Arsenal Rout Tottenham 4-1 as Eze Hits Historic Hat-Trick in North London Derby

When Eberechi Eze curled his third goal past David Raya in the 78th minute, the roar at Emirates Stadium didn’t just celebrate a goal—it crowned a moment etched into derby lore. On Sunday, November 23, 2025, Arsenal crushed Tottenham Hotspur 4-1 in a performance that redefined the modern North London derby, turning what many expected to be a tight battle into a masterclass in dominance. With Mikel Arteta’s side now 29 points from 12 games, their lead at the top of the Premier League stretched to six points over Chelsea and seven over Manchester City. And the man who made it all happen? A £15 million signing from Crystal Palace, now the fourth player ever to score a hat-trick in this fixture.

A Derby Built on History, But Rewritten Today

Arsenal hadn’t lost a league match at home to Tottenham since 2010. Six derbies. Five wins. One draw. That streak felt like a law of physics—until Sunday, when it became a landslide. The stakes were high: Spurs, under new manager Thomas Frank, had transformed from a defensively porous side into the league’s most resilient away team. They’d gone unbeaten on the road in their last 10 Premier League trips—four wins, four losses, two draws. But none of that mattered against an Arsenal side firing on all cylinders.

Even without Gabriel, their captain and defensive rock, sidelined with a thigh injury expected to keep him out for two months, Arteta’s team didn’t blink. Mosquera stepped in seamlessly, and the backline held firm as Tottenham managed just three shots on target the entire match.

The Hat-Trick That Broke the Derby

Eze didn’t just score—he orchestrated. His first goal came in the 18th minute, a low, curling finish after a slick one-two with Martin Ødegaard. The second, in the 42nd, was pure instinct: a quick turn inside the box, a feint that left Cristian Romero on the turf, and a left-footed blast into the far corner. By halftime, Arsenal were 2-0 up and in complete control.

Then came the moment everyone remembers. In the 55th minute, Richarlison spotted David Raya off his line, 40 yards out, and launched a looping lob that floated over the goalkeeper’s outstretched arms. For a moment, the stadium fell silent. Then, just 11 minutes later, Eze sealed it. A counterattack, a sprint past James Maddison, and a clinical finish past Guglielmo Vicario. A fourth from Bukayo Saka in the 87th minute made it official.

Numbers Don’t Lie—Arsenal Were in Another League

The stats tell a story no pundit could have predicted:

• 60.9% possession—Arsenal’s average this season
• 15.1 shot attempts—more than any other Premier League side
• Only 0.5 goals conceded per game—best in Europe
• Spurs’ 40-yard goal was their only shot on target
• 7.1 corners per game for Arsenal—Tottenham managed just two

Even more telling? Arsenal’s 14-match unbeaten run—dating back to their August loss to Liverpool—was now extended to 15 games. And despite missing Gabriel, their defensive structure didn’t waver. William Saliba and Ben White were imperious, combining for 12 clearances and 9 interceptions.

What This Means for the Title Race

With Liverpool and Manchester City both losing on Saturday, Arteta’s team didn’t just win—they seized momentum. Six points clear at the top? That’s not a cushion. That’s a declaration. Chelsea, who had looked like serious contenders, now trail by six. Manchester City, after a shock defeat to Nottingham Forest, are seven behind. And Tottenham? Their top-four hopes took a brutal hit. With 18 points and a +6 goal difference, they’re now tied with fifth-placed Aston Villa—but with a tougher run-in and a depleted squad, their season may hinge on the next six weeks.

“We knew we had to be ruthless,” Arteta said in his post-match interview. “This isn’t just about pride. It’s about proving you can win when it matters.”

What’s Next?

Arsenal face a tough away trip to Manchester United next, followed by a home clash with Liverpool. Tottenham, meanwhile, host Brighton and then travel to Newcastle—two matches they can’t afford to drop points in. Frank admitted after the game: “We got caught out. We thought we could sit deep and counter. But they were too fast, too precise.”

The irony? Sports Gambler had tipped Tottenham +1.25 as a smart Asian Handicap bet at -106 odds. They were wrong. Pain in the Arsenal’s prediction—that Arsenal would be “defensively astute enough to not get punished”—wasn’t just right. It was prophetic.