Daily Mail

Thomas Frank found no warm embrace in the city of love. Only more punishment from another of the most potent teams in European football.

On Sunday, at Arsenal, it was a four-goal mauling at the hands of the Premier League leaders. Here in, the French capital, five more goals conceded against the mighty Paris Saint-Germain.

It has been a painful four days for Tottenham, and yet here at least there were more positives to take than from the North London derby.

Here, they proved they could score goals. And it is their first defeat in the Champions League. They should find enough points from the last three games of the league phase to qualify for the knock out rounds.

After Arsenal

Frank demanded a response from his players against the European champions after Sunday’s bruising defeat at Arsenal, when he accused them of lacking aggression and losing too many individual duels. His own response was to make five changes with teenagers Lucas Bergvall and Archie Gray returning to the team.

Gray came into central midfield alongside Rodrigo Bentancur with what seemed to be instructions to lock onto Vitinha, their tempo-setter, where possible. It was another change of shape for Spurs, who started at Arsenal with a back five and abandoned it at half time to revert to their more usual 4231 system.

Here they lined up in a 4-4-2 formation with the two wide midfielders Pape Matar Sarr and Lucas Bergvall, who made his first appearance since a concussion injury against Chelsea, prepared to tuck inside behind the strikers and form a midfield box.

PSG took early possession of the ball and popped passes around. Luis Enrique had promised a very different game to the Super Cup, when his team had just returned from their summer holidays and struggled against the aerial bombardment by Spurs.

Here, Frank sat his back four deep and let the home team have the ball, looking to pounce on the counterattack, happy to go long from the back, all of which made for a fairly pedestrian opening half hour.

Fabian Ruiz and Khvicha Kvaratskhelia flashed early efforts wide and Warren Zaire-Emery, the young midfielder deputising at right-back with Achraf Hakimi out injured, advanced onto a pass clipped into the box by Vitinha. Guglielmo Vicario was alert to the danger on that occasion.

Two up top

Tottenham chief problem this season has been the goal threat from open play. Frank spoke about searching for the right formula on the eve of this game. He opted for two up front and although they had to be patient their moment came 10 minutes before half time.

Bergvall and Gray created an overload on the left. They are young and at times it shows but they do come with technical quality, and this was the first time Spurs truly carved PSG open. Gray on the run delivered a delightful cross with his left foot, met beyond the back post by Kolo Muani who headed the ball back and Richarlison nodded it into an open net from a matter of inches.

From the opposite end of the scale to his sensational strike from distance at Arsenal. They all count for the same, though and it was a sixth of the season for the Brazilian in club colours and his third in three. Of all the Spurs options up front, it is much-maligned Richarlison who remains most likely to score.

Tottenham’s set-piece is still valid and the second was a brilliant volley by Kolo Muani via a well-worked corner. Pedro Porro’s deep delivery was headed back by Richarlison and Gray hooked it past goalkeeper Lucas Chevalier on the volley. Willian Pacho cleared off the line via the bar and Kolo Muani smashed it back into the net with force. Marquinhos could not stop it going in. On loan from PSG, Kolo Muani did not celebrate his first Spurs goal or his second, lashed in after a mistake by Vitinha to drag the score back to 4-3.

Parisien style

Enrique’s team is packed with quality, and they find ways to make it count. Twice Vintiha, with two brilliant, precision finishes, one with each foot, from the fringes of the penalty area, the sort of range from which Eberechi Eze punished Spurs.

Spurs had given few chances to the PSG press, but mistake crept in as they tired and the hosts threw more players forward. They were caught out making careless passes at the back for the third, scored by Fabian Ruiz. Then failed to defend a corner as Pacho scored the fourth.

Vitinha’s hat-trick came from a penalty awarded for handball against Cristian Romero and then PSG sent on Ballon d’Or winner Ousmane Dembele and Goncalo Ramos.

Frank will realise PSG, who finished with 10 men after Lucas Hernandez was sent off in stoppage time, can do this to anyone.

Mikel Arteta played down the big picture of this result - namely, that it makes them the favourites to win the Champions League - but he was happy with what he saw, particularly given he had to rotate some fringe players in.

'The overall performance thd the way we dominated the game [pleased me],' he said.

'We knew this game was going to require a different dimension, and individually we were exceptional.

'It will bring more confidence and trust to the players [seeing rotation players performing].

'We had an issue with Leo [Trossard] so we had to take him off.

'We're still so far [from winning the CL]. We have a really good record so far but tomorrow we prepare to go to Stamford Bridge.'

Thomas Frank was disappointed at the two goals Tottenham gifted to PSG, but generally happy with their performance in a 5-3 defeat using an altered 4-4-2 formation.

'I'm very pleased with the performance. Today was much more the identity of the team - the aggressivity, the bravery, running at them,' he told TNT Sports.

