Arsenal delivered a commanding performance on Sunday evening, thrashing rivals Tottenham Hotspur 4-1 at the Emirates Stadium to move six points clear at the Premier League summit and reinforce their home dominance in the North London derby.
Eze's Historic Hat-Trick Steals the Show
The match was defined by a phenomenal individual display from summer signing Eberechi Eze. The former Spurs target, who joined Arsenal under Mikel Arteta's guidance, became the first player to score a hat-trick in this fixture since 1978. His performance was laced with quality from the start, igniting the contest with a sublime pass to Declan Rice in the third minute that nearly resulted in an early goal.
Even without Eze's stardust, Arsenal looked perpetually in control, with a struggling Tottenham side creating precious few opportunities. The hosts' control was so comprehensive that the visitors failed to register a single shot or corner in the first half, managing only two touches in the Arsenal penalty area by the interval.
Frank's Tactical Surrender Backfires
Tottenham manager Thomas Frank faces serious questions after a tactical approach described by observers as tantamount to surrender. His pragmatic 5-3-2 formation was a love letter to caution, seemingly designed not to win but to avoid a heavy defeat.
This strategy backfired spectacularly. The formation left Spurs consistently outnumbered in midfield, with their only attacking outlet often being a hopeful long ball to Richarlison, a player ill-suited to the target man role. The performance highlighted the stark contrast with the daring, expansive football of former manager Ange Postecoglou, with Frank now tasked with finding a balance between defensive solidity and the courage to play football expected at a club with European aspirations.
Palhinha Not to Blame Amidst Midfield Void
While the result was damning for Spurs, midfielder Joao Palhinha was not the primary issue. The Portuguese enforcer, who had recently hit back at criticism from Jamie Carragher, made a notable second-half contribution by dispossessing Martin Zubimendi, leading to Richarlison's consolation goal.
The real problem lies in the absence of creative ball-players. With key figures like Dejan Kulusevski and James Maddison injured, Tottenham lacked the ingenuity and bravery in possession needed to compete with the league's best.
Arteta's Selection Masterstroke
For Arsenal, the victory was a testament to squad depth and managerial acumen. While Eze rightly grabbed the headlines, manager Mikel Arteta made a crucial defensive call that paid dividends. With Gabriel injured, Arteta handed a first Premier League start to Piero Hancapie, trusting the Ecuadorian's title-winning experience from Germany over other options.
This decision, born out perfectly on the pitch, underscores a growing belief that Arsenal now possess the squad depth required to sustain a title challenge, a factor that derailed their campaign last season.
The final scoreline was only slightly tempered by a moment of individual brilliance from Richarlison, who beat David Raya with a spectacular long-range effort for a consolation goal. However, as Arsenal burnished their title credentials, Tottenham looked a considerable distance from the required standard, leaving Frank with a significant challenge to change perceptions and results.
