Arsenal Insider

Jurrien Timber has been discussing Arsenal’s emphatic 4-1 win over Tottenham, and he highlighted one player’s performance in particular.

Of course, that player was Eberechi Eze, who netted a stunning three goals against the team that tried to sign him over the summer.

Who was Arsenal’s Man of the Match vs Tottenham?

Eze’s hat-trick against Tottenham makes him the first player to achieve such a feat in the Premier League, and it’s just what he needed following a slow start to life at the Emirates Stadium.

Before the match, Les Ferdinand suggested Eze had been playing with the handbrake on with the Gunners, but he blew that claim from his former coach right out of the water.

Following the match, Timber sang the 27-year-old’s praises and explained exactly why he was not surprised by how good the England international was against Spurs.

Jurrien Timber hails Eberechi Eze’s work rate behind the scenes at Arsenal

Jurrien Timber has been praising Eze’s work rate behind the scenes at Arsenal following his three goals versus Tottenham.

The Dutch international revealed how the former Crystal Palace star has seamlessly slotted into the Arsenal squad, and spoke about how popular he is amongst the group.

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When asked about how good he has been in training, Timber told beIN SPORTS: “I think everyone knows the amazing quality he has. As a player, I think he showed it on the pitch today. It was his day.

“I don’t think it’s a coincidence, the guy always works hard and everyone loves him, his character is great, he fits into the group perfectly.

“So I don’t think it’s a coincidence, maybe some people are surprised, but we know what he is capable of, and I’m happy he showed it for us today.”

During the week, Eze hailed Timber, admitting the defender was even better than he first thought, and he has now returned the favour.

Mikel Arteta hails Eberechi Eze’s attitude ahead of the North London derby

Meanwhile, Mikel Arteta hails Eze’s attitude ahead of the North London derby, revealing how the winger was eager to get a session in before the game.

The winger’s return from the England camp meant he had just one day to train at the Sobha Realty Training Centre; however, he insisted he wanted to do a session.

How pundits reacted to Eberechi Eze’s hat-trick vs Tottenham

Gary Neville: “What a moment. Hat-trick in a north London derby.”Trossard, who’s done brilliantly today, rides off the back of Sarr.”Eze has been masterful. He puts it exactly where he wants to.”

Clinton Morrison: “Eze will turn out to be one of the best signings of the season. This is every kid’s dream and he has lived his dream.”

Speaking to the media, Arteta said: “Things happen for a reason. After the international duty, he had two days off, and after one day, he wanted to train, and he wanted to improve, and he wanted to do extra practice, and he was asking me questions about this and that.

“When a player has such a talent, and his desire is at that level, then these things happen. And he fully deserves it. I’m so happy for him, because since the day that he came, he brought something else to the team.”

Arsenal saw off rivals Tottenham 4-1 in the first North London Derby of the season, and it’s fair to say Bukayo Saka and Declan Rice loved it.

Before the international break, pundits sensed a Manchester City revival; however, on matchday 12, the Gunners ensured the headlines were all about them.

Arsenal went six points clear at the summit with a win over Tottenham, sending a message to the Premier League and their north London rivals.

Spurs were humiliated at the Emirates by Mikel Arteta’s side, and after the win, Rice and Saka rubbed salt in the wounds on social media.

Who was Arsenal’s Man of the Match vs Tottenham?

Declan Rice and Bukayo Saka taunt Tottenham after North London Derby win

Rice has full belief in Arteta’s project and showed his commitment to the cause with a top performance against Tottenham.

The midfielder’s work didn’t stop because the full-time whistle blew, as on social media, the Englishman was sure to remind Arsenal’s rivals of what they don’t have: Eberechi Eze.

Rice took advantage after Tottenham attempted to mock Arsenal with their Eze announcement, captioning their unveiling of Xavi Simons ‘let it all work out’.

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On Instagram after the win, Rice posted a photo of himself and Eze with the cheeky caption, ‘it’s worked out…’

Mikel Merino commented, ‘It has!!’ but Saka took the taunt to another level with his post.

Saka posted a photo of himself laughing with Eze on the pitch, writing the caption, ‘I’ll let you all caption this…’, encouraging fans to celebrate the summer transfer hijack.

