Eze ‘aura’ hailed by Arsenal’s Arteta after hat trick
Eberechi Eze scored a historic hat-trick as Arsenal defeated Tottenham Hotspur 4-1 in Sunday’s north London derby, marking the first such feat in the fixture in 47 years. The victory also saw Arsenal extend their lead at the top of the Premier League, with Leandro Trossard opening the scoring before Eze’s treble, and Richarlison netting a late consolation for Spurs.
Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta praised Eze’s impact since joining the club from Crystal Palace over the summer, highlighting the midfielder’s professionalism, work ethic, and influence on the squad. “When a player has such a talent, and his desire is at that level, then these things happen,” Arteta said. “He fully deserves it. Since the day he came, he brought something else to the team. It’s a joy, it’s an aura that this team needed, and hopefully it will give him a lot of confidence.”
Eze had previously rejected a move to Tottenham, choosing Arsenal instead, and quickly established himself as a key creative presence. Known for his composure, technical skill, and ability to drive play through the midfield, Eze exploited Spurs’ defensive vulnerabilities to devastating effect, earning plaudits for his vision and finishing.
Arteta downplayed the significance of Arsenal’s six-point advantage atop the league, stressing consistency over table position. “In this league? Not much,” he said. “We are doing really well. We’ve been really consistent…whether teams win or lose, the difference in games is really small. We need all our important players back to maintain this momentum.”
The victory also allowed Arsenal to recover from a late draw against Sunderland before the international break, restoring confidence and momentum ahead of a crucial run of fixtures. Eze’s performance underlined both his individual potential and Arsenal’s title ambitions, providing the Gunners with a decisive attacking option capable of influencing high-stakes matches.