Arsenal: Raya, Timber, Saliba, Hincapie, Calafiori, Zubimendi, Rice, Eze, Trossard, Saka, Merino
Subs: Kepa, White, Mosquera, Martinelli, Norgaard, Madueke, Lewis-Skelly, Nwaneri, Dowman
Arsenal extended their lead at the top of the Premier League to six points, after humiliating Sp*rs 4-1 at Emirates Stadium on Sunday, thanks to a goal from Leandro Trossard and a hat-trick from Eberechi Eze.
Mikel Arteta made one change from the side that drew against Sunderland before the international break, with Piero Hincapie coming in for Gabriel at centre back.
Gabriel Martinelli and Noni Madueke were welcome additions to the bench, although none of the other injured cohort were deemed fit enough to join them.
FIRST HALF
Arsenal were close to a dream start when their first attack almost led to the opening goal, when Declan Rice was played through by a cute ‘scooped’ pass from Eberechi Eze but his effort was too central and saved by Vicario.
That early chance set the tone and Arteta’s men began to dominate possession, with Spurs looking to go long whenever they had room to breathe. There was a brief stoppage in play after Trossard took a knock to the knee which felt like a welcome break for the visitors.
There was already some early needle in the game and after some handbags between Saka and Udogie, the Gunners captain shot over from the resulting free kick.
Spurs did settle though and were slowing the game down with small fouls and taking ages from every set piece situation, before settling into a low block with everybody behind the ball which made it difficult for Arsenal to find anybody through the lines.
But with half time approaching, Arsenal did eventually break the deadlock and it came from their mister reliable Leandro Trossard who seemingly loves scoring against Spurs.
After Mikel Merino was given too much time in midfield, he turned and chipped a beautiful pass through to Trossard – who ran off the back of Kevin Danso – before controlling and scuffing an effort beyond Vicario despite a desperate, late lunge from Van de Ven. 1-0.
It was the lift-off moment Arsenal needed and from that moment Spurs were firefighting across the pitch. Unfortunately for them, they didn’t account for Eze and his twinkle toes on the edge of the box.
After some good play between Trossard and Saka out wide, Rice picked up a loose ball in midfield and found Eze in space, who slalomed inside two Spurs defenders and rifled a shot past Vicario before he even had the chance to dive. 2-0.
Emirates Stadium was rocking and two goals in five minutes left the visitors stunned, whose game plan to frustrate Arsenal burst into flames before they had a chance to regroup.
The half time stats made for grim (hilarious) reading, with Arsenal dominating their rivals in almost every department – with Thomas Frank’s side unable to muster a single attempt on goal.
SECOND HALF
In hope of rescuing the game, Spurs responded by bringing on Xavi Simons for Danso at half time, a change which lasted *checks notes* 36 seconds before Eze curled in his second of the evening.
Having found a criminal amount of space on the edge of the box (again), he took one touch and struck a beautiful left-footed strike into the far corner, beyond Vicario before most fans were even back in their chairs. 3-0.
Arsenal were cruising at that point with Spurs so far out of the game, but a sloppy moment in midfield gave them a minuscule sight of goal; one which was maximised with efficiency from Richarlison.
Martin Zubimendi was caught taking too many touches on halfway by Joao Palhinha, with the ball falling to Richarlison who executed an inch-perfect lob over David Raya from 40 yards out. 3-1.
It was a goal that came from nowhere and a needless gift from an Arsenal perspective, but the finish was brilliant – and certainly not bad for Spurs’ first shot of the game.
That threatened to make the last 35 minutes more interesting but Arteta’s men regrouped quickly and almost added a fourth of their own, when Jurrien Timber somehow failed to divert a close range header on target but their fourth did eventually arrive – from the boot of Eze once again.
After Merino collected a loose ball in midfield, he found Trossard who then cut-back for Eze on the edge of the box, who took a touch, sat Udogie down on his backside and smacked a finish into the near post. 4-1.
Emirates Stadium was bouncing again as the whole team came over to celebrate, with Eze visibly emotional at securing his hat-trick in a fixture of this magnitude.
In doing so, he became only the fourth player in Arsenal history to score a competitive hat-trick against Spurs and the first player to score a treble – in this fixture – in 47 years.
That goal secured all three points on another successful home outing for the Gunners, with Madueke, Ethan Nwaneri, Cristhian Mosquera and Myles Lewis-Skelly all making brief substitute appearances to help see the game out.
Six points clear, Spurs in the mud and Eze letting it all work out. We’ve had worse days at the office.