'The two strikers scoring three goals between them. The whole team. Archie Gray and Lucas Bergvall looked really good.

'The two goals, three and four, you can't concede them here. [But] Vitinha will be the next Ballon d'Or winner for me.

'The two goals give [Kolo Muani] confidence to go forward. He had a dead leg, broken jaw, came to us not fit. He saw the better of him today.

'Conceding four then five will always be concerning but they are two completely different games and I take the positives. Today I saw a team with soul and character and you need that.'

A huge statement from Declan Rice: Arsenal's mentality is better than it has ever been before, he says.

'I think so [the mentality has changed]. There are a lot more leaders in the team now. There are players who have been at the club for a while now. It hurts not getting over the line. The mentality has been different this year. There's a hunger and a desire to win every game and we can do that at our best.

'There's a long way to go.'

Some interesting points from Rice on TNT Sports. Apparently, not much practice goes into those venemous set-pieces...

'We knew tonight what we were in for: probably the toughest game tactically. They've been the best team in Europe.

'Second half we did much better, got our references right, went man to man.

'It's been so easy to play with him [Zubimendi]. From the first moment e had with each other in pre-season, I could tell we were going to play some good football. I really liked him as a person and a player. He's Spain's number six and you know what Spanish number sixes are like! He's an unbelievable player.

'The players all believe in him [Arteta] and what he does. Chelsea will be a different game tactically but every player knows their role.

'Delivery is a big part of it [my set-pieces]. We don't actually get to work on it a lot because of the game schedule nad how much you have to work on the opposition. But it's something we've built in for a while now.'

Is it too early to start talking about a quadruple challenge?

Previous seasons have taught us that things can unravel quickly. Hey, Liverpool are a case in point right now.

But Arsenal are so clinical, so impregnable. Their depth is actually quite scary, particularly at full-back and in the attacking areas. They've had injury blows this season but marched on unflinching.

They proved last season that they could beat Real Madrid. This season they've scalped Bayern, battered Atletico Madrid, demolished Tottenham.

Who can stop them?

'Two years ago they couldn't have won this game. That second half, I thought they dominated,' said Owen Hargreaves on TNT Sports.

'It's the same performance but different players. It's a mentality thing,' says Martin Keown.

Noni Madueke has been speaking to TNT Sports...

'First of all I just want to thank my Lord and saviour Jesus Christ.

'Couldn't have picked a better game for my first goal. I'm so happy that the team got the win as well.

'It's an incredible statement but we know the work that we put in every single day. We go into these types of games with the confidence that we can get the job done.

'I'm a confident player so I don't like anyone telling me I can't do something [responding to summer criticism]. But the belief the players and staff have in me is the reason I want to [do well here].'

Furious clubs are considering further action against WSL Football following Tuesday night's chaotic League Cup draw.

The Subway League Cup quarter-final and semi-final draw was live-streamed on TikTok, hosted by influencer GK Barry and her footballer girlfriend Ella Rutherford, who plays for Portsmouth.

In addition to several crude remarks and an insult directed at Tottenham Hotspur, the most pertinent moment came when a ball was mistakenly placed back into the bag, raising serious concerns about the legitimacy of the draw.

Barry, who retrieved the ball – which carried Tottenham's number – asked the camera: 'Am I allowed to do that? I've done it now, it's too late. Oh, I picked up the same ball.'

Sources indicate that an adjudicator was present and confirmed it was indeed the same ball; had that not been the case, the draw would have needed to be restarted.

It is understood that clubs have requested access to the footage – currently unavailable after being aired solely via Tuesday night's livestream.

Beyond questions over legitimacy, there have been serious concerns about the draw's professionalism, not least Barry asking: 'What do we think of Tottenham?' – a reference to the anti-Spurs chant led by Arsenal fans.

Daily Mail Sport understands that Tottenham Hotspur have since received an apology from WSL Football.

The broadcast also featured several crude references, including Barry saying: 'Send a Galaxy if you think that I've got a bigger bum than Ella', 'These are my balls right here on show. Get a load of it, usually I charge', and 'Lesbians handling balls. Never been seen before.'

Before the draw began, Barry shook the bag containing the balls and slapped it against her backside, adding: 'Give it a shake, a spank for luck.'

Viewers also complained that they could not keep up with proceedings, with one asking for a graphic to show which teams were playing each other. Barry responded by joking about needing a bigger budget.

It is believed the format was an attempt to appeal to younger audiences. While insiders recognise the desire to engage new demographics, this was viewed as a clear failure to get the basics right.

The draw saw holders Chelsea given a trip to Liverpool while last season’s runners up Manchester City will travel to West Ham United. Manchester United host Tottenham while Crystal Palace, the only WSL 2 side left in the competition, will play Arsenal at home. The winners of Liverpool v Chelsea will play the winners of West Ham v City while the winners of United v Tottenham will play the winners of Palace v Arsenal.