Fans were drawn to the two players’ social media activity after the match, as the celebrations of the derby win carried on beyond the full-time whistle.

Saka is living up to his nickname

Eze aside, few players on the pitch would’ve been as elated as Saka, who has captained Arsenal in the North London Derby, having been at the club since he was seven.

Being a loyal servant to the Gunners, it’s no surprise that Saka has been nicknamed Mr Arsenal, the same as Tony Adams.

The winger’s performance against Tottenham and his post-match social media activity proved why he was given the nickname by his teammate, Leandro Trossard.

It was a day to remember for Saka, who didn’t need to score or assist to have a heavy influence on the game.

There was a lot of worry about Arsenal not having Gabriel Magalhaes for the North London Derby, but the Gunners proved they didn’t need their defender.

Gabriel is set to miss weeks due to a groin injury, which was a devastating blow for Arsenal heading into the North London Derby.

Fortunately, Eberechi Eze and co ensured that the Brazilian’s absence wasn’t felt, guiding the Gunners to a 4-1 victory at the Emirates.

Though the centre-back would’ve preferred to have been on the pitch, he wasn’t far from the action, taking up the role of spectator, wearing an Arsenal scarf to cheer on his teammates.

What was Arsenal’s best goal against Tottenham?

How Gabriel Magalhaes celebrated the North London Derby

Gabriel scored home and away against Tottenham last season, getting a taste for the feeling of celebrating North London Derby goals.

The defender was unable to celebrate on the pitch during the match on Sunday, but he was sure to make up for missed time once Michael Oliver blew the full-time whistle.

As the Emirates serenaded the players, Gabriel was spotted on the pitch waving his Arsenal scarf above his head in celebration.

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The Brazil international’s celebrations were so wild that BBC Radio 5 Live presenter Steve Crossman admitted that he thought a fan had found a way to get onto the pitch.

“A second ago, I thought a fan had got on to the pitch because there was a big guy in a jacket whirling a red and white scarf around. It was Gabriel!”

Gabriel was jubilant after the win, watching his teammates get the job done in his absence.

Gabriel’s replacement Piero Hincapie was monstrous against Tottenham

Before the contest, many expected that Cristhian Mosquera could replace Gabriel, as the Spaniard rose as the top candidate to fill the void.

Instead, Mikel Arteta selected Piero Hincapie, who became the first player in 15 years to earn his first Premier League start in the North London Derby.

There was a worry about how much Arsenal would miss Gabriel, but the Ecuadorian relieved any anxiety throughout his performance, winning all of his aerial duels and all of his tackles.

It was a top display from Hincapie, who stood up when the stakes couldn’t have been higher.

Arsenal star Eberechi Eze has made Tottenham Hotspur eat their words in the North London Derby.

The Gunners were the favourites going into the game at the Emirates Stadium on Sunday, and they did not disappoint.

Leandro Trossard opened the scoring, but from that point, it was the Eze show. The Englishman scored a stunning hat-trick and made one of Tottenham’s attempts to mock him look ridiculous.

Eberechi Eze makes Tottenham’s social media post look embarrassing

It is no secret that Tottenham tried very hard to sign Eberechi Eze in the summer.

At one point, the move really looked like it was going to happen, but Arsenal swooped in at the last minute, and the attacker chose the Gunners.

Spurs had to save face, so they spent big money to sign Xavi Simons from RB Leipzig. The Dutchman is a good player, but he’s not on Eze’s level.

Yet, Tottenham thought it would be a good idea to mock Arsenal and their number 10.

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After Arsenal used the ‘Let it all work out’ tune while announcing the Eze signing, Tottenham took to social media and used those four words to celebrate Simons’ arrival.

That decision totally backfired on Sunday.

Eze absolutely battered Tottenham. He scored thrice, could’ve scored one or two more, and was the star of the show at the Emirates.

Simons, on the other hand, came on as a substitute, and the highlight of his game was getting tackled by Declan Rice.

Spurs should just delete that post now.

Who was Arsenal’s Man of the Match vs Tottenham?

Eberechi Eze matched a 47-year North London Derby record

It’s not often that you see hat-tricks in the North London Derby.

