Eberechi Eze and Viktor Gyokeres at the double as Gunners go five points clear of Man City

Eberechi Eze and Viktor Gyokeres both struck twice as Arsenal powered past Tottenham Hotspur 4-1 in a commanding North London derby display.

The emphatic victory sends the Gunners five points clear of Manchester City, who still have a game in hand. It was a response full of intensity and purpose following a frustrating 2-2 draw with Wolverhampton Wanderers earlier in the week.

Speaking after the match, Gary Neville suggested the result was exactly what manager Mikel Arteta needed to ease growing scrutiny after recent performances.

Arsenal had also beaten Spurs 4-1 in the reverse fixture earlier in the season, with Eze netting a hat-trick on that occasion. While he did not quite replicate that feat, he once again proved decisive against Tottenham. He opened the scoring by reacting quickest inside the box, hooking the ball home from close range for his first goal since that memorable November treble.

For much of the first half, Arsenal dictated the tempo and looked firmly in control. However, any sense of comfort was short-lived. Just 24 seconds after the restart, a lapse in concentration allowed Spurs back into the contest. Declan Rice was dispossessed in midfield, paving the way for Randal Kolo Muani to surge through and finish emphatically past the goalkeeper.

The setback did little to rattle Arsenal. Gyokeres, who led the line with strength and composure throughout, restored the home side’s advantage with a well-taken goal that underlined his all-round performance. His movement and physical presence repeatedly unsettled the Spurs defence.

Eze then struck again to give Arsenal breathing space. After a save in the box caused momentary chaos, he reacted sharply to sweep in the rebound and make it 3-1. It effectively extinguished Tottenham’s hopes of mounting a comeback.

Spurs briefly believed they had equalised at 2-2 before Eze’s second goal. Kolo Muani found the net, but referee Peter Bankes penalised a push on Gabriel Magalhaes in the build-up. The decision stood following a VAR review, much to the frustration of the away side.

With Arsenal in complete control as the game moved into added time, Gyokeres added further gloss to the scoreline. He grabbed his second of the afternoon to cap a dominant derby performance and send the Emirates crowd into celebration.

The travelling Arsenal supporters revelled in the result, taunting their rivals as Spurs remain perilously close to the relegation zone, just four points above the bottom three. The gulf in quality between the two sides was evident throughout the contest.

‘Arsenal in a different league to Spurs – and could be next season!’

Sky Sports pundit Jamie Redknapp was effusive in his praise of Arsenal’s display. He described the performance as controlled, polished and overwhelmingly superior, arguing that the contest felt like a mismatch. In his view, Arsenal operated with a level of class and cohesion that Tottenham simply could not match.

Redknapp also warned that Spurs risk deeper problems if their current form continues, suggesting that sustained performances of this nature could have serious consequences. He singled out Gyokeres for his leadership in attack and highlighted Eze’s creativity and composure as central to the comprehensive victory.

Tudor very ‘sad’ and ‘angry’ with derby defeat

Tottenham head coach Igor Tudor did not hide his frustration after the defeat. He admitted his side are currently struggling both physically and mentally, acknowledging that they lack the confidence and intensity required to compete at this level.

Tudor indicated that while preparations had been thorough, the reality of facing a high-performing Arsenal side exposed clear shortcomings. He stressed the need for introspection within the squad and coaching staff, urging everyone at the club to reassess standards and mentality in order to build a more resilient and serious team identity.

Van de Ven: Arsenal were the better team

Tottenham defender Micky van de Ven conceded that Arsenal deserved the victory. He noted that although Spurs were level at 1-1 during the first half, conceding soon after the break made the challenge significantly harder.

Van de Ven pointed to moments where Tottenham’s pressing lacked precision, allowing Arsenal to play through them too easily. He admitted that the Gunners created more opportunities and controlled key phases of the game, making it difficult for Spurs to recover.

In the end, the derby underlined Arsenal’s title credentials and Tottenham’s ongoing struggles. With momentum building and a five-point cushion at the summit, Arteta’s side appear firmly in the driving seat, while their North London rivals are left searching for answers.