Daily Mail Sport have contacted the WSL for comment.

Tottenham's summer was to a degree characterised by near misses. A near miss with Eberechi Eze, who chose Arsenal. A close call for Bryan Mbeumo, too. Spurs thought they had a deal on that one but he went to Manchester United.

And so to the Emirates on Sunday where a near miss would have been acceptable in the circumstances. Instead, in Thomas Frank’s first north London derby as Tottenham manager, his team were blown apart and within seconds of the final whistle the verdict was in.

‘Disgraceful,’ was the opinion of one long-standing observer with connections to the club.

‘Embarrassing,’ was another take on what had just unfolded.

And up in the stands, in the executive boxes where the great and the good of this storied rivalry met to eat and drink and watch the game, there was no getting away from it. Tottenham looked for all the world as though they had come to roll over and they did.

In one box was George Graham. He is 81 at the end of the week. He managed both clubs, of course. He would have recognised one of them if not the other. And that is one of Tottenham’s problems as they approach one of the most important fortnights in Frank’s early time as manager of the club. The identity of his Tottenham remains a mystery.

PSG in the Champions League on Wednesday had a painful ring to it already. Fulham at home in the Premier League on Saturday night is then followed by a midweek trip to Newcastle and a weekend fixture back on their own pitch against Brentford, the club with whom Frank made his name and indeed his reputation.

That reputation was one of a doer, an organiser and a leader. Frank, a Dane courted by both Chelsea and Manchester United in recent times, took hold of Brentford and made them credible, respected and formidable – especially at home. We knew what they were.

Further north at Tottenham, Frank’s task is to move to the next level and it is to be hoped that he succeeds. Given time he may well do so. He is bright and clever and tougher than he looks.

Nevertheless, Tottenham is not Brentford. It’s different. Different forces are at play. And when he walked into the interview room at the Emirates after Sunday’s 4-1 defeat, he looked a little bewildered, suddenly a small man in a very big room. That’s what bad results can do.

Asked what had gone wrong, he gulped and half smiled and wondered out loud where he should start. It was classic Frank. Self-deprecating and honest. But at the same time it didn’t go any way to hide the meekness of a performance that prompted goalkeeper Guglielmo Vicario to apologise for a lack of fight.

When the season started with a home win over Burnley and a victory away at Manchester City, there were those at Tottenham who rather patronisingly compared the style of play to Frank’s Brentford. Long-throws, set pieces and fast, direct counter attacks. Now, just three league wins and four defeats later, Spurs fans don’t even have that to cling to.

Tottenham at Arsenal were dreadful. Weak and submissive and seemingly without the will or method to get up the field. Frank’s decision to play five across the back spoke of a nervousness and a lack of genuine belief and that was how his team played. Arsenal’s final goal – Eze’s third of the day – began with a Tottenham throw-in deep inside their opponents’ half. With nobody willing or available to receive it, the ball ended up with the goalkeeper and – subsequently lost on the back of a hopeful punt up field – was in the back of his net soon after.

Asked about this, Frank didn’t deem it significant. He said it would only be a bad sign had the score been 0-0 or 0-1. The insinuation was that the game was already gone so it didn’t really matter.

But he’s wrong about that. At a big club like Spurs – eighth on the Forbes rich list now their new stadium is fully bedded in – all the details matter and at the moment Frank’s team are coming out on the wrong side of too many.

Against Chelsea at home, Tottenham managed only one shot on target and, in losing 1-0, finished the game with an XG (expected goals) of 0.05. Against Manchester United, they led 2-1 seven minutes into added time against ten men and conceded an equaliser to an unmarked player at a corner.

Away from home they have been a little better, adding wins at Everton, Leeds and West Ham to that early scalping of City at the Etihad.

But currently Tottenham are trending backwards with those fans not arguing that Frank is the wrong man preferring to ask questions once again of the club’s recruitment.

Injuries are hurting Spurs for sure. Centre forward Dominic Solanke is missing while so too is the club’s best player Dejan Kulusevski and the talented James Maddison. But what is to be made of summer signings such as Xavi Simons, Mathys Tel and Mohammed Kudus, three young forward players who cost £150m and have so far contributed three league goals between them? That’s the same number as central defender Micky van de Ven has scored on his own.

Simons and Tel are only 22 and 20 years of age. They are young players who may improve. But a Tottenham policy of buying young emerging talent – led by joint sporting directors Johan Lange and Fabio Paratici – has to pay off at some stage because Frank’s team need some oven-ready top-flight players right now.

