North London is most definitely red.
[Arsenal](https://paininthearsenal.com/arsenal-4-1-tottenham-player-ratings-dominant-north-london-derby-win) kept up their recent NLD dominance on Sunday as an [Eberechi Eze](https://paininthearsenal.com/arsenal-most-important-player-beating-tottenham-not-eberechi-eze) hat-trick helped them to a big 4-1 win.
Pre-match fireworks were matched by a fiery home start and the Gunners almost took the lead after three minutes. Eze dinked a fine ball into Declan Rice who met it on the volley, only to be denied by the legs of Guglielmo Vicario.
Then, the game drifted and Spurs did their utmost to frustrate the Emirates, taking ages over every free kick and throw-in. It worked to begin with, but would fall apart just before half-time, when a truly sensational pass from Mikel Merino found a lurking Leandro Trossard and his deflected strike fizzed into the net.
That lit the touchpaper for Arsenal and soon the dam broke as goals two and three came either side of the interval. Both arrived thanks to Eze, who produced two clinical strikes – first with his right, the second from his left boot – to put the home team in full control.
An incredible lob from Richarlison rattled the Gunners cage but party mode would be restored later as Eze completed his hat-trick. Excellent work from Trossard – another strong contender for MOTM – saw him wriggle away from three defenders before teeing up Eze and his powerful effort gave Vicario no chance.
There are no negatives worth dwelling on from that brilliant display, so here are four positives to take from this NLD thrashing.
4 positives to take from an incredible 4-1 win for Arsenal in the North London Derby
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### Positive #1: Leandro Trossard earns more plaudits
Leandro Trossard got Arsenal up and running against Tottenham | Justin Setterfield/GettyImages
For the longest time he was the clutch player; now, it might be time to start calling Leandro Trossard Mr. Consistent.
Both Gabriel Martinelli and Noni Madueke are back in the first-team picture after injury but Trossard has been in electric form of late and he retained his spot for this derby clash – oh boy, did he deliver the goods!
He worked so hard for the team in and out of possession, while his magnetic touch is a huge help for Arsenal in their efforts to pin opponents back. His outstanding work earned him the reward of a goal and one assist (in truth, he could have had more) and, if not for Eze, he would be going home with a MOTM prize.
Rumours swirled of a possible exit last summer but Mikel Arteta chose to keep Trossard and gave him a pay rise instead.
It was worth every penny.
### Positive #2: Champion-like attitude from Arsenal
Arsenal never gave up even as Tottenham went for a mass defence | James Gill - Danehouse/GettyImages
This team looks locked in for the title charge.
Arsenal came out all guns blazing (as one might expect on derby day) and seemed intent on putting Spurs to the sword as soon as possible. However, a defensive setup from Thomas Frank and several time-wasting shenanigans meant the game would threaten to become a slog.
But the home side kept going, maintained control and eventually got the breakthrough before half-time. That first goal always looked likely to spark a rush and so it proved, with Tottenham completely collapsing after the Trossard goal and soon finding themselves 3-0 down.
To do that, despite the visitors’ best efforts and amidst an injury crisis (though Frank has injuries of his own to manage), is indicative of a world-class team and their elite mentality. They played like a group which knew they were the better team and that the goals would come if they simply retained their focus – they got their just desserts.
It is becoming harder to not get carried away…
### Positive #3: Eberechi Eze
Eberechi Eze stole the show for Arsenal with his NLD hat-trick | Justin Setterfield/GettyImages
Eberechi Eze. That is all.
If I may add a few more words, this match saw Eze shine at his brilliant best and illustrate just why Arteta was so keen to bring him to the Emirates.
He always looked like the man to unpick that mass Spurs defence in the first half and even managed it on just three minutes via his delightful chip through to Rice. But it was only the warning shot for a sensational NLD hat-trick which summed up his fine skillset: being in the right place at the right time, his powerful ball-striking and an ability to shoot on either foot.
After his Sunday performance, the brilliant volley against Crystal Palace and some Wembley heroics back in May, Eze has fully proved himself to be a man for the big occasion – how important will that be for Arsenal come May?
It is all working out just fine.
### Positive #4: Big moment in the title race
Mikel Arteta is ready to finally get his hands on the Premier League title | Catherine Ivill - AMA/GettyImages
It had to be three points for Arsenal today.
The late sucker-punch at Sunderland had stalled the Gunners’ march a fortnight ago, while the Erling Haaland-inspired demolition job of Liverpool stoked fears that Manchester City were building up for their usual charge after a mixed start to the campaign.
But results elsewhere this weekend – the Reds’ 3-0 loss to Nottingham Forest and a City defeat away to Newcastle – meant Arteta had a golden opportunity to extend his team’s lead at the summit to six points (as well as go seven and eleven points clear of their most likely challengers).
The chance was taken in style. Of course, nerves frayed a little when Richarlison struck from distance but Arsenal did what Arsenal do and limited the opposition to few goal-scoring possibilities after the scare, even adding a fourth goal to end the game once and for all.
Now the gap is sizeable; do not dare let it slip.