It is so rare that it has happened just four times in the history of this fixture, which was first played between Arsenal and Tottenham in 1896.

The last time a player scored three goals in a game between the two North London rivals was all the way back in 1978 – Alan Sunderland was the man who took home the match ball that day.

Now, 47 years later, Eze has matched that feat, and Arsenal fans will remember this for a long, long time.

Eberechi Eze is the talk of North London after stunning Tottenham in the North London Derby during Arsenal’s 4-1 win.

The Gunners sent a statement to the remainder of the Premier League with three points over their London rivals to send Mikel Arteta’s side six points clear at the summit.

It was a memorable match for the Arsenal squad, but the occasion undoubtedly belonged to Eze.

After Eze snubbed Tottenham for Arsenal, the attacking midfielder was sure to embarrass Spurs again by scoring a hat-trick against the club that wanted to sign him.

Eberechi Eze replicated his celebration against Tottenham

If there was one player Spurs fans wouldn’t have wanted to score against them, it was Eze.

Tottenham fans were devastated that they missed out on Eze to Arsenal, with the England international rubbing salt in the wounds by scoring three times in his first North London Derby.

It must’ve been a painful sight for the away supporters, but the 27-year-old’s second goal wasn’t the most humiliating part of the afternoon for the Lilywhites.

That’s because six months after scoring in Crystal Palace’s win over Tottenham, Eze replicated his celebration, cupping his mouth to hide a grin.

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Spurs fans had seen the celebration before, and now, have been forced to witness it again, but this time, the matter was made worse by Eze being an Arsenal player.

It’s rare for a player to have a signature celebration against a club, but Eze is one of the few able to boast one.

Thomas Frank’s pre-match Eberechi Eze message backfired

Tottenham supporters weren’t the only ones to have been pained by Eze’s performance, as Thomas Frank was left red-faced by one comment he made pre-match.

Who was Arsenal’s Man of the Match vs Tottenham?

Speaking in his pre-match press conference, Frank responded to a reporter asking about Eze, to which the Spurs manager asked, “Who’s Eze?”

Frank’s joke was answered by the Arsenal star during the game in a way that was undeniable, taking home the match ball, being the first player in a North London Derby to do so since 1978.

It was an impeccable day for Eze, but one that might give Tottenham fans nightmares.

Ever wondered what players say behind the scenes ahead of the North London Derby? Martin Odegaard has shared the inside scoop.

Arsenal are hopeful that Odegaard will be fit to face Tottenham, as he nears the end of his recovery from injury.

Having the Norwegian back in time for the North London Derby would be a huge plus for the Gunners, who have experienced an injury crisis early into the season.

Still, Arsenal sit top of the Premier League table, a lead that could be extended to six points with a win over Spurs, something the squad have their minds on.

Which Arsenal player should be dropped if Martin Odegaard returns vs Tottenham?

Martin Odegaard reveals the feeling in the Arsenal squad ahead of the North London Derby

There’s confidence that Arsenal will beat Spurs to go clear at the summit, but Mikel Arteta won’t allow his players to get ahead of themselves.

Already, it’s clear that the Arsenal manager doesn’t have to block out the noise, as Odegaard lifted the lid on what the squad are saying behind the scenes right now.

“It’s special for the supporters, but you can feel it inside the club as well. It means a lot to everybody, and I think it makes it easier for the players coming back from internationals to face a game like this,” Odegaard told Arsenal’s official programme.

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What came next from the skipper is something fans will love, as the one thing on the players’ minds is a win.

“We know there is no option but to be completely on it from the very first second. That’s what you want,” he said defiantly.

The meaning of the North London Derby from the players themselves.

“I remember by 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.”

Lee Dixon on his first ever North London Derby experience.

For some players, it will be a first taste of a competitive North London Derby, but the new boys haven’t needed much guidance about Sunday’s affair.

“We’ve got a few new players this season, and I know they are all looking forward to this game too,” Odegaard shared.

“This rivalry is something you feel when you arrive here. I remember my first derby and people talking about it inside the club. We’ve got people here who have been at the club for a long time and are massive Arsenal fans, so they will tell you straight away!”

