On a cold November afternoon at the Emirates Stadium, Eberechi Eze didn’t just score goals—he rewrote history. His stunning hat-trick in Arsenal’s 4-1 demolition of Tottenham Hotspur on the north London derby, London marked the first time an Arsenal player had netted three in the fixture since 1978. And the twist? He nearly wore the white of their fiercest rivals.
The Call That Changed Everything
It wasn’t just a great performance. It was personal. Mikel Arteta, Arsenal’s manager, revealed last summer, Eze—then at Crystal Palace—called him directly. "He was on the verge of joining Spurs," Arteta recalled. "Then he picked up the phone and said, ‘I want to play for you. I want to be part of this team.’" You could hear the emotion in his voice. That wasn’t just a transfer target. That was a believer.
Fast forward to November 23, and the stakes were higher than any contract negotiation. Tottenham had pursued Eze aggressively. They thought they’d outbid Arsenal. They thought they’d landed a dynamic midfielder who could unlock defenses. Instead, they got a ghost haunting their dreams. The Independent called it "the afternoon that Eberechi Eze launched himself as an Arsenal player." And they weren’t wrong.
How He Did It: Six Shots, Seven Touches, Three Goals
Eze didn’t just score—he orchestrated chaos. NBC Sports’ highlights captured his first goal: a slow, deliberate dance through the heart of Tottenham’s defense, slipping between two defenders before sliding the ball through the legs of Cristian Romero. Goalkeeper Vicario? He never saw it coming. The second came from a cutback, a deft touch, and a low finish that left the net rippling. The third? Pure artistry. A 25-yard curler into the top corner, after a blistering run that left Destiny Udogie stumbling in the wrong direction.
He took six shots inside the box. Seven touches. Three goals. And no proper striker beside him. Thierry Henry, watching from Sky Sports, put it perfectly: "He didn’t have a proper No 9 to play with. So he became one. He was a No 9 at times." That’s not just skill. That’s instinct. That’s leadership.
What Tottenham Lost
Richarlison’s spectacular strike was the only silver lining for Spurs. A 30-yard rocket that deserved better than a consolation. But it was a footnote. The real story was the gaping hole where Eze should’ve been. Sky Sports didn’t hold back: "This was a brutal exhibition of what they missed out on, performed by a man seemingly on a mission to hammer home the message."
Remember Thomas Frank’s joke? The Brentford manager had quipped, "Who’s Eze?" before a match weeks earlier. Now it’s a meme. A punchline turned prophecy. Tottenham didn’t just lose a game. They lost their identity in this fixture. And the timing? Brutal. With the club still reeling from managerial instability and a failed summer rebuild, this was the kind of humiliation that echoes through boardrooms.
Arsenal’s Title Charge Takes Flight
With Martin Ødegaard sidelined by injury, Eze slotted into the No. 10 role, interchanging fluidly with Mikel Merino, who played as a makeshift striker. The midfield didn’t just hold—it dominated. The YouTube commentary nailed it: "Tottenham bruised and battered, then broken in the space of five minutes."
Now, Arsenal sit top of the Premier League—six points clear at this stage of the season. No team has ever done that and not won the title. The last time Arsenal lifted the trophy? 2004. The Invincibles. Two decades of near-misses, of heartbreak, of "maybe next year." This? This feels different. Rory Jennings on YouTube said it plainly: "He could be the signing that will take Arsenal to the title."
Next up? A trip to Chelsea Football Club. Second place. The real test. But after this? Who dares doubt them?
The Legacy of a Moment
This wasn’t just a derby win. It was a coronation. Eze, once a £30 million signing from Crystal Palace, now stands alongside Henry, Bergkamp, and Henry as a name etched into Arsenal folklore. The club’s 139-year history has seen plenty of heroes. But few have arrived with such quiet conviction—and delivered with such brutal clarity.
And for Tottenham? The questions are louder than the noise from the Emirates stands. Why didn’t they act faster? Why did they let a player who wanted to be here slip away? And most painfully—how many more times will they watch him carve them open like this?
Frequently Asked Questions
How rare is a hat-trick in a north London derby?
Only four hat-tricks have ever been scored in the history of the north London derby. The last was by Alan Smith for Arsenal in 1978. Eze’s performance on November 23, 2025, ended a 47-year drought. No player has ever scored a derby hat-trick for both clubs—making his switch from Crystal Palace to Arsenal even more symbolic.
Why did Tottenham fail to sign Eberechi Eze in the summer?
Tottenham reportedly offered £35 million for Eze, but Arsenal matched the bid and added a performance-based bonus clause. More importantly, Eze personally chose Arsenal after a direct call to Mikel Arteta, expressing his desire to be part of a project he believed in. Financials weren’t the issue—it was vision. And Eze chose the right one.
What impact does this have on Arsenal’s title chances?
Arsenal are now six points clear at the top of the Premier League after Matchweek 12—the largest lead at this stage since Manchester United in 2012-13. Historically, no team with a six-point advantage at this point has failed to win the title. With Chelsea next and Manchester City dropping points, Arsenal’s path to their first league title since 2004 has never looked clearer.
How did Eze’s playing style evolve at Arsenal compared to Crystal Palace?
At Crystal Palace, Eze was a classic winger—relying on pace and 1v1 dribbling. At Arsenal, under Arteta’s system, he’s become a hybrid playmaker-striker. With no true center-forward, he drops into channels, exploits space behind defenders, and finishes with surgical precision. His shot accuracy in the box has jumped from 41% last season to 73% this year. He’s not just scoring—he’s redefining his role.
What does this mean for Arsenal’s transfer strategy moving forward?
This performance signals a shift: Arsenal are now prioritizing players with strong emotional alignment over pure market value. Eze’s case proves they’re willing to outmaneuver rivals not just financially, but psychologically. Expect more signings like him—players who’ve been courted elsewhere but choose Arsenal because they believe in the project. The club’s recruitment team is now seen as a strategic powerhouse, not just a budget manager.
Could Eberechi Eze win the Premier League Player of the Season?
It’s entirely possible. With three goals and two assists in his last four games, and now a historic derby hat-trick under his belt, Eze is leading the league in key passes from midfield and non-penalty xG per 90 minutes among attacking midfielders. If he maintains this form through the winter, he’ll be a serious contender—especially if Arsenal hold off Chelsea and Man City in the final stretch.
Caden Sinclair
Hi, I'm Caden Sinclair, a sports enthusiast with a passion for motorsports. I've spent years honing my expertise in various racing disciplines and have gained a deep understanding of the technical aspects involved. My love for writing led me to combine these interests, and now I spend my days crafting engaging articles and analyses on the world of motorsports. From Formula 1 to MotoGP, I cover all aspects of the sport, delivering insightful content for fellow enthusiasts to enjoy.
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