In a 4-1 defeat of Tottenham in the north London derby, which boosted the Premier League leaders’ title defense, Arsenal midfielder Eberechi Eze delivered a brilliant hat-trick.
Leandro Trossard and Eze scored the opening goal for Tottenham at the Emirates Stadium on Sunday, but Mikel Arteta’s side were too strong for the timid Tottenham.
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Eze struck once more in the second half, spurning Tottenham’s attempts to move to Arsenal in the final few weeks of the season.
Eze’s superb treble put the Gunners six points clear at the top, but Richarlison’s incredible long-range goal reduced the deficit.
After Ted Drake, Terry Dyson, and Alan Sunderland, the most recent derby hat-trick came in 1978, making it the fourth north London derby hat-trick.
Sunderland’s late equalizer before the international break ended Arsenal’s 10-game winning streak.
However, Eze’s best performance since his £60 million (£78 million) departure from Crystal Palace ended that bitter end as Tottenham battled it out once more at the Emirates.
In 33 home games against bitter rivals from the other end of Seven Sisters Road, The Gunners have lost just once in their last seven north London derbies, going unbeaten.
The perfect start to a crucial season, which included a visit from Bayern Munich on Wednesday before a trip to second-placed Chelsea the following weekend, was Arsenal’s biggest win over Tottenham since 2012.
Arsenal’s 15-game unbeaten run in all competitions enabled them to capitalize on Manchester City’s 2-1 defeat at Newcastle on Saturday.
Arsenal have a fantastic chance to win their first English title since 2004 now that City is raging and champions Liverpool are in turmoil.
Tottenham’s best away record came with the Premier League, but the sluggish conclusion of their five-game unbeaten run on the road rekindled concerns about Thomas Frank’s anti-social philosophy.
It was noted that Tottenham might have a potential weakness if they didn’t get to use Gabriel Magalhaes, an injured Arsenal player.
Tottenham’s approach to the Arsenal penalty area was hardly ever enough to refute that theory.
In the absence of Viktor Gyokeres who was injured, Mikel Merino was once more used as Arsenal’s makeshift striker, but the Spain midfielder plunged deep into a more familiar territory to give Trossard the lead in the 36th minute.
Trossard was picked out by Merino after a sublime pass was made over the Tottenham rearguard. Kevin Danso, who was agitated, played him onside.
Trossard made a smart turn and found a shot that deflected past Guglielmo Vicario from 10 yards.
Eze would be turning out for Tottenham if Tottenham had their way in the summer, but Arsenal brokered a deal with Palace to sign the England star at the eleventh hour.
Who is Eze, Frank joked? when questioned about the failed move this week.
In the 41st minute, Eze took Declan Rice’s pass in stride and drilled a fine low finish past Vicario.
At the end of the game, Frank sent Xavi Simons to Danso, but it was irrelevant whether Tottenham had signed Xavi or Eze instead.
Tottenham’s flat-footed defense was punished by Eze’s predatory finish with a predatory finish just inside the area just 35 seconds after half-time.
When Richarlison lobbed David Raya with a sensational effort from 35 yards in the 55th minute, the crowing Arsenal fans were briefly silenced.
Tottenham’s first shot of the game came on that occasion, and Eze’s blistering strike from 12 yards in the 76th minute put a fitting seal on his masterwork.
After the game, Eze revealed to Sky Sports that he had prayed for a hat-trick.
“I appreciate this,” I said. For this, I put in a lot of effort. He said, “That was my prayer today for a hat-trick.”
“My entire family is present.” It becomes even more unique as a result.
Vicario, the goalkeeper for Tottenham, thanked the fans and said his team did not show enough fighting.
“We need to fight every day and every duel.” We didn’t play our game in that regard, he told Sky Sports.
Source: Aljazeera
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