Sol Campbell Delivers Blunt 'About Time' Verdict on Arsenal Star After Derby Triumph
Arsenal icon Sol Campbell expressed his delight with the Gunners' emphatic 4-1 victory over Tottenham in the North London Derby, but delivered a pointed message to summer signing Viktor Gyokeres, stating it was "about time" the striker made a decisive impact in a major fixture.
Pressure Mounts After Wolves Setback
The victory came at a crucial moment for Mikel Arteta's side, who faced mounting pressure after last week's disappointing draw against Wolves allowed Manchester City to close the gap at the Premier League summit to just two points. Arsenal responded with a commanding performance that mirrored their earlier season victory over their fiercest rivals.
Eberechi Eze continued his remarkable scoring streak against Tottenham, netting two goals to add to his November hat-trick against the club he nearly joined last summer. The England international has now scored five of his six Premier League goals this season against Spurs.
Campbell's Mixed Praise for Arsenal Attackers
While acknowledging Eze's man-of-the-match performance, Campbell reserved special attention for Gyokeres, who scored twice in what the former defender described as his "most accomplished performance" since arriving from Sporting Lisbon.
"A 4-1 win away from home, keep going, keep rocking and we're going to get there. We're going to do it this year," Campbell declared. "Eze was man of the match but Gyokeres came close. It's about time he turned up, and I think those two goals are going to do him the world of good."
Arteta's Pride in Response to Adversity
Manager Mikel Arteta expressed immense pride in his team's response to their recent disappointment, particularly highlighting the psychological challenge of bouncing back from conceding a last-minute equalizer against Wolves.
"It feels like we showed what we are made of," Arteta stated. "I cannot be prouder of what I've seen out there, especially with the context of the way we lived the last 72 hours. After what happened against Wolves and losing two points with the last kick of the game, it was tough. But that's the beauty of this game."
The Spanish manager emphasized the importance of using setbacks as motivation, adding: "This one is gone, and how can we use it to be a turning point and to make ourselves better? That was the focus, that was the intention today. What we've done from the beginning to the end of the match today was outstanding."
Gyokeres' Personal Redemption
Arteta revealed Gyokeres had been "upset" about not starting against Wolves, suggesting the striker's performance against Tottenham represented both personal and team redemption. "You just have to look at his face and the way he was in the dressing room with a big smile," Arteta observed. "He came here for a reason, and we need those moments from these players. I could see that he wanted to prove something."
The victory provides crucial momentum as Arsenal prepare to face Chelsea next weekend, a team they recently defeated over two legs in the Carabao Cup semi-final. When asked about the upcoming fixture, Campbell confidently predicted: "We've done them in the cup, we can do them again."
The comprehensive derby win not only strengthens Arsenal's title credentials but also highlights the growing impact of their summer signings, with both Eze and Gyokeres proving instrumental in one of the season's most significant results.
