Arteta Dismisses Title Talk Despite Emphatic Derby Victory
Mikel Arteta issued a stark warning to Manchester City and Chelsea that his Arsenal side will not become complacent, despite storming six points clear at the Premier League summit with a thunderous 4-1 victory over arch-rivals Tottenham. The statement win, played on November 23, 2025, at a raucous Emirates Stadium, was inspired by a magnificent hat-trick from summer signing Eberechi Eze.
Eze Inspires Gunners in North London Rout
Arsenal delivered a devastating performance against their neighbours, with Eberechi Eze the undisputed star of the show. The midfielder, who was heavily linked with a move to Tottenham in the previous transfer window, exacted full revenge by netting a superb treble. Leandro Trossard also found the net, contributing to a scoreline that perfectly reflected the Gunners' dominance.
The victory was made all the more significant by the weekend's other results, which saw both Liverpool and Manchester City suffer damaging defeats. This combination of events propelled Arsenal into a commanding position, sitting six points ahead of second-placed Chelsea.
"In This League? Not Much" - Arteta's Cautious Stance
Despite the growing excitement among fans, manager Mikel Arteta was quick to downplay the significance of the six-point cushion. When asked post-match what the lead meant at this stage of the season, the Spaniard told reporters: ‘In this league? Not much.’
He elaborated, ‘We are doing really well. We’ve been really consistent and that’s it. I mean, when you look at the results, whether they win or lose, the difference in the scoreline and actually what happens in games is really small.’ This caution is born from experience, with Arsenal having finished as runners-up in each of the last three campaigns.
Arteta also highlighted the importance of bouncing back after a frustrating 0-0 draw with Sunderland before the international break. ‘We went to the international break with that bitter feeling... and we wanted to get back to earning that momentum again and the London Derby and today’s performance. It’s a good start,’ he added.
Praise for Hero Eze and Defensive Resilience
The Arsenal manager was effusive in his praise for hat-trick hero Eze, emphasising his unique quality in front of goal. ‘It doesn’t have to be perfect. It can be right, left, ball on the ground, bouncing ball at this height, and he takes it,’ Arteta said. ‘He has such a quality and capacity to finish actions in different ways that we need to play him very close to the box.’
In defence, Piero Hincapie, making his first league start since his summer arrival, impressed in the absence of Gabriel. The Ecuadorian defender lived up to his manager's 'warrior' description with a committed and assured display.
For Tottenham, it was a day to forget. Defender Kevin Danso endured a torrid time, at fault for Trossard's opener, while the attacking trio offered little threat, with young winger Wilson Odobert particularly anonymous. Goalkeeper Guglielmo Vicario was one of the few positives, making several fine saves to prevent an even more emphatic defeat.
Attention now turns to a crucial period for Arsenal, with a Champions League clash against Bayern Munich on Wednesday followed by a top-of-the-table trip to Stamford Bridge to face Chelsea next Sunday.
