Arsenal restored their five-point lead atop the Premier League table with a 4-1 win at Tottenham Hotspur in the North London Derby on Sunday, taking full advantage of their injury-riddled opponents in a must-win match.
Though Spurs returned to play for the first time since hiring Igor Tudor to replace Thomas Frank, the match went as expected for two sides in full contrast. Arsenal dictated play and were rewarded with a 32nd-minute goal from Eberechi Eze, who scored from close range as a frantic Spurs defense failed to cope with the Gunners’ attacking charge. The visitors’ lead was gone in a matter of two minutes courtesy of Randal Kolo Muani, who won possession on the left side of the penalty area and then cut inside for a strike right in front of goal.
The stat sheet at halftime was reflective of the realities that the visitors were in the midst of a title charge and the hosts are technically staving off relegation and entered the weekend with 13 fit senior team players, as well as Spurs’ stylistic tendencies. With only two true attack-minded players on the pitch and boasting a roster that, even at full fitness, is not built to be an offensive might, they had just two shots and 0.29 expected goals at the halftime break. Arsenal, meanwhile, took full advantage of an understaffed Spurs defense that was missing the suspended Cristian Romero and the injured Kevin Danso and had 12 shots and one expected goal.
Things finally tipped in the Gunners’ favor in the second half, first with Viktor Gyokere’s impressive strike from distance in the 47th minute and then Eze’s second strike in the 61st minute, the England international capitalizing on a sloppy moment from Spurs’ defense along the way. In between Arsenal’s second-half goals, Spurs thought they had an equalizer through Kolo Muani but he was called for a push on Gabriel in the process of scoring.
Spurs attempted a attacking surge towards the end of the match, substitute Richarlison managing two shots in the dying minutes of the match, but their efforts did not pay off and in one of the final moments of the match, Gyokeres completed a brace of his own to ensure the Gunners would take all three points home.
Eze, who joined Arsenal this summer from Crystal Palace and nearly signed with Tottenham, scored a hat trick against Spurs earlier this season.
This is Arsenal’s first Premier League win in three, their grip on first place slipping slightly over the process. They finish the weekend five points ahead of Manchester City, who kept pace with a 2-1 win over Newcastle United on Saturday and also have a game in hand.