Martin Zubimendi knows what a derby match means, with the Arsenal squad well-equipped to step up to the task to earn three points and bragging rights on Sunday afternoon in N5.

Arsenal will want Odegaard back for the North London Derby

Injury boosts have come at a good time for Arsenal, who could welcome a handful of key players back for the derby, including Odegaard.

Having the 26-year-old back isn’t only beneficial due to his quality and leadership skills, but because of the record he boasts against Tottenham, too.

Odegaard has won 75% of the North London Derbies he’s played in, captaining the Gunners to four victories since taking the armband.

Additionally, the playmaker has recorded three goal contributions against Spurs, posing a real danger to the Lilywhites.

The battle of North London is hours away from commencing, with those in the red corner certainly ready.

Arsenal are all set to face Tottenham Hotspur in the North London Derby, and the mind games seem to have begun.

The Gunners are the favourites to win the clash on Sunday. They are challenging for the Premier League title and have fallen just short three seasons in a row.

Tottenham, on the other hand, finished one place above the relegation zone last term, but their fans forgot all about that because they won the Europa League.

Now, ahead of the derby, Spurs seem to be using that trophy to aim a dig at Arsenal – their supporters seem to be convinced about it.

Tottenham fans think Spurs have mocked Arsenal before the North London Derby

Tottenham released a behind-the-scenes video of their training session ahead of their game against Arsenal on Sunday.

Right at the start of that clip, Spurs showed off the Europa League trophy they won at the end of last season, and their fans think that was aimed at Arsenal.

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One Tottenham fan wrote: “Admin is trolling Arsenal with the European trophy. Things we love to see.”

Another tweeted: “We’re so shameless, but I love it.”

“Spurs have just cooked Arsenal,” wrote another.

Arsenal fans hit back at Tottenham’s post

Tottenham fans, as you would expect, loved that post from their club and are all mocking their North London counterparts.

However, Arsenal supporters have hit back.

One Arsenal fan wrote: “Are you seriously flexing the Europa League like that? What a small club!”

Another tweeted: “Second-tier trophy against Champions League semi-finalists?? Haha, have some shame!”

“Celebrating six-month anniversaries for the ‘you play Thursday’ cup will never not be small,” said another.

What is your prediction for the North London Derby?

Arsenal can have the last laugh in the North London Derby

Trying to mock an opponent before the game usually backfires, and Arsenal fans will be hoping that happens on Sunday.

Tottenham haven’t won a game in the Premier League at the Emirates for 15 years. They haven’t beaten the Gunners anywhere in their last six competitive games either.

Mikel Arteta has previously used social media posts from rivals to get his side fired up, and we won’t be surprised if he does the same before the North London Derby.

It has worked for Arsenal before, and there’s no reason it won’t again.

Arsenal take on Thomas Frank’s Tottenham Hotspur in the Premier League for the first time.

The Dane has previously faced the Gunners when he was in charge of Brentford, but the game on Sunday will be his first-ever competitive North London Derby.

Usually, Frank is very complimentary of Arsenal, but it looks like he has changed ahead of the game on Sunday.

What is your prediction for the North London Derby?

Tottenham boss Thomas Frank has changed his tune about Arsenal before the North London Derby

Thomas Frank is one of the most respected managers in the Premier League.

The 52-year-old did an unbelievable job at Brentford, and the way he handled himself in front of the media made him a very likeable character.

In the summer, many Arsenal fans were even sad to see Frank join Tottenham because they liked him that much.

One of the reasons why Frank is so popular among Gooners is the glowing praise he has always showered on Mikel Arteta’s side.

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There is even a running joke on social media that Frank is actually an Arsenal fan.

However, since praising Arsenal and immediately realising his mistake in the summer, Frank has been very cautious about his words.

Furthermore, the Tottenham boss aimed a dig at Eberechi Eze in his pre-match press conference on Friday. Frank even fired some friendly shots at David Raya and Christian Norgaard, who used to play for him.

Now, the Dane has publicly claimed that he doesn’t want to praise Arsenal, which is a complete change from the past.

He said in his press conference: “I don’t want to praise them too much, Arsenal, in general.

“But also, we can’t hide or look away from them. Right now, they are at the top of the table in the Premier League. They invested a lot in the squad in the summer over the last couple of years. They have a very strong and competitive squad with almost two good players in every position.”

Arsenal fans will want revenge against Tottenham

Tottenham fans have had a lot to say to their Arsenal counterparts over the last few months.

After Ange Postecoglou helped them win the Europa League, which made them the 37th best team on the continent, some Spurs supporters got the confidence to say that they had the better season.

To make things worse, Frank managed to win the pre-season friendly between Arsenal and Tottenham in Hong Kong, thus giving more voice to some of his club’s fans.

Eberechi Eze will be a key player to watch when Arsenal take on Tottenham Hotspur in the North London Derby.

The Englishman was one of the biggest names in the summer transfer window, and he was being chased by both Spurs and the Gunners.

Tottenham thought they had got their man, but Arsenal swooped in at the last minute, and Eze chose Mikel Arteta’s side.

Thomas Frank has now aimed a cheeky dig at him ahead of the game on Sunday.

What is your prediction for the North London Derby?

Arsenal star Eberechi Eze will want to destroy Tottenham after Thomas Frank’s jibe

There is always a lot of tension in games between Arsenal and Tottenham.

The two sets of supporters don’t like each other, making this a feisty affair every single time they meet in the North London Derby.

All eyes will be on Eberechi Eze when the game kicks off on Sunday because of what happened in the summer, and it looks like Frank has not forgotten about that.

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In his press conference ahead of the derby, the Dane was asked if he thought Tottenham had got the Eze deal over the line in the summer.

The Spurs boss cheekily replied: “Who’s Eze?”

He then laughed before saying: “Very good player. He plays for Arsenal, a team we want to beat on Sunday.”

Frank’s comments should not bother Eze because he knows how desperate Tottenham were to sign him before he snubbed them.

However, we’re sure the Arsenal number 10 will want to have a big impact on Sunday to make sure nobody ever asks who he is again.

Eberechi Eze’s recent record vs Tottenham is impressive

Eze was a fine player for Crystal Palace before Arsenal signed him in the summer.

The England international produced magical moments against several teams in the Premier League – he did it twice against Tottenham last season.

Palace beat Spurs both home and away in the league in 2024/25, and Eze scored two goals and provided an assist in those games.

The Arsenal man found the net when he faced Tottenham in the season before as well, and we’re sure he will be keen to do the same on Sunday.

Arsenal host Tottenham Hotspur in the North London Derby, and it may not be a straightforward game.

The Gunners will go into the clash as the favourites on Sunday, but form goes out of the window in a derby, and anything can happen.

Many people, like Gary Neville, think it will be a close game between Arsenal and Tottenham, and that is because it’s so obvious what Spurs are going to do from the very first minute.

Tottenham’s game plan vs Arsenal is a problem for Mikel Arteta

Tottenham were awful defensively under Ange Postecoglou last season, so every team that played against them had a real chance of winning.

Things, however, have changed following the appointment of Thomas Frank in the summer, and we all know how he is going to set his side up to play against Arsenal.

Spurs’ plan will be to deploy a well-organised low-block, nullify everything the Gunners throw at them and then charge forward on the break.

They have done that all season when they aren’t the better side – just ask Paul Merson.

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He wrote on Sportskeeda: “When Spurs are not the favourites and they sit back, absorb pressure and hit you on the break, they are a tricky team to face.”

That could be a problem for Arsenal as they have struggled against low blocks on more than one occasion over the last few years.

Frank’s Brentford used to be a tough opponent for the North Londoners as well, and that continued in pre-season, when Spurs beat the Gunners in a friendly in Asia.

It remains to be seen if Arsenal will be able to overcome this at the Emirates on Sunday.

What is your prediction for the North London Derby?

Arsenal could have the key to unlocking Tottenham’s defence after injury boost

Arsenal have created an xG of 13.4 from open play and have scored just eight goals in their 11 Premier League games.

That means they are creating just over one good chance per game from open play, which highlights their struggle against low blocks.

Frank will look to take advantage of that in the North London Derby, but Arsenal are set to have Martin Odegaard back from his injury.

The Norwegian is their key creator and one of the best attacking midfielders in the world. He could be the key to unlocking Tottenham’s defence on Sunday.