Last season, as manager Ange Postecoglou struggled under a weight of a huge injury list, a previous batch of future stars – Archie Gray, Wilson Odobert, Lucas Bergvall and Mikey Moore – came to the fore and did well in patches. Perhaps understandably, their impact has waned a little. Indeed 18-year-old Moore – a rare ray of hope from the Spurs academy – is currently on loan at Rangers.

Frank has already referenced Postecoglou’s 17th placed finish last season as a reason to feel some progress has been made and – with Spurs in mid-table - it should not be dismissed. Postecoglou’s brand of explosive chaos could not go on.

The challenge for Frank now is to prove he can bring an upgrade that sustains. There have been some moments of clarity, days when a plan appeared to be forming. A solid base, some counter-attack football. But there has been no consistency and that’s killing him.

At the moment it’s neither old school Brentford or classic Tottenham or anything much in between. On Sunday on a dark winter’s day at the Emirates, it was hard to know what it was and that’s a bit of a worry.

Former Tottenham star Mauricio Taricco has been handed a five-match ban for making a racist 'slanted-eye' gesture from the dugout while overseeing a K-League match in South Korea.

The Argentina star spent six years at the north London club between 1998 and 2004 and also enjoyed stints at Ipswich, West Ham, and Brighton during his time on English soil.

After going into management - which he first tried on the south coast alongside his playing career as an assistant in 2009 - Taricco has seen out assistant coaching spells at Sunderland, AEK Athens, and the Greek national team, among other sides, before landing at Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors.

Taricco has held his role since 2024, but found himself in hot water when he made the highly offensive gesture at the referee during their November 8 game against Daejeon Hana Citizen FC.

The 52-year-old became embroiled in an argument with the official over appealing for a penalty on behalf of his side during the clash, which Jeonbuk went on to win 3-1.

Taricco is said to have then yelled 'racist' at the referee in Spanish before performing the gesture.

Taricco was immediately sent off by the official.

After being charged by the K-League, Taricco claimed in a statement to their disciplinary committee that he had been gesturing that the referee had not seen a handball which he believed had been committed.

But as per the committee's ruling, Taricco's alleged intentions were beside the point.

'The disciplinary committee stated that 'the evaluation of a specific act should be based on the universal meaning of the act as expressed, rather than the perpetrator's stated intentions', the K-League said in a statement.

'Based on these criteria, coach Taricco's actions were identical to the widely known "slant-eye" derogatory gesture against Asians and sufficiently inflicted feelings of racial insult on the recipient.'

Taricco also received a fine totalling £10,336 (20,000,000 won).

Arsenal went six points clear at the top of the table and continued their home dominance in the north London derby with a 4-1 thrashing of a struggling Tottenham side at the Emirates on Sunday evening.

Former Spurs target - who was swiped under Thomas Frank's nose by Mikel Arteta - Eberechi Eze was the man of the hour as he scored the first hat-trick in a meeting between the two sides since 1978, but even without the stardust offered up by their summer signing, Arsenal looked in perpetually in control as Tottenham created little.

A shock consolation goal from Richarlison helped put the visitors on the scoresheet, but as the hosts burnished their title-winning credentials, Tottenham looked way off the mark.

Here, Daily Mail Sport's Football Editor IAN LADYMAN looks at four of the biggest talking points from an intriguing derby day.

Reality dawns on Frank

At least Thomas Frank now knows what it really means to be a Tottenham manager. It’s not acceptable to lose like this. Not at Arsenal, not without really ever trying to win.

Frank will argue that going toe to toe with the best team in the Premier League is asking for trouble and he may have a point.

The problem is that the way he went about this game was tantamount to surrender and that whiff of inferiority will follow him until he gets the chance to put right – if he last that long, of course.

The Dane is a bright guy. He knows how football works. He knows to organise a football team. Equally, he knows what perception is and here he looked for all the world as though he brought Tottenham across north London not to win but to try not to lose.

That’s okay if you are manager of Brentford, where every point you get against a big club is a mini-triumph, a strike against the head. It’s simply not good enough when you are in charge at Spurs, a club with aspirations of European credibility.

Frank’s 5-3-2 formation was a love letter to pragmatism. Stay in the game and then hope was the intention. But it was doomed from the start. How were Spurs supposed to get and keep the ball when they were always a man down in midfield? How were they were supposed to get any possession in the final third if their only out ball was a long pass up to Richarlison who would not be a target man even if he wore stilts?

The days of Ange Postecoglou’s daring and expansive football are gone and Tottenham fans should not yearn for them. They led this great football club all the way down to 17th place last season.

Equally Frank must find a way to satisfy both ends of football’s oldest equations if he is to survive at Spurs. They must be tighter than they were under his predecessor and they must be less chaotic. But they must have the courage to play some football too.

The first half was always likely to dictate how this game played out and by the midway point Spurs were 2-0 down, hadn’t had a shot or a corner and had mustered only two touches in the Arsenal penalty box. It spoke volumes.

