Eze Drops a Stunning Hat-Trick as Arsenal Smash Spurs 4-1 in the North London Derby

Analysis by Hikaru Sakamoto

Ebere Eze Bags First Career Hat-Trick as Arsenal Cruise Past Spurs 4-1 in Dominant North London Derby Win

23 Nov 2025

Arsenal extended their lead at the top of the Premier League table with a commanding 4–1 victory over Tottenham in the North London Derby on the 23rd, as Ebere Eze delivered the performance of his life — scoring the first hat-trick of his career.

■ Injury-hit Arsenal start IncaPie; Eze–Saka–Trossard behind Merino
Missing key players like Gabriel, Gyökeres, Ødegaard and Havertz, Arsenal handed Piero Hincapié his first league start. The attacking midfield trio featured Saka, Eze and Trossard, with Merino leading the line for the third straight match.

■ Tottenham also depleted — makeshift 3-4-3 and cautious 5-back
Spurs were equally plagued by injuries, with Maddison, Kulusevski, Solanke and Japanese defender Kodai Takai all sidelined.
Ange Postecoglou opted for a back three of Romero, van de Ven and Danso, with Spence and Udogie dropping into a five-man defensive line.
Up front, Richarlison was supported by Kudus and young winger Odobert.

■ Arsenal (home unbeaten) vs Spurs (away unbeaten) — but Gunners take early control
Both teams entered the derby with strong records: Arsenal unbeaten at home, Spurs unbeaten away.
But Arsenal immediately seized control. In the 3rd minute, Eze floated a clever chip into the box for Rice, whose volley was denied by a sharp block from goalkeeper Vicario.

Despite dominating possession, Arsenal struggled to break down Spurs’ compact block — until the breakthrough finally came.

⚽ 36’ Trossard turns brilliantly for 1–0
Merino lofted a ball over the top, Trossard brought it down but ended up facing away from goal.
With a stunning pivot and left-foot strike, he curled the ball inside the far post to put Arsenal ahead.

⚽ 41’ Eze slaloms through and smashes in for 2–0
After Rice won an aerial duel, Eze collected the loose ball, danced through tight space with quick touches, and fired a right-footed shot past a crowd of defenders into the left corner.
Arsenal doubled their lead with a moment of individual brilliance.

Spurs finished the first half without a single shot.

■ 46’ Spurs switch to a back four — instantly punished
Tottenham made changes at the break, bringing on Xavi Simons and shifting to a back four.
But within one minute, they were hit again:

⚽ 46’ Eze curls in his second — 3–0
Receiving a pass from Timber after a right-side cut-in, Eze placed a calm left-footed shot into the far corner.

Arsenal were fully in control.

⚽ 56’ Richarlison scores from distance — Spurs’ first shot of the match
Tottenham finally showed signs of life when Palhinha stole the ball high up the pitch, allowing Richarlison to launch a long-range effort over Raya, who was caught off his line.
A spectacular strike, but it did little to change the tide.

Spurs brought on Kolo Muani and Sarr in the 66th minute, but the momentum didn’t follow.

⚽ 76’ Eze completes his hat-trick — first of his career (4–1)
Eze received a horizontal pass from Trossard inside the box, coolly sidestepped Udogie’s tackle, and slotted the ball into the right corner.
Pure composure. Pure class.
A historic moment for the 26-year-old attacker.

■ Arsenal close out the derby with mature game management
Tottenham pushed bodies forward but left huge spaces behind, which Arsenal exploited in transition.
The Gunners stayed compact, refused to allow momentum to shift, and professionally saw out the match.

Final Score: Arsenal 4–1 Tottenham
⚽Arsenal
Eze (41’, 46’, 76’)
Trossard (36’)
⚽Tottenham
Richarlison (56’)
A statement win, a derby masterclass, and a hat-trick that Arsenal fans won’t forget anytime soon.

The Bigger Picture

This was not a narrow derby win or a lucky night — it was dominance, plain and simple. From the opening minutes to the final whistle, Arsenal controlled the game, and the numbers only back up what was obvious on the pitch. The xG gap, the lack of chances conceded, and the calm authority in defense all point to a team operating at a different level.

At the center of it all was Eze. A hat-trick in the North London Derby, the first in nearly half a century, is not something that happens by accident. His movement, finishing, and confidence turned a big occasion into his personal stage. This felt like a homecoming in the truest sense — not symbolic, but decisive.

