Eberechi Eze scored a hat-trick as Arsenal gave Sp*rs a 4-1 paddlin’ in the North London derby to tighten their grip on top spot in the Premier League.
Leandro Trossard’s deflected effort opened the scoring before summer signing Eze, who came so close to joining the visitors, took charge with three tidy finishes. Richarlison’s long-range strike briefly cut the deficit and irritated Mikel Arteta, but it was never going to take the shine off a near-perfect evening at the Emirates.
Here’s what the managers, players, pundits and stattos made of the action…
Mikel Arteta on the win…
A great day! I enjoyed every minute of it, from the preparation, since the moment that the players came back from international duty. I sensed a feeling that they wanted to be together again, that they were ready for a fight, they were ready for a big week, and the preparation was top. Then you have to deliver it, obviously, with the energy that our people brought to the stadium. It made a huge difference. I think individually the players were exceptional from minute one. They were super dominant in almost every phase of the play. So, yeah, a day to remember. You don’t win a derby 4-1 every time, and hopefully, we made a lot of Arsenal supporters very proud and happy.
Source: Post-game press conference
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Thomas Frank on a poor performance from his side…
It’s extremely painful. I can’t talk away from that. It was a bad performance. It was the complete opposite of the intention. We can only apologise to the fans for this performance. I tried to play a 5-4-1. I will always take responsibility in the end to change the system. We changed at halftime to 4-2-3-1. My view is no matter what formation we play, it we don’t have the duels and intensity, we don’t win.
Source: NBC Sports
Guglielmo Vicario on an abject showing from Sp*rs…
It is a very bad night for us. First of all we have to apologise to the people who support us every day. They travelled and expected to see us fight but we didn’t fight, as a collective we didn’t fight. That isn’t negotiable to compete in a football match, especially at this level. Now is a tough night and a very bad defeat but we have to stick together because we know he have to address these things.
Source: premierleague.com
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Arteta on Arsenal conceding…
I’m very upset that we conceded a goal, because I think we conceded nothing. And we conceded a goal that I’m not happy about, but we can always improve in every department, that’s fine.
Source: Viaplay Fotball
Matchwinner Eberechi Eze on a half-decent day…
That is crazy. Special day, man. Special day for me, my family. I don’t think I could’ve ever dreamt of it. This is more special than that. I can only thank God. Special day, man.
Source: BBC Match of the Day
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Jurrien Timber on matchwinner Eze…
I think everyone knows the amazing qualities he has as a player. I think he shows it on the pitch today. It was his day. I don’t think it’s a coincidence. This guy always works hard and I think everyone loves him. His character is great. He falls into the group perfectly. So what I say is, I don’t think it’s a coincidence. Maybe some people are surprised but we know what he’s capable of and I’m happy he showed that today for us. I’m very happy for him. The guy showed it today. He’s a quality player, he’s a quality person and I hope many more goals for him to come and also for us.
Source: beIN SPORTS
Arteta on Eze becoming only the fourth player to score a hat-trick in a North London derby…
“That tells you about the difficulty and what he’s done today. To be fair he could have scored four or five. He’s a big player who can create magic moments which unbalance a team.
Source: BBC Match of the Day
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Leandro Trossard on the win and breaking the deadlock…
I enjoyed that a lot!. I think it was important to get that goal. After that it gave us the edge to go on and score more goals, to create chances. I think we were dominant before, but obviously that gives you that extra bit of confidence to go and win the game. It was a perfect night for us.
Source: Arsenal.com
Arteta on whether Trossard came close to leaving in the summer…
For me, no, because for me it was forbidden for him to leave. No chance. I know the player that he is, and surrounded with the players that we have, he’s a player that is going to make a difference for us. I fully agree, it was one of the best games, so aggressive with and without the ball, so effective, he could have scored another one or two goals, and he was involved in so many positive actions. So that’s what we need. As I said, I think individually, the players were excellent today.
Source: Post-game press conference
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Timber on Hincapie…
He was amazing. I think he did great. He won all his duels. The energy he brings into the team…obviously it’s not easy to replace Gabriel, everyone knows how important he is for us, and the way he [Piero] did it today in a game like this, I think it’s incredible.
Source: beIN SPORTS
Arteta on Mikel Merino…
I think he was incredible again, and we are asking him to feel as a nine, and he’s not a nine, and to do a lot of the things that a nine has to do. But he’s such an intelligent player, and his work ethic and his desire to contribute and make others better is that big. And again, those performances give you all the right reason to continue to trust him.
Source: Post-game press conference
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Thierry Henry on Arsenal being favourites…
At one point you have to embrace it. People were talking about the process. It’s not believing in the process anymore. It’s happening. Yu have to be honest,
we’ve put ourselves in a situation where we have, I do believe, the best squad. Did you hear the name of the players that he [Arteta] mentioned just now? They’re not playing. Look at how we played. You’re not complaining anymore about missing one or two. So you need to make sure that you can win the league. I’m not saying you’re going to win it, but you need to act like it. You are favourite. Embrace it.
Source: Sky Sports
Ian Wright on Eze netting a hat-trick…
When I signed for Arsenal me and David Rocastle spoke for hours about what it would be like to play against Spurs. I didn’t dream of scoring a hat-trick because I thought that would be too much, just to get one goal in my first game would be great. But for Eze, and everything he’s been through, to score a hat-trick on his north London derby is fantastic. He won’t realise until the end of the season what he has achieved.
Source: premierleague.com
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Jamie Carragher on previously suggesting Eze was a squad player…
Apologies. I’ve certainly undervalued the importance of that signing because he looks like he could make the real difference for Arsenal this season and going on to win the title.
Source: Sky Sports (via Evening Standard)
Glenn Hoddle on Arsenal’s performance…
Arsenal were hot favourites, and after Man City lost yesterday you thought they were really going to up their game. Spurs were going to be up against it, whatever, but Spurs were poor on the day. Arsenal thoroughly deserved to win and it could have been more.
Source: premierleague.com
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Arteta on the atmosphere…
I had goosebumps straight away. I went out there and I said, “Today feels different, today feels big”. And the players, I prepared them and I said, this is different. For the ones that haven’t been here, that means so much. I mean, we have the great responsibility and as well the pride to make a lot of people happy and proud about this football club. And I think we certainly have done that.
Source: Arsenal.com