Frank had come here looking for a tight contest and didn’t get one. As a result his club’s greatest rivals handed him a lesson he must learn quickly.

Palhinha is not the problem

Tottenham midfielder Joao Palhinha had hit back at Jamie Carragher’s assertion that he isn’t good enough for the Premier League by calling the Sky Sports pundit ‘embarrassing’. The truth of the matter is that the Portuguese holding player is the least of Tottenham’s problems.

Every team needs a dogged midfielder to tackle and read games and break up play. If they can get on the ball and pass and play as well then all the better.

And Palhinha - once of Fulham and then of Bayern Munich - is not the worst at that bit.

His most notable contribution here saw him dispossess Martin Zubimendi with a lunging tackle in the centre circle in the second half and that enabled Richarlison to beat David Raya from distance and at least give this game a bit of a competitive edge for a while.

Tottenham are missing ball players in midfield. Dejan Kulusevski is the best player at the club and can play centrally while James Maddison is also injured. They are both huge losses. Spurs will be better for their return but none of it will really matter if Frank doesn’t ask his players to be brave enough to get on the ball and play.

Richarlison will never be the answer

Richarlison took his chance instinctively well. It was a terrific bit of skill, given that Raya would have backpedalled and intercepted anything but the perfect shot. Nevertheless, Tottenham will not go where they want to go with the Brazilian playing up front.

Through his time at Watford and Everton and now at Spurs, a player with cumulative transfer fees of more than £100m has shown himself to be a forward of the occasional big moment rather than someone who can be relied upon consistently.

When he was first bought from Everton in the summer of 2022, it was thought he would play on one side of Harry Kane with Heung Min Son on the other. Here, with Spurs short of options, he was asked to play through the middle.

The 28-year-old is not robust enough or willing enough to do that job and away from home when possession is scarce, the lack of an out-ball will always hurt a team. Tottenham simply have too many forward players of which not enough is really known or proven.

Why, for example, did the Spurs recruitment team pay £55m for Mohammed Kudus instead of throwing money at West Ham to try and get Jarrod Bowen instead? Bowen would have been a perfect replacement for Son and the word is that he may well have come. Kudus, by comparison, looks like a frivolous decoration.

Arteta got his big call right

What a day for Eberechi Eze. A player who almost joined Spurs in the summer chose this day of all days to produce the performance of is life for the club he supported as a boy.

We should have known what was coming the moment he scooped a fabulous pass through to Declan Rice in just the third minute. That almost led to the first goal and pretty much everything the England player did after that was laced with quality.

But perhaps Mikel Arteta will be best pleased with a decision he saw born out at the other end of the field.

Injuries played a part in derailing last season’s title challenge and losing central defender Gabriel to a problem picked up on international duty asked Arteta a big question ahead of this game.

His decision to hand Piero Hincapie a first Premier League start was a big one. He could have asked Ben White to step in. But Arteta trusted the Ecuadorian – on loan from Bayer Leverkusen – and it paid off.

‘He has title winning experience in Germany,’ was Arteta’s pre-match rationale.

Squads, rather than teams, win titles and maybe, at the fourth time of asking, Arsenal maybe where they need to be in that regard.

Arsenal thumped Tottenham 4-1 in the north London derby at the Emirates Stadium on Sunday afternoon.

The Gunners dominated the game from the start and broke the deadlock when Leandro Trossard scored after latching on to Mikel Merino's deft through ball.

Eberechi Eze, who was close to joining Spurs in the summer, doubled his side's lead minutes later with a smart finish before he added a second straight after half-time.

Tottenham hit back when Richarlison lobbed David Raya from just inside Arsenal's half, but Eze completed his hat-trick with another classy strike to send the home fans into dreamland.

The result left Mikel Arteta's side six points clear of Chelsea at the top of the Premier League ahead of their trip to Stamford Bridge next weekend.

Daily Mail Sport's ISAAN KHAN was at the Emirates and he has rated both sets of players.

ARSENAL (4-3-3):

DAVID RAYA: 6

Spurs could barely muster a threatening attempt at goal before Richarlison’s wonder effort, which beat him from near the halfway line. Raya was in no man’s land.

JURRIEN TIMBER: 7

Caused plenty of havoc in final third. Was able to focus on the attacking elements.

WILLIAM SALIBA: 6.5

Didn’t have much to do deal with around the area but kept composed in terms of positioning.

PIERO HINCAPIE: 6.5

Slotted in confidently in place of the injured Gabriel. Kept looking to get play forward with floating long balls over the top.

RICCARDO CALAFIORI: 6.5

Unpredictable in his movement and occupied many different positions in the final third which kept the opposition on edge.