What made the performance even stronger was that it was never just about one player. Timber controlled the middle, Saliba and Hincapié shut everything down, and Trossard quietly set the tone early. Even without set-piece goals or contributions from Saka, Arsenal still scored four. That balance is why this match felt less like a one-off and more like a statement.

Fan Reactions

• Next up: Eze vs Olise.
  That’s the derby everyone wants.
• WE WON LET’S GOOOOO
  Massive congrats to Eze — what a signing. Absolute blessing he chose us.
• Four straight NLD wins. Historic stuff.
• EZE IS HIM.
  The King of North London has officially arrived.
• Watching the birth of “King Eze of N5” in real time was unreal. I’m still buzzing.
• Congrats boys.
  Total domination from start to finish.
• What a performance.
  Shame about conceding the one goal, but whatever — Eze literally had the game of his life today.
• Didn’t know it’d been 47 years since someone scored a hat-trick in the NLD.
  Even Henry never did it. Insane.
• This’ll go down as one of those matches people remember in both Eze’s career and Arsenal history.
• Hincapié seems to be walking fine, hope it’s nothing serious.
• After all those tackles, they must all have bruises.
  Just pray it’s nothing major. The officiating drew some criticism today.
• What a way for Eze to properly come home. Perfect debut-season moment.
• 47-year wait is over — congrats King of London.
• Eze looks ready to explode in form for the rest of the season.
• Shoutout Thomas Frank for unintentionally awakening Eze.
  “Who is Eze?” is going to be remembered for a long time.

• Man set up his own downfall.
  “Who is Eze?” before the match… unreal.
• Perfect performance.
  Eze MOTM, but Timber was on another level.
  Hincapié and Calafiori super solid, and Saliba is Saliba.
• Eze’s shooting technique is ridiculous.
  Low, powerful, fast — almost unfair to defend against.
• Love how everyone looks happy in this squad.
  Mix of ages and nationalities, vibes are immaculate.
• The quality drop without Timber is the only worry.
  He’s insane this season.
• Timber’s ball-winning is reaching Rice levels.
  That channel is locked down.
• Arsenal xG 1.88 – Spurs 0.07
  That stat line says everything.
• Spurs xG 0.07.
  The defense is exceptionally good.
• Non-pen xG 0.07 and still scoring four is hilarious.
• Eze cooking, Timber cooking, Hincapié flawless.
  I needed this after the break.
• That celebration after the first goal was cold.
• Eze said his second goal was his favorite.
  The one right after halftime.
• Spurs’ goal started from Soubimendi getting fouled though.
  A normal ref checks that.
• Quietly, Trossard had one goal and one assist.
• Scored four without a set-piece goal,
  and Saka had no goal or assist. Rare.
• Might hear debates about Eze and Ødegaard together.
  Totally different profiles though.
• Hard to believe this was Spurs.
  t felt far more comfortable than expected for a derby.
• Spurs struggled to match the intensity today.
• Trossard deserves more credit — his opener set the tone.
• If Eze had scored a fourth, it would’ve been the first since Arshavin.
• Eze’s been hitting great shots all season, glad they finally went in.
• Player of the Match poll had only Eze options.

Time to pick today's Player of the Match, Gooners 😅

— Arsenal (@Arsenal) November 23, 2025

• 24 goals scored, only 6 conceded, and still injured.
  This team looks extremely strong.
• Thought I was watching Palace-Eze on the first goal,
  then it turned into something else entirely.
• Even the newer signings all look like hits now.
• Squad is so stacked that rotation battles are getting real.
• Defensive structure is insane.
  Press, long balls shut down, full control without being boring.
• Eze’s second goal — using the bounce for the half-volley was genius.
• Gap is now seven points.
  Win the next derby and this feels serious.
• Hincapié plays like a veteran despite his age.
• Funny that both Eze and Hincapié could’ve been Spurs players.

What Remains

What lingers is the sense that this team has reached a new level of trust. The squad looks deep, connected, and genuinely comfortable with one another. Players are pushing each other, competition is real, and the standard does not drop when roles change.

Eze’s explosion feels earned rather than sudden. His shots have been there all season, and now the goals have followed. Around him, the structure is solid enough to support moments of brilliance without relying on them.

With a seven-point gap opened and momentum clearly building, belief is no longer forced — it comes naturally. The next big test will matter, but after a performance like this, it makes sense why so many supporters feel that something serious is starting to take shape.