On Sunday, November 23, 2025, the Emirates Stadium saw history. Arsenal beat Tottenham Hotspur 4-1 in the Premier League’s North London derby, and Eberechi Eze wrote his name into the rivalry with a hat-trick no one will forget. It was the first-ever Premier League hat-trick in this derby, and it came in Eze’s very first taste of the fixture. The moment was big. The message was bigger.

Arsenal vs Tottenham: a derby turned statement

This was not just a win; it was a statement that echoed across the title race. Arsenal did the job early and never let go. Leandro Trossard opened the scoring on 36 minutes, guiding the hosts into gear. Five minutes later, Eze struck his first. Then, right after the break on 46 minutes, he added a cool left-footed finish that felt like a dagger. He completed the hat-trick with another sharp goal in the second half to cap a masterful day. Tottenham did score, but the game’s balance never felt in doubt.

From first whistle to last, Arsenal were in control. They held 57% of the ball, took 17 shots to Spurs’ 3, and landed 8 efforts on target compared with Tottenham’s 2. Even the corner count (4-1) told the same story: this was one-way traffic in a game that usually swings on fine margins.

“That’s not just a derby win. That’s a power shift on fast-forward.”

Eberechi Eze announces himself to North London

Some debuts are careful. This was fearless. Eze’s first derby for Arsenal came with pressure, history, and a packed stadium. He answered with poise and punch. The finishing was clean. The timing was sharper. The swagger? Unmistakable. When a player scores a first-ever hat-trick in a derby that dates back over a century, it means something. When he does it after almost joining the other side in the summer, it means even more.

That summer twist matters. Tottenham came close to signing Eze, but he chose Arsenal. On this stage, he showed Spurs, in the words many repeated at full-time, “what they missed out on.” The performance wasn’t just exciting; it was a reminder that transfer choices shape seasons and stories. Arsenal didn’t only win the game. They won the narrative.

Tactics: Spurs sat deep, Arsenal took charge

Tottenham’s plan was clear: five at the back, a low block, and a double shield in midfield with Rodrigo Bentancur and Joao Palhinha. The idea was to slow Arsenal down, shrink the space, and counter. But the plan never bit. Arsenal’s movement pulled those lines apart and forced Spurs into long spells without the ball.

With control of possession and territory, Arsenal could pick their moments. The hosts created steady pressure, found the half-spaces, and punished errors. When Tottenham tried to push out, they left gaps. When they sat back, Arsenal’s quick combinations and numbers around the box were too much. By the time Eze’s left-footed strike hit the net just after halftime, Spurs looked trapped. A deep block only works if you can clear your lines and break with purpose. Tottenham did little of either.

“If you invite Arsenal to attack for 90 minutes, this is what you get.”

By the numbers: clear dominance from the Gunners

• Possession: Arsenal 57% – Tottenham 43%
• Shots: Arsenal 17 – Tottenham 3
• On target: Arsenal 8 – Tottenham 2
• Corners: Arsenal 4 – Tottenham 1

Those figures match the eye test. Arsenal were composed and direct in key moments. Tottenham were pinned back, with too few touches in dangerous areas to change the flow. In a derby defined by tempo and attitude, Arsenal set both.

A rivalry chapter with a transfer twist

The North London derby is not just a match; it’s a living story built over more than 100 years. Stars come and go. Heroes rise and fade. But a hat-trick like this becomes part of the derby’s core. Eze was nearly in white this season. Instead, he wore red and turned the game into his own stage.

That choice now feels huge. For Arsenal, it’s validation. For Spurs, it hurts. Derby days are about pride as much as points. When a player who almost joined you scores three against you, the sting lasts. It also changes how both teams are seen. Arsenal look decisive and sharp in the market. Tottenham will be asked if they have enough punch and plan against the league’s top sides.

“Eze didn’t just score. He owned the moment, and the derby belongs to him now.”

Title race context: six points clear and growing belief

With this win, Arsenal move six points clear at the top of the Premier League. That gap is not a trophy, but it is a cushion, and in a tight race it matters. Big wins in big games lift the dressing room and steady the fans. The performance had control, speed, and goals spread across key moments — the exact mix a title team needs in the winter months.

For Tottenham, this is a checkpoint. The defensive setup was meant to keep them in the game. Instead, it kept them under it. Their three total shots show how little threat they created. Fixing that balance between being safe and being dangerous is the next step. Derby days can expose gaps; this one did.

What it means for Eze and Arsenal

Eze’s hat-trick makes him a standout figure in the league conversation. He brings craft and calm in tight spaces, and he is brave in big spots. Arsenal now have another match-winner to lean on when games get tense. That spreads the load beyond the usual names and gives opponents more to worry about.

And for the rivalry itself? This was a swing of emotion and a memory fans will carry for years. On a day built on history, Eze made new history. That’s how legends begin.

Final word

Arsenal didn’t just beat Tottenham 4-1. They owned the plan, owned the ball, and owned the moment. Eberechi Eze’s first North London derby turned into a record-setting show, backed by a team performance that felt solid from front to back. The Gunners leave the Emirates with three points, a six-point lead, and a rising star who chose their side of North London and proved exactly why.