DECLAN RICE: 7.5

Very nearly put Arsenal ahead on three minutes with a sublime volley. Assisted Eberechi Eze’s first goal with a neat pass and completely overran Spurs.

MARTIN ZUBIMENDI: 7

Lynchpin of Arsenal’s midfield dominance. Pressed hard and kept wanting to get on the ball. Dropped into right back at times as cover.

EBERECHI EZE: 9

A reflection of why Arsenal bought this mercurial talent, striking a hat-trick to settle this match. Showed brilliant feet to get out of a tight area and strike his first past Vicario, before two calmly-slotted strikes in the second half.

BUKAYO SAKA: 7

Looked dangerous whenever he got on the ball, dribbling past players with ease at times. Lots of battling with Destiny Udogie. Had a free-kick on 33 minutes that was arrowing into the top corner but was parried away.

MIKEL MERINO: 7

Sublime assist over the top for Leandro Trossard’s goal. That piece of magic opened up the game for his side.

LEANDRO TROSSARD: 7.5

A constant threat between the lines and rewarded with a goal as his clever swivel and shot in the box deflected off a Spurs’ player’s leg to go in.

Manager –

MIKEL ARTETA: 7.5

TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR (5-4-1):

GUGLIELMO VICARIO: 5.5

Top save to deny Rice from close range on three minutes, but should have done better on Eze’s first strike which was very close to him. Good handling on aerial deliveries.

DJED SPENCE: 5.5

Run ragged at times by Trossard but also put in some crunching tackles. A difficult shift with the Gunners on top throughout.

KEVIN DANSO: 5.5

A tough time against an Arsenal attack who were rampant. Sacrificed for Xavi Simons at half-time.

CRISTIAN ROMERO: 5.5

Poor on Eze’s first goal. Should have got to the ball first as the forward went to strike it.

MICKY VAN DE VEN: 5.5

Was helped by having sheer numbers back behind the ball, but was stuck between many different tasks.

DESTINY UDOGIE: 6.5

Spurs’ best defender today. He kept getting stuck into tackles in an energetic performance but he committed a number of fouls and crossed the line at times, although Udogie never gave up.

MOHAMMED KUDUS: 5

An off day. Barely had any impact in the final third. Game went by him.

JOAO PALHINHA: 6.5

Was all over the pitch, putting in tackles and haring around. It was his tackle that set Richarlison up for his stunning goal.

RODRIGO BENTANCUR: 5.5

Out-skilled by Eze on his first goal. Kept chasing after the game, but was overwhelmed by the opposition.

WILSON ODOBERT: 5

Barely got on the ball or had any impact on play. Went missing.

RICHARLISON: 6

His side were camped back leaving the Brazilian retreating back to get touches on the ball. Scored a stunning goal near the halfway line to give his team scant hope.

Substitutes:

XAVI SIMONS: 5.5

PAPE MATAR SARR: 6

RANDAL KOLO MUANI: 6

Manager –

THOMAS FRANK: 5

Referee –

MICHAEL OLIVER: 6

Up in the north-east, Pep Guardiola was muttering angrily in the ear of Bruno Guimaraes on Saturday and getting in the face of a television cameraman as Manchester City fell to defeat against Newcastle United.

On Merseyside, Arne Slot, who must have felt as if he were untouchable last season, watched his Liverpool side humiliated by Nottingham Forest, heard fans calling for him to be sacked and pulled out of an appearance at an awards dinner on Sunday night.

At the North London derby, Mikel Arteta sailed on serenely. No angst here. No uncertainty. No missteps. No stumble. Just a fine hat-trick for Eberechi Eze, who Arsenal snatched from Spurs in the summer, and the sight of the Arsenal boss enveloped in a series of joyous hugs as each of his team’s four goals hit the back of the Tottenham net.

This was a big psychological hurdle that Arsenal cleared at The Emirates as their attempt to win their first league title for 22 years gathers pace. They took on their bitter rivals without Gabriel, Martin Odegaard and Viktor Gyokeres, the spine of their team, and they outclassed them.

If there was apprehension about how they might cope without Gabriel, in particular, the swashbuckling style of this victory, dispelled it. Even without three of their best players, they swatted Spurs aside. They are now six points clear of Chelsea at the top and seven points clear of City. Liverpool are so far back they are out of sight.

From start to finish, this was a humiliation for Tottenham. In fact, it started before kick-off. Arsenal’s fans raised a giant tifo behind one of the goals that accorded pride of place to Sol Campbell, the former Spurs captain who defected to Highbury, and became one of their famous Invincibles.

So it made it even sweeter for Arsenal fans that it was Eze who was the architect of the defeat, too, rifling in a trio of superb goals. It rubbed Spurs’ noses in it just that little bit more because they could have signed him from Crystal Palace if they had not dithered in the summer.

