Eberechi Eze's Hat-Trick Seals 4-1 Arsenal Derby Win Over Spurs
When Eberechi Eze buried his third goal in the 76th minute, the roar at Emirates Stadium didn’t just celebrate a goal—it echoed through a decade of rivalry, betrayal, and redemption. On Sunday, November 23, 2025, Arsenal Football Club crushed Tottenham Hotspur Football Club 4-1 in the fiercest fixture in English football, turning a tense north London derby into a statement of intent. The win pushed Arsenal six points clear at the top of the Premier League, a gap that feels wider after Liverpool Football Club and Manchester City Football Club both lost on Saturday. But this wasn’t just about points. It was about Eze. The Nigerian winger, once poised to join Spurs, had just become only the fourth player in history to score a hat-trick in this derby. And he did it with his old club watching, helpless.
The Transfer That Changed Everything
Let’s rewind to August 2025. Tottenham Hotspur Football Club, under then-new manager Thomas Frank, had all but sealed a £42 million move for Eze from Crystal Palace Football Club. Fans were celebrating. Social media lit up. Then, Arsenal swooped. Not with a higher bid—but with a promise. A promise of freedom, of attacking football, of being the focal point. Eze chose Arsenal. Spurs were stunned. Critics called it a gamble. Now? It looks like a heist.
Eze’s first month at Arsenal was rough. He looked lost. Missed chances. Tired runs. The criticism was loud. But Arteta never wavered. "He’s got the mentality of a killer," the Spanish manager said after training last week. "He didn’t come here to be comfortable. He came here to burn them." Sunday? He didn’t just burn them—he set the stadium on fire.
The Match: A Masterclass in Exploiting Weakness
It started quietly. Leandro Trossard, the Belgian forward, opened the scoring in the 36th minute after a slick one-two with Bukayo Saka. But the real damage came five minutes later. Eze received the ball just outside the box, turned with a flick of his heel that left Destiny Udogie stumbling, and fired low into the far corner. 2-0. The crowd didn’t just cheer—they gasped.
Half-time brought hope for Spurs. Frank, the Danish tactician, brought on Pape Sarr and Randal Kolo Muani—two powerful, direct runners. It looked like a plan. But Arsenal’s midfield, led by Declan Rice, smothered everything. In the 68th minute, Saka curled a shot that Guglielmo Vicario pushed away. The rebound? Trossard, sharp as ever, laid it off to Eze. Udogie lunged. Eze didn’t. He stepped inside, let the ball roll, and smashed it into the bottom corner. 3-0. The stadium was silent for a second. Then it exploded.
By the 82nd minute, Mikel Arteta had already made his third substitution. The game was over. But Eze wasn’t done. A counterattack, a diagonal pass from Martin Ødegaard, and Eze lashed a left-footed volley past Vicario. 4-1. The final whistle blew. The scoreboard read: Arsenal 4, Spurs 1. And Eze? He walked off with tears in his eyes.
The Cost of Missing Out
For Tottenham, it was more than a loss. It was a humiliation wrapped in irony. Frank’s three-at-the-back system, designed to stifle Arsenal’s width, collapsed under the weight of Eze’s movement and Trossard’s intelligence. Their midfield, missing James Maddison to injury, looked disjointed. Their defense, already thin, was shredded by simple runs and sharp passes. And the worst part? They knew they’d let him go.
"We thought we had him," one Spurs insider told reporters after the match. "We didn’t think he’d adapt this fast. We didn’t think he’d have this in him." That’s the cruel twist of football: the player you let go becomes the one who destroys you.
What This Means for the Title Race
Arsenal haven’t won the Premier League since 2004. This win doesn’t guarantee anything—but it changes the narrative. They’re now six points clear with 13 games played. Liverpool and Man City are already playing catch-up. And Arsenal? They’re doing it without Viktor Gyökeres, their £55 million summer signing, still sidelined with a hamstring tear. They’re winning with grit, intelligence, and moments of genius from players who weren’t supposed to be here.
Arteta’s side is now the most balanced in the league. They’ve conceded just 8 goals in 13 games. Their xG (expected goals) is the highest in the division. And now, they’ve got a derby legend in the making. Eze’s hat-trick joins the names of Jimmy Fleming (1935), Dennis Bergkamp (1998), and Thierry Henry (2005). Four names. One derby. One legacy.
What’s Next?
Arsenal face Manchester United in the FA Cup next week, then a trip to Chelsea Football Club on December 14. Eze will be the man every defender is told to mark. Spurs? They’re now seventh, seven points off the top four. Frank’s job security is under scrutiny. And the transfer window in January? Look for Spurs to move aggressively—especially for a striker. But no one will forget who got away.
Why This Matters
This wasn’t just another win. It was a cultural reset. For Arsenal fans, it was validation. For Spurs fans, it was a gut punch. For Eze, it was vindication. And for the Premier League? It reminded everyone that football isn’t just about money or tactics—it’s about moments. Moments like a 27-year-old Nigerian winger, once almost a Spur, standing alone at the edge of the box, knowing exactly what to do next.
Frequently Asked Questions
How rare is a hat-trick in the north London derby?
Only four players in over 130 years of rivalry have scored a hat-trick in the north London derby. Eberechi Eze joined an elite group including Dennis Bergkamp (1998) and Thierry Henry (2005). The last was in 1935. No player has done it since 2005, making Eze’s feat the first in 20 years and only the third in the Premier League era.
Why was Viktor Gyökeres’ absence significant for Arsenal?
Gyökeres, signed for £55 million, was expected to be Arsenal’s primary striker. His hamstring injury forced Arteta to play a fluid front three without a traditional number nine. Yet, Eze, Trossard, and Saka combined for 4 goals—proving Arsenal’s attack doesn’t rely on one star. Their depth and versatility are now their greatest strengths.
What impact did Eze’s transfer history have on his performance?
Eze’s near-move to Spurs created a psychological edge. He’d trained with them in August, knew their defensive patterns, and had personal motivation to prove he belonged at Arsenal. His first goal came from a move he’d practiced against Spurs in pre-season. That familiarity, combined with his hunger, made the difference. He didn’t just score—he exacted revenge.
How did Thomas Frank’s substitutions affect the game?
Frank’s introduction of Sarr and Kolo Muani in the 60th minute added physicality but disrupted Tottenham’s structure. Both players are direct runners, not link-up players, which left the midfield exposed. Arsenal’s press exploited the gaps. The substitutions didn’t create chances—they created space for Eze to exploit. It was a tactical misread.
What does this result mean for Arsenal’s title chances?
Six points clear with 13 games played is the largest lead Arsenal has held at this stage since 2003-04. With only 8 goals conceded and the highest xG in the league, they’re the most complete team. Even without Gyökeres, their depth and cohesion are unmatched. If they stay injury-free, this isn’t just a title challenge—it’s a potential coronation.
Where does Eberechi Eze rank among Arsenal legends now?
He’s not yet a legend—but he’s on the path. Scoring a derby hat-trick in his first season, after being rejected by Spurs, instantly places him in the club’s modern folklore. Only Henry and Bergkamp have matched that impact in recent decades. If he delivers in big games this season, he’ll be remembered alongside them—not just as a goalscorer, but as the man who turned betrayal into brilliance.
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