A 'special day' for Eze - but can anyone challenge Arsenal for title?
It has been another huge weekend for Arsenal.
A fortnight after the Gunners' surprise draw at Sunderland gave their Premier League title rivals new hope, Sunday's resounding win over Tottenham has put them firmly back in the hot seat.
Eberechi Eze, a Spurs summer target, was the hero, scoring his first hat-trick in senior football and the first in a north London derby since 1978 as Arsenal thrashed Tottenham 4-1 in an ominous display for the rest of the league.
A day after defending champions Liverpool fell to a sixth loss in seven matches and Manchester City were beaten at Newcastle, Mikel Arteta's men had no such problems to move six points clear of second-placed Chelsea.
This felt like a statement win for Arsenal against their bitter rivals - who went into the game unbeaten away from home all season - given Gabriel, Martin Odegaard, Kai Havertz and Viktor Gyokores are on the hosts' injury list.
Taking away Richarlison's stunning chip from distance to earn the visitors a consolation goal, there was only ever one winner in as one-sided a north London derby as you can get.
Arsenal had 17 shots compared to Tottenham's three, with the visitors ending with an expected goals (xG) of just 0.07.
"That is crazy. Special day, man. Special day for me, my family," Eze told BBC Match of the Day.
"I don't think I could have ever dreamed of it. This is more special than that. I can only thank God.
"We were prepared for whatever set-up they were coming with because of the diligence of our staff. Huge credit to them, and of course the players in our team - the ability, the talent. From whatever angle, we're threatening to score goals.
"I probably should have scored four. I'm always trying to score, always trying to take my chances. It's important to be relentless."
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