yet gotten the better of them. There would be no new hat trick from Eze. Fifteen minutes before the end, Martin Ødegaard relieved him, while Gabriel Martinelli came in for Leandro Trossard.
The final decision belonged to Gyökeres, who also scored his second of the match in injury time. Arsenal thus increases the gap with Manchester City to five points again, although their competitor does have a game in hand in the title race. On the other side of North London, great fears are now being feared. Manager Tudor has had a disappointing debut and Tottenham Hotspur is four points above the relegation zone. The last Premier League victory dates from December 28 last year.
