London derby: Arsenal rout Tottenham 4-1 as Eze's hat-trick makes 47 years of history

4-1: one-way traffic at the Emirates

In Sunday evening's North London derby, Arsenal thrashed Tottenham 4-1 at the Emirates Stadium. Leandro Trossard opened the scoring in the 36th minute from Mikel Merino's chipped pass; Eberechi Eze then struck three times — five minutes before half-time, 35 seconds into the second half, and 14 minutes from time to complete his hat-trick. Spurs did not attempt a shot until the 55th minute, their only consolation a spectacular 40-yard lob from Richarlison.

First derby hat-trick in 47 years

Eze became the first player to score a North London derby hat-trick since Alan Sunderland in December 1978, and only the fourth in the fixture's history (after Ted Drake in 1934, Terry Dyson in 1961 and Sunderland in 1978) — the first of the Premier League era. The England international, who rejected Spurs to join his boyhood club from Crystal Palace in a £60 million August move, said afterwards: "That is crazy. It's a special day man. A special day for me and for my family. I can only thank God."

Six clear at the top; Spurs down to ninth

The win takes Arsenal six points clear at the top of the Premier League (Chelsea second, Manchester City a further point back in third), while Spurs drop to ninth, 11 points behind the Gunners and winless in their last four domestic outings (one draw, three defeats). Jamie Carragher, who had questioned whether Eze would be a "gamechanger" in the summer, apologised on Sky Sports; Spurs midfielder João Palhinha apologised to the fans after the match and vowed a "big reaction".