Arsenal enjoys another major weekend. Two weeks after a surprise draw at Sunderland gave rivals new hope, a convincing win over Tottenham restores control. Eberechi Eze, once a summer target for Spurs, delivers his first senior hat-trick and the first in a north London derby since 1978. Arsenal wins 4-1 and issues a strong warning to the league.
The day before, Liverpool suffer a sixth defeat in seven matches. Manchester City lose at Newcastle. Mikel Arteta’s team show no such issues and move six points clear of second-placed Chelsea.
Tottenham arrive unbeaten away from home, yet Arsenal dominate despite a long injury list. Gabriel, Martin Odegaard, Kai Havertz and Viktor Gyökeres all miss out, but the hosts control the match. Richarlison’s chipped finish only softens the scoreline. Arsenal take 17 shots, while Spurs produce three and finish with an expected-goals value of 0.07.
Eze describes the day as “crazy” and “special”. He thanks his family and expresses gratitude for the moment. He praises the staff’s preparation and the quality of his teammates. He says he could have scored four because he always pushes to create danger.
Eze Makes Derby History
For Eze, a lifelong Arsenal fan, the moment feels unforgettable. Before the match, Tottenham manager Thomas Frank jokes about missing out on the player. His words return to haunt him. Eze scores his first senior hat-trick and sets a Premier League derby milestone.
He joins Arsenal for £67m and now strengthens his spot in the starting lineup. After Odegaard’s injury, he grabs his chance. The 27-year-old needs time to adapt to a new role but quickly produces big displays. He assists Martinelli’s late equaliser against City, scores the winner against Palace and now hits three against Arsenal’s fiercest rivals.
His unpredictability sharpens Arsenal’s attacking edge. Matches against Bayern Munich and Chelsea now await, and Eze enters them full of confidence.
Arteta praises his work ethic and hunger to improve. He mentions a talk with Thomas Tuchel, who calls Eze one of the best talents he has seen. Arteta highlights his intelligence, desire to train and joy around the squad.
No English player produces more goal contributions in 2025. Only Erling Haaland, Mohamed Salah, Bryan Mbeumo and Antoine Semenyo sit ahead of Arsenal’s number 10. A former Crystal Palace striker calls him the best player on the pitch and says his Arsenal career truly begins today.
How Strong Is Arsenal’s Lead?
Twenty-six matches remain for each club. A six-point gap seems manageable, but the numbers favour Arsenal. It is their fifth time leading after twelve Premier League games. They fail to win the title on the last three such occasions, yet this season’s lead is their biggest at this stage.
No team has thrown away a six-point advantage or more after twelve games. Yet title comebacks from further behind remain possible. Only five teams recover from six or more points behind after twelve matches. The most recent case is Manchester City in 2013-14.
Chelsea now sit in second and emerge as serious challengers. They win five of their past six league matches and collect three straight clean-sheet victories for the first time since 2022. Aston Villa and Crystal Palace also remain in striking distance.
Liverpool fall eleven points behind Arsenal. Arne Slot’s team would need a feat never seen in Premier League history. Only two sides overturn a seven-point gap, which City now face.
Arsenal Cope Without Gabriel
Supporters worry before the derby because Gabriel misses the match. The Brazilian dominates defensive metrics and plays a key role in Arsenal’s strong season. Last year Arsenal win only four of twelve league matches when Gabriel and William Saliba do not start together.
This season feels different. Arsenal invest £250m in the summer and add eight players to deepen the squad. Piero Hincapie arrives on loan with a £52m option and quickly becomes an Arteta favourite. The manager calls him a “warrior”. The Bundesliga-winning defender can also play left-back and offers reliable cover when Saliba or Gabriel are unavailable.
Arsenal now show the depth and quality of genuine title contenders.
