Eze's North London Derby Masterclass
Mikel Arteta hailed Eberechi Eze for bringing a new 'aura' to his Arsenal squad after the summer signing delivered a career-first hat-trick in a devastating 4-1 victory over arch-rivals Tottenham Hotspur. The emphatic win at the Emirates Stadium sent the Gunners six points clear at the top of the Premier League table, delivering a significant statement in the title race.
A Performance of Faith and Finishing
The England international, who was close to joining Spurs from Crystal Palace before Arsenal secured his signature for £67.5 million, was in scintillating form. After Leandro Trossard opened the scoring, Eze took centre stage. He mesmerised the Spurs defence with a dazzling dribble and finish to make it 2-0 at half-time.
The second half began in blistering fashion for the home side, with Eze doubling his personal tally just 36 seconds after the restart. Despite a fine consolation strike from Tottenham's Richarlison, Eze had the final word, completing his hat-trick to seal a memorable derby day.
Reflecting on his match-winning contribution, an emotional Eze said, 'It is special. Words can't explain this one today. That's what I prayed for: a hat-trick and I got it. I'm grateful to God. God gave it to me, that's faith.'
Arteta's Delight and Tottenham's Despair
Arsenal's manager was effusive in his praise for the match-winner. 'When a player has such a talent, and his desire is at that level, then these things happen,' Arteta stated. He revealed Eze's dedication, noting the player's desire to train on his days off and his constant quest for improvement. 'He brought something else to the team... it's a joy, it's an aura that this team needed,' Arteta added.
For Tottenham manager Thomas Frank, the performance was a bitter pill to swallow. His tactical setup, which began with a five-man defence, was abandoned at half-time as his team struggled to make any impact. The statistics painted a damning picture, with Spurs recording a mere 0.07 expected goals and only four touches in Arsenal's penalty area throughout the entire match.
'It was hugely disappointing that we didn't perform better against Arsenal, our biggest rival. I can only apologise to the fans for that,' a dejected Frank admitted post-match.
The victory not only extends Arsenal's lead at the summit but also provides a huge psychological boost, demonstrating their credentials as serious title contenders with a dominant display against their nearest neighbours.
