Shearer Lauds 'Unplayable' Eze After Derby Masterclass
Former England captain Alan Shearer has heaped praise on Eberechi Eze following the midfielder's stunning hat-trick in Arsenal's emphatic 4-1 victory over Tottenham Hotspur. The win at the weekend saw the Gunners tighten their grip on top spot, opening up a six-point lead over second-placed Chelsea.
Shearer, speaking on The Rest Is Football podcast, described Eze's performance as 'unplayable' and suggested the player was having 'the day of his life'. The pundit highlighted the space afforded to Eze by the Spurs defence, which allowed him to showcase his array of flicks, tricks, and clinical finishes.
North London Derby Dominance
The match, played on Sunday, saw Leandro Trossard open the scoring with a deflected strike in the 36th minute. Eze then took centre stage, netting a spectacular hat-trick to become the first player to score a hat-trick in a north London derby since Alan Sunderland in 1978.
Tottenham's lone reply came from Richarlison, who audaciously lobbed goalkeeper David Raya from 35 yards in the 55th minute. Despite this moment of brilliance, Arsenal were the dominant force throughout the contest and were thoroughly deserving of the three points.
Title Race: City Still the Biggest Threat
Despite Arsenal's commanding lead and Manchester City's recent 2-1 defeat to Newcastle, Shearer believes Pep Guardiola's side remain the 'most likely' challengers for the Premier League title.
'I would still say City,' Shearer stated. 'We've seen City after Christmas before do it, they're used to it and they can do it. I know it's different and, defensively, they're certainly not as good as they have been. But because they've been there and they know what to do, I would still say Manchester City.'
Shearer effectively ruled Liverpool out of the title conversation, pointing to their six league defeats. Fellow pundit Micah Richards agreed with Shearer's assessment of City, but also commented on Chelsea's potential, suggesting that while Enzo Maresca's side can 'beat anyone on their day', they currently lack the consistency to mount a sustained title challenge.
Arsenal now turn their attention to a midweek Champions League fixture against Bayern Munich before a crucial London derby away to Chelsea, where they will look to further cement their status as the team to beat.