And Eze is one of their own. He was part of the Arsenal academy before the club released him when he was 13. He always harboured a dream of returning and this performance must have exceeded all those dreams. He seemed so happy he motioned putting his hand over his mouth to hide laughter. The level of his player has already stepped up a gear since his move.

Spurs were abject. The honeymoon period of their manager Thomas Frank is definitely over. They never looked close to being able to compete with their neighbours. They were, if anything, lucky to escape with a 4-1 defeat.

Their players had walked out on to the pitch for a pre-match stroll wearing dark suits and open-necked white shirts. There were uncomfortable shades of Liverpool at the 1996 FA Cup Final, which led to plenty of hilarity amid the Arsenal supporters.

The same lesson applied to Spurs as it did to that Liverpool team. If you are going to make a fashion statement before a big match, you better win it. Instead, they looked like men who had staggered straight out of the casino. They span the roulette wheel, they put it all on black but it landed on red.

Arsenal should have been ahead after two minutes. Saka drifted inside and played a short ball to Eberechi Eze who conjured a brilliant, audacious flick over the heads of the Arsenal defence and into the path of Declan Rice.

Rice met it sweetly on the volley but his shot was straight at Guglielmo Vicario, who saved well with his legs and the ball was scrambled out for a corner. On the touchline, Arteta stood with his head in his hands.

The pace was frantic and fierce. Van de Ven crunched through Eze right in front of the Arsenal bench. Richarlison upended Jurrien Timber soon afterwards. Arteta danced a jig of rage in his coaching area. Referee Michael Oliver urged calm.

The initial fury subsided into a series of blotchy skirmishes, leavened only by occasional moments of inspiration like Saka’s sublime nutmeg of Van de Ven that was rudely curtailed by Bentancur’s pull on Saka’s shirt. Saka bent the resulting free kick towards the top corner but Vicario was equal to it.

But then, nine minutes before half-time, Arsenal got the goal they deserved. Mikel Merino, who was in the side as a replacement goalscorer for the injured Viktor Gyokeres, turned provider instead and lifted a clever chip over the Spurs defence to meet the run of Trossard.

Trossard controlled the ball with his back to goal and then spun. Just as he got his shot away, Van de Ven made a desperate effort to block it. But he only succeeded in changing the shot’s direction and taking it past Vicario so that it trickled into the bottom corner.

Five minutes later, Arsenal were further ahead. Spurs failed to clear a cross from the right, Rice played a clever short pass to Eze and Eze sidestepped two challenges before forcing a venomous shot through Van de Ven’s legs and fizzing into the net.

It only took 36 seconds of the second half for Eze to make the game safe. He got the ball on the edge of the Spurs area, took a couple of steps to left and steered another technically assured finish past Vicario. This time, it was with his left foot. Spurs were reeling.

They clawed back a little hope with a sublime response 10 minutes later. Joao Palhinha dispossessed Martin Zubimendi with a clean tackle just inside the Arsenal half and Richarlison seized on it and, from 35 yards, floated a perfect chip over David Raya, who back-pedalled as fast as he could but was unable to regain his ground.

It was Spurs’ first shot on target and it spread caution in Arsenal’s ranks. Suddenly, where there had previously been anticipation of a rout, now there was concern that the visitors might mount an unlikely comeback. Arsenal’s expansive play dried up.

But it came back. Fourteen minutes from the end, Trossard wriggled free on the edge of the area and squared a ball to Eze. Eze let it ran and sat Destiny Udogie down on his backside. That game him time to measure his shot and he curled it beyond Vicario for his hat-trick.

Follow Daily Mail Sport's live blog for the latest score, team news and updates as Arsenal welcome Tottenham to the Emirates Stadium in the Premier League, with Oliver Holt, Ian Ladyman and Isaan Khan reporting from the grounds.

The standout fixture after the international break sees Premier League leaders Arsenal take on arch-rivals Tottenham at the Emirates Stadium.

It's been 10 months since we last had a north London derby, which saw Arsenal claim the spoils with a 2-1 win.

That win continued the Gunners' dominance in this fixture's recent history - having won five of the last six and drawing the other.

Arsenal are going to be sweating over some injury concerns with Gabriel, Martin Odegaard, Victor Gyokeres all touch-and-go for the derby.

Spurs have their own lengthy list of doubts too with their number in the double digits.

But who makes Daily Mail Sport's combined XI this season in a 4-3-3 formation? Using data from Sofascore we take a look...

Guglielmo Vicario (Goalkeeper)

The Italian turned 29 last month and has been with the club since 2023. He played a vital role in Tottenham lifting the Europa League trophy making five crucial saves in the final and securing the 1-0 victory.

Tottenham's No 1 has had his share of battles with injury, fracturing his ankle in November 2024 in a 4-0 win against Manchester City. The setback saw him ruled out until mid-February.

