Arsenal Insider

Arsenal cruised to a huge North London derby win as they hammered Tottenham 4-1 to strengthen their position at the top of the Premier League table.

Doubles apiece from both Ebere Eze and Viktor Gyokeres ensured a comfortable day at the office as Igor Tudor’s Tottenham spell got off to the worst possible start.

For Mikel Arteta, it was an essential win as he’d seen Man City win on Saturday and very much knew the pressure was on.

Who was your Arsenal Man of the Match vs Tottenham Hotspur?

Ultimately, though, Arsenal had too much for Tottenham and showed their title credentials.

As usual, there was plenty for us to take from the game and here’s THREE things we learned from Arsenal’s 4-1 win at Spurs.

Ebere Eze is the man for the big occasion

Well, he’s certainly the man for playing against Tottenham Hotspur.

Ebere Eze now has five goals in just two appearances in an Arsenal shirt against Spurs and he only needs three more goals in the NLD to be the club’s all-time leading scorer in the fixture.

MORE ARSENAL STORIES

Some have questioned Eze’s impact at the club this season and at times, those questions have been right.

However, when it mattered and twice against Arsenal’s biggest rivals, Eze has delivered and delivered in a big way. No matter what he does in his Arsenal career now, he will forever be known as the key behind two big wins over Spurs.

Mikel Arteta is ready to be a title-winning manager

Much like his players, Mikel Arteta has been questioned by both the media and fans at times this season.

Going into this game and with the gap at the top narrowing and City winning again, Arteta knew full well the pressure was on him.

He came out swinging though and made some bold selection choices to get things bang on.

Yes, Spurs’ shape and set up played into Arsenal’s hands but Arteta had his players right at it from minute one and the home side never looked like being in the game, even when they equalised.

With the big one out of the way, Mikel Arteta looks very much a title winning manager in waiting and today proved it.

Tottenham could genuinely go down

It seems absolutely crazy to think it could happen but there is a realistic chance that Tottenham do in fact drop to the Championship this season.

Igor Tudor has a huge job on his hands and with so many injuries and West Ham just four points back, Spurs have a serious problem on their hands.

AGREE or DISAGREE: That was Viktor Gyokeres’ best performance in an Arsenal shirt so far…

For any Arsenal fan, seeing Tottenham get relegated the year the Gunners win the title would be the icing on any potential cake.

For Spurs, it’s the stuff of nightmares and this result, despite being a NLD defeat, only added to the pressure and bad feeling at the club.

Gary Neville believes that Viktor Gyokeres had one of his best Arsenal performances during the North London derby against Tottenham.

Arsenal once again ran riot at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium as Eberechi Eze’s brace and Gyokeres’ two second-half strikes sealed a 4-1 win.

AGREE or DISAGREE: That was Viktor Gyokeres’ best performance in an Arsenal shirt so far…

The Gunners dominated proceedings from start to finish in N17, and it was partly down to the brilliance of the Swede leading the line.

Neville has now given his verdict on the 27-year-old’s performance in the North London derby, and it’s fair to say he was impressed.

Gary Neville thinks Viktor Gyokeres had his best Arsenal game

Gary Neville believes that Viktor Gyokeres played like a ‘proper centre forward’ during the win over Tottenham Hotspur.

Gyokeres proved to be a real handful for the Gunners’ bitter rivals, as he linked up play and even managed to score.

Speaking about the striker on Sky Sports commentary, Neville said: “He’s had one of his best games, Gyokeres, by the way.

MORE ARSENAL STORIES

Who was your Arsenal Man of the Match vs Tottenham Hotspur?

“He’s played like a proper centre forward here today. He scored his goal, he’s popped things off and been a nuisance. He’s held it up.”

Later, the former Premier League defender awarded him the Premier League Man of the Match award, which should seriously boost his confidence.

“Play of the Match goes to Gyokeres. The best I’ve seen him in a big game, and he’s never going to be the most perfect striker, but to be a nuisance and score goals, so I think he deserves it,” Neville added.

The striker now needs to make this the moment he finally bursts into life in an Arsenal shirt following his sensational display.

Viktor Gyokeres’ emphatic response to 11-touch Wolves display

Gyokeres was truly shocking against Wolves; therefore, it’s quite a testament to his character to bounce back with such a performance.

At Molineux, he managed just 11 touches, whereas at Spurs, he had 42 and was heavily involved in three of the four goals.

Now, the striker has just shown why Mikel Arteta has been so brave to keep trusting him, and that faith was repaid in N17.

Arsenal have just completed another double over Tottenham Hotspur by beating them 4-1 in the North London Derby.

The Gunners were always the favourites to win the game, but there were some fears about Spurs’ new manager bounce following their appointment of Igor Tudor. However, that didn’t matter at all.

A brace each from Eberechi Eze and Viktor Gyokeres sealed a dominant 4-1 win for Mikel Arteta’s side.

Here are Arsenal Insider’s player ratings.

Who was your Arsenal Man of the Match vs Tottenham Hotspur?

Arsenal player ratings vs Tottenham

David Raya: 6.5/10

David Raya had a good start to the game with his distribution and high claims, but he could’ve done better with the goal. If he had stuck his leg out like David De Gea used to, he probably would’ve saved it. However, he made up for it with a fine clearance of the goal line in the second half.

Jurrien Timber: 7/10

Jurrien Timber looked much better today than he has in the last few games. The Dutchman was a much bigger overlapping threat than we have seen all season. He deservedly got an assist in the second half.

Gabriel Magalhaes: 7/10

A solid display from Gabriel Magalhaes. He dealt with Kolo Muani comfortably in the left half of the pitch and was mostly clean with the ball at his feet. He wasn’t as threatening in set-pieces, though.

William Saliba: 6/10

Another strange game from William Saliba in the first half. The Frenchman made a few mistakes, wasn’t convincing enough against Kolo Muani at times, and just didn’t look like his usual self. However, he was much better in the second half.

MORE ARSENAL STORIES

Piero Hincapie: 7.5/10

Piero Hincapie had another excellent game. Along with Timber, he created the most chances in the first half and was solid with and without the ball. Outstanding player!

Martin Zubimendi: 7/10

Another decent game from Martin Zubimendi. Yet again, he didn’t set the stage on fire, but he didn’t make any mistakes either. Should do a lot better with his line-breaking passes, though.

Declan Rice: 6/10

Declan Rice made a massive mistake in the first half that led to Tottenham’s goal. It was so uncharacteristic of him. However, he looked a lot better in the second half.

Eberechi Eze: 9.5/10

He just loves playing against Tottenham, doesn’t he? Eze tore Spurs to shreds once again. It’s a shame that he wasn’t allowed to play the whole game. Perhaps he could’ve scored another hat-trick?!

Bukayo Saka: 7/10

An unusual game for Bukayo Saka. The Englishman was involved in almost all the good things Arsenal did in attack, but he seemed to have forgotten his shooting boots at home. On another day, he would’ve scored a hat-trick.

Viktor Gyokeres: 9.5/10

Viktor Gyokeres produced one of his best performances in an Arsenal shirt. The Swede came close to scoring twice in the first half, but couldn’t. However, his stunner in the second half changed the game. He added another late on as well in what was a fine display. Man of the Match!

AGREE or DISAGREE: That was Viktor Gyokeres’ best performance in an Arsenal shirt so far…

Leandro Trossard: 5/10

A poor evening for Leandro Trossard. The Belgian made many unusual mistakes in the final third, which angered Arsenal fans. Thankfully, the Gunners got away with it.

Substitutes

Cristhian Mosquera: 7/10

Mikel Arteta brought Cristhian Mosquera on at right-back to replace Jurrien Timber because of his yellow card. The Spaniard looked solid in that role as well, apart from one poor pass. What a signing he has proved to be!

Gabriel Martinelli: 5/10

Replaced Trossard in the second half, but didn’t have much to do.

Martin Odegaard: 7/10

Arsenal showed Tottenham who rules North London with a fifth consecutive Premier League win in the North London Derby.

Mikel Arteta’s side love playing at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, adding to their superb record at the ground with a 4-1 win on matchday 27.

Eberechi Eze made history with his two goals against Spurs, adding to his collection against the club that wanted to sign him in the summer.

Eze was a standout, but so were several others, some for the right reasons, and others, not so much.

On a day that was eventful for Bukayo Saka, Declan Rice, David Raya, Viktor Gyokeres, Leandro Trossard and Jurrien Timber, here are our winners and losers from the North London Derby.

Who was your Arsenal Man of the Match vs Tottenham Hotspur?

Winners

Eberechi Eze

It was written in the stars that, after Eze rejected Tottenham in the summer, he would punish the Lilywhites in red and white.

The playmaker has done just that this season, scoring FIVE goals in his first two North London Derbies for Arsenal.

MORE ARSENAL STORIES

Aside from his goals, it was a standout performance from Eze, who played with a point to prove.

Viktor Gyokeres

Like Eze, Gyokeres marked his impressive performance with two goals.

Gyokeres has been heavily criticised this season, but he silenced any doubters against Spurs, scoring with two sublime finishes and having a busy afternoon in the left-sided channel.

It was a performance that the Arsenal striker desperately needed, sending the message that he can be the centre-forward to bring goals to Arteta’s attack.

AGREE or DISAGREE: That was Viktor Gyokeres’ best performance in an Arsenal shirt so far…

David Raya

Away from the goalscorers and over to the other end of the pitch, Raya had a superb game.

Like Gyokeres, it was much-needed, as Raya was heavily criticised for his goal-causing error against Wolves.

The goalkeeper was not overly tested, but he rose above the rest when he was needed, frequently claiming the ball when the box was crowded – the definition of safe hands.

Bukayo Saka

Arsenal’s unsung hero was Saka, who was back to his very best.

It was fitting that Saka impressed against Spurs, as his record against the Lilywhites is quite spectacular.

The winger played an integral role in the goals, as well as being an avid duel-winner, showing his strength on the right.

Losers

Declan Rice

Rice’s goal-causing error in the first half was a grey cloud over what would’ve otherwise been a good performance from the midfielder.

It was ironic that the England international called for composure from Arsenal after they took the lead, only to be the one to lose control when the equaliser was conceded a minute later.

Yet another mistake from Arsenal, how worried are you about the nerves in the squad?

A howler from Declan Rice 🫣

Leandro Trossard

It wasn’t the best day at the office for Trossard, whose poor performance on the left showed the imbalance in Arsenal’s attack.

It’s so clear that Arsenal need to sign a left-winger in the summer, and Trossard’s display highlighted that, losing eight duels and firing just one of his four shots on target.

Jurrien Timber

Timber’s poor form has been concerning in recent weeks, and against Spurs, the Dutchman didn’t change any opinions.

Due to Ben White’s unavailability, Arteta started Timber despite the 24-year-old not being 100%, making it no surprise to see him replaced after 57 minutes.

Fortunately, the defender has some long-overdue rest coming up, with Arsenal not playing for another week.

Bukayo Saka and Arsenal legend Tony Adams share a few similarities with each other.

The legendary Gunners’ defender came through the academy at Arsenal, became the captain, won the league title in three different decades and finished his career as a one-club man.

Saka also broke into the first team from Hale End and has captained the side in Martin Odegaard’s absence on multiple occasions.

The Arsenal number seven is yet to achieve the greatness that Adams did, but he is on the right track, and he seems to have been developing his leadership skills as well.

What should be Bukayo Saka’s starting position in the North London Derby – right-wing or attacking midfield?

Bukayo Saka’s message to Declan Rice about Arsenal vs Tottenham speaks volumes

Declan Rice is a London boy, so he must have known a lot about Arsenal’s rivalry with Tottenham Hotspur while growing up.

However, seeing something from the outside is very different from actually being involved in a North London Derby.

Just a couple of months after joining Arsenal from West Ham, Rice faced Tottenham for the first time as a Gunner.

MORE ARSENAL STORIES

Before the game, Bukayo Saka went up to his compatriot and made it clear that Arsenal simply cannot lose to Spurs.

Speaking about the incident, Rice told The Sun: “I remember Saka saying: ‘You can’t lose derbies here to Spurs’.

“For the fan base, everyone, the players, the staff – that’s the game you can’t lose.”

That is fantastic from Saka, as every new player needs to be made aware of the importance of the North London Derby.

Rice has never lost to Tottenham as an Arsenal player, and he will be hoping to continue that with a win in the clash on Sunday.

🔮 What is your score prediction for the North London derby: Tottenham _-_ Arsenal

Bukayo Saka emulated Tony Adams with his North London Derby message to Declan Rice

Saka would’ve known all about Tony Adams while growing up at Arsenal.

The legendary defender knew the importance of games against Tottenham better than anyone else, and he took it upon himself to tell his teammates that the Gunners cannot lose to Spurs.

One player who experienced that first-hand was Lee Dixon. He previously said about the incident, as per talkSPORT: “I remember my first north London derby and Tony Adams literally had me up against the wall by the throat and said: ‘You don’t understand. We can’t lose this game!'”

Saka did the same with Rice, albeit in a far less aggressive way, but the fact that he sent the message shows he is Arsenal’s true captain, just like Adams was all those years ago.

We’re sure the eight new Arsenal signings from last summer have been told the same about the North London Derby.

Igor Tudor will become only the second Tottenham manager in history to face Arsenal in his opening game this weekend.

Tudor has been brought in by Daniel Levy to try and steady the ship after the disastrous appointment of Thomas Frank.

The new Tottenham boss will be under pressure to turn things around quickly but likewise, beating Arsenal will be a task of the toughest order.

Fill in the blank: I would pay £___m to bring Rafael Leao to Arsenal next summer…

Indeed, should Tudor win, he will manage what the only other Spurs boss in history to face Arsenal on their managerial debut, Glenn Hoddle, couldn’t do.

What happened when Glenn Hoddle’s Tottenham faced Arsenal in 2001

Remarkably, we have to go back 25 years to get to the only other occasion when a Tottenham boss took on Arsenal in their opening match in charge.

The man to lead Spurs into battle that day was none other than Glenn Hoddle. Fresh off his spell with England and then a short spell with Southampton, Hoddle returned to Tottenham to fill the vacant seat left by George Graham.

Hoddle knew the ask was tough and he faced Arsenal in his opening fixture. To add fuel to the fire, it was an FA Cup semi-final at Old Trafford.

Unfortunately for Hoddle – but in good news for the Arsenal – it was the Gunners’ day.

Despite going behind to a Gary Doherty goal, Arsenal’s immense quality told as goals from Patrick Vieira and Robert Pires sealed the comeback win for Arsene Wenger’s side.

As for Hoddle, he never quite got Spurs going as he wanted, culminating in him losing his job in 2004.

Igor Tudor’s worrying record in derby matches

Any Tottenham fan hoping for their team to hit the ground running under Igor Tudor might be in for a disappointing week.

In fact, his record as a manager in games involving local rivals is pretty dire.

Here’s every goal Bukayo Saka has scored for Arsenal. Watch it and tell us your favourite strike!

A video you won't regret watching😍

In his time, he has overseen losses in the Rome derby, the Istanbul derbies and the Juventus v Milan rivalries.

Overall, his record is poor, with Tudor having won just four out of 23 derby matches and suffering 17 defeats.

Tottenham fans, then, will find little solace looking at this record and come Sunday, that loss column is more than likely to read 18.

Ange Postecoglou has given his version of events of the infamous night that Tottenham fans celebrated Manchester City beating them to end Arsenal’s hopes in the 2023/24 Premier League title race.

The Arsenal and Tottenham rivalry is so strong that some fans in N17 were desperate to see their team lose back in May 2024.

In a game that could’ve put Arsenal in touching distance of the Premier League title, Spurs had to beat Man City, and their fans desperately didn’t want it to happen.

From celebrating City’s goals to cheering Son Heung Min’s one-versus-one miss, it was an embarrassing showing from Arsenal’s rivals at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, something Ange Postecoglou couldn’t support at the time.

Did Arsenal blow their Premier League title chances vs Wolves or is Ange Postecoglou still right?

Ange Postecoglou breaks down when Tottenham wanted to lose against Manchester City to prevent Arsenal from winning the Premier League

In the end, Man City won 2-0 to the pain of Arsenal fans, who would’ve supported Spurs more than ever that day.

Sure, they prevented Arsenal from winning the league, but they also painted an ugly picture of their aspirations, as they later missed out on Champions League football by two points.

When speaking on The Overlap, Postecoglou shared what it was like to be on the touchline for that game.

MORE ARSENAL STORIES

“I understand the rivalry, but I also think there’s a point where you’ve got to stand on your own two feet about who you are,” Postecoglou began.

“Going into a game wanting to lose because your greatest rival, I get it from a fan’s point of view. Maybe if I was a supporter, I’d be feeling the same way, but I couldn’t represent the club in that manner.”

Which Tottenham manager’s era did you enjoy most as an Arsenal fan?

Is it Frank's right now? 😅

The behaviour of Spurs fans leading up to the game wasn’t something Postecoglou could support, as his priority was to win every game he could for the benefit of Tottenham.

“I mean, I want to win every game that I play in, and I think it’s important we do,” he said, before explaining the repercussions of that loss.

“You know what? At the time, we ended up two points from fourth behind Villa. If we had won that game, we might have gone into the Champions League, but it would have meant Arsenal won the league.

“I understand how, but that frustration comes not because I think yes, Arsenal win the league, but because again, Tottenham win nothing is the bigger problem.”

Tottenham will be desperate to cause another upset to Arsenal’s title charge in the North London Derby

Two years ago, Spurs ended Arsenal’s title hopes, and on matchday 27, they can play a similar role again.

Send us your early North London Derby score predictions, how bold are you feeling?

Fresh after having 12 days off before the North London Derby and with a new manager at the helm, Tottenham will be desperate to kick off their new era with a win over Arsenal.

There’s no greater achievement for the Lilywhites than getting the better of the Gunners, particularly if it could play a role in Arsenal not winning the league.

It’s why Mikel Arteta’s side must enter the game with aggression and intent, as losing to Tottenham is never an option, now more than ever.

Arsenal’s 2-2 draw against Wolves must convince Mikel Arteta to make some big changes for the North London Derby against Tottenham Hotspur.

The Gunners took an early lead at Molineux on Wednesday night, and it seemed like a comfortable evening at that point. Then, Piero Hincapie’s strike in the second half convinced everyone that the leaders would win.

However, Arsenal were pathetic in the final 30 minutes of the game and deservedly ended up dropping points.

Although every player on the pitch deserves blame, we think three of them were so bad that they need to come out of the starting lineup in the North London Derby against Tottenham on Sunday.

🔮 What is your score prediction for the North London derby: Tottenham _-_ Arsenal

Mikel Arteta must drop three Arsenal players vs Tottenham

Jurrien Timber

Jurrien Timber was one of Arsenal’s best players in the first half of the season, but in recent weeks, the Dutchman has struggled.

The former Ajax star has looked nothing like his usual self, and his performance against Wolves on Wednesday night was arguably his worst in an Arsenal shirt.

Timber needs a break, and with Ben White impressing almost every time he plays, we think it’s time for the England international to start against Tottenham.

MORE ARSENAL STORIES

Gabriel Martinelli

Gabriel Martinelli was Arsenal’s most disappointing player against Wolves.

The Brazilian worked tirelessly, as he always does, but every time he got the ball in a good position, he failed to do anything meaningful. This has been a constant theme for Martinelli in the Premier League all season – he has scored just once in the competition.

In the North London Derby, Martinelli must make way for Leandro Trossard, who has been twice the player in the league this season. If the Belgian is injured, Arteta should use Eberechi Eze there instead.

What was the worst thing about Gabriel Martinelli’s performance against Wolves?

Noni Madueke

Noni Madueke has chipped in with a few goals recently, but he did nothing against Wolves. The Englishman got on the ball plenty, but he failed with his end product again.

That has been the case for large parts of this season, and it simply cannot happen against Tottenham on Sunday. If Arsenal drop points again, their title dreams could be over.

We think Bukayo Saka should be pushed back to the right wing, with either Martin Odegaard or Kai Havertz, who are both in contention to return from their injuries, starting in attacking midfield.

Martin Zubimendi needs to change his ways or he should be dropped too

Martin Zubimendi has had a fine debut campaign for Arsenal next to Declan Rice, but the Spaniard is not making full use of his capabilities.

We’ve all seen the former Real Sociedad man play excellent long diagonals and dangerous passes between the lines to unleash his teammates.

In recent weeks, Zubimendi has not done that as much as he should, and that became even more evident when Christian Norgaard did everything and more when he replaced the Spain international against Wigan.

We still think Zubimendi should get the nod against Tottenham, but if the midfielder doesn’t start feeding the attackers, he should come out of the side.

Arsenal star Bukayo Saka limped off the pitch during the Gunners’ 2-2 draw against Wolves at Molineux.

The England international made his first start in the Premier League since the defeat to Manchester United in January, and he had an immediate impact.

Saka scored the opening goal and all but confirmed his new contract, but the big talking point was seeing him limp off the pitch in the second half.

The last thing Arsenal need before the North London Derby is another injury, but there is some ‘good news’ ahead of the game.

Send us your early North London Derby score predictions, how bold are you feeling?

Bukayo Saka is ‘fine’ for Arsenal’s North London Derby clash despite injury scare vs Wolves

Bukayo Saka has had a torrid time due to injuries over the last year.

The Englishman has suffered two serious hamstring injuries and has also spent a spell on the sidelines due to a hip problem.

Saka has missed more games due to injury since the turn of 2025 than ever before, and that has hurt Arsenal.

MORE ARSENAL STORIES

After seeing the academy graduate go down in pain, receive treatment on the pitch and then limp off, Arsenal fans were extremely worried.

However, the Evening Standard have now revealed some ‘good news’ by claiming that Saka is ‘fine’ and should be available for the North London Derby against Tottenham on Sunday.

That is a big boost for the Gunners, as they need their number seven to bounce back in what is now the biggest game of Arsenal’s season.

Mikel Arteta must change Bukayo Saka’s position for Tottenham vs Arsenal

Saka has been deployed in an attacking midfield role in each of Arsenal’s last two games.

The 24-year-old impressed in that role against Wigan, and he did even better at Wolves by scoring a lovely goal inside five minutes.

If you were Eberechi Eze, how would you feel after seeing Bukayo Saka start in the number 10 role?

However, it is clear to see that Saka is learning that role, which is why we think he should be pushed back to his usual right-wing position against Tottenham.

Noni Madueke had a poor game against Wolves, and he cannot do the same at Spurs.

Saka is a lot more reliable, and against Tottenham’s leaky defence, he could cause them all sorts of problems. That is exactly what needs to happen on Sunday.

Arsenal’s rivals Tottenham Hotspur have made several terrible signings in recent years.

The Gunners have been far superior to Spurs – not just historically, but in the last few seasons as well – and one of the reasons behind that is their recruitment.

Mikel Arteta has signed difference-makers like Gabriel Magalhaes, Declan Rice and Martin Zubimendi, while many of the players Spurs have recruited have underwhelmed.

Bryan Gil is one such player, and Arsenal have Spurs to thank for not bringing him to the Emirates Stadium.

Send us your early North London Derby score predictions, how bold are you feeling?

Tottenham signing Bryan Gil instead of Arsenal has been a blessing in disguise for the Gunners

Gil was viewed as one of the most exciting talents in Spain when he broke into the Sevilla first team.

The versatile attacker was linked with a number of top clubs, including Arsenal and Barcelona.

AS have revealed now that the Gunners did knock on Gil’s door in the summer of 2022 and were interested in signing him.

MORE ARSENAL STORIES

However, Tottenham pounced out of nowhere, offering £21.6 million plus Erik Lamela to convince Sevilla to let their star youngster join Spurs. (Sky Sports)

Some Tottenham fans mocked Arsenal when they got Gil, but it’s the Gunners who have had the last laugh as they definitely dodged a bullet.

Throughout his time at Spurs, Gil played 43 games and failed to score a single goal. In his entire career where he has played over 200 games for club and country, he has found the net just 18 times.

Even Arteta’s worst signings – Raheem Sterling and Willian – managed more in their disastrous spells at the Emirates.

Who was Edu Gaspar’s worst signing at Arsenal? Willian, Raheem Sterling or someone else?

It has been the complete opposite when Arsenal have hijacked Tottenham’s moves

There have been many examples of Tottenham trying to sign a player and then failing because they preferred to join Arsenal.

One of them was William Saliba. The Frenchman snubbed Spurs for the Gunners in 2019, and he is now arguably the best defender in the world.

The more recent example is Eberechi Eze. Arsenal hijacked Tottenham’s move in the eleventh hour in the summer, and the Englishman scored a stunning hat-trick in his North London Derby debut.

With another derby coming up on Sunday, Arsenal fans will be hoping to see the same again from Eze, who looked much better in the game against Wigan.

It will be interesting to see how he will fare if he starts.