This season has seen him play a key role in Tottenham's fifth position, prior to this weekend's matches, with four clean sheets and a save percentage of 77 per cent.

Jurrien Timber (Right back)

Timber is a product of the Ajax academy which he joined in 2014. His senior debut came in 2020 for Ajax, while he developed there in 2023 Arsenal came along and purchased Timber for a fee of £38.5million including add-ons.

Timber has now cemented the right-back position at Arsenal, having made 43 Premier League appearances. He has played 3,376 minutes in the league and has won 200 duals.

Two of his three goals come from this season, showing the 24-year-old is expressing himself in his third season at Arsenal.

William Saliba (Centre back)

Joining the club in July 2019 for a fee of £27m, the defender went on three loan spells before making his Arsenal debut in 2022 and has been an integral part since.

The Frenchman has now signed a long-term deal which means he will stay in the English capital till 2030. The extension shows the commitment manager Mikel Arteta is displaying in retaining Arsenal's core group.

In recent times Saliba is regarded as one of the most profound centre backs in the Premier League and Europe. His paring with Gabriel has been instrumental for the north London side's growth and critics say this duo will be the underpinning factor if Arsenal win the league.

Gabriel Magalhaes (Centre back)

Gabriel dos Santos Magalhaes joined the Gunners in 2020. The Brazilian had a debut to remember, with a goal on debut to start with. The defender has had a knack of scoring goals in big moments, often through set pieces.

Similar to Saliba as a reward for five sensational seasons at the club, Gabriel signed a new contract in June - securing his long-term future at the club until 2029.

The centre back has had an unbelievable run of late in the Premier League with a 90 per cent passing accuracy. With 171 appearances he has found the net 18 times complimented with three assists. However, it may be a while before he adds to those numbers after suffering a thigh injury on Brazil duty.

Riccardo Calafiori (Left back)

The 6ft 2in Italian defender prior to the Gunners was at Basel and Bologna. Having moved to Arsenal for an initial fee of £33.6m from Bologna he has been a driving force at the back this season.

Having played and started in all fixtures so far, he has been Arteta's go-to man down the left side.

Having missed Italy's World Cup qualifiers this month with a hip injury he is a concern for Arteta ahead of the north London derby.

Joao Palhinha (Centre midfield)

On loan from Bayern Munich, Palhinha is set to become a permanent member of Tottenham but with his £25m initial fee set to be reduced.

Palhinha is regarded as one of Bayern's more disappointing investments in recent years. However, his loan move to Tottenham has been a good one with a turn in form under Thomas Frank.

The Portuguese midfielder has made 18 appearances and scored four goals, including a crucial strike against Manchester City. His influence has been integral to Tottenham's push for a top-four finish, and the move has placed his career back on track.

Martin Zubimendi (Centre midfield)

Zubimendi and his accomplices Odegaard and Declan Rice are on track to bringing back the league to the Emirates after a drought since 2004. Playing in the midfield position he's shown a great accurate passing record of 88 per cent this season thus far.

Prior to joining Arsenal, Zubimendi was linked to Real Madrid under their new managerial lead of Xabi Alonso. But he chose to move to the capital for a fee of £60m.

On the international circuit, he performed well against England in the Euro 2024 final when subbed on for Rodri. He completed 92 per cent of his passes which resulted in Spain winning the game 2-1 in Berlin.

Declan Rice (Centre midfield)

Product of the West Ham academy after being released from Chelsea early on due to lack of physicality. His hard work through the ranks made him a pivotal figure for his professional stint at West Ham from 2017-2023.

At West Ham, he scored 10 goals and provided nine assists in 245 appearances across all competitions. The midfielder moved to north London for a club record fee of £105m.

At Arsenal, his link-up with Odegaard and Zubimendi has been working well for Arteta thus far, but the question which many are asking is that will this trio deliver the title back to north London?

Bukayo Saka (Right wing)

The poster boy at Arsenal must be Saka, a homegrown talent who is the definition of loyalty to a club. The winger is now locked in at the Emirates until 2027 with many believing he may never move from the Gunners.

His professional debut came in a 4–1 win against Fulham after coming on for Alex Iwobi in the 83rd minute. He became the first player born in 2001 to play in a Premier League match.

Between 2020-2022 he achieved back-to-back Arsenal Player of the Season awards. Fans at the Emirates see Saka as the underpinning factor of the Arteta era and are hoping for Saka to win the league. The last time they had done so, Saka was only three-years-old.

Richarlison (Striker)

Richarlison joined Spurs from Everton in 2022 and is now locked in with Tottenham until 2027. The Brazilian forward is now 28-years-old and has played in England since 2017, starting at Watford.

Utilised as either a wide attacker or central striker, Richarlison finished as Everton's joint-top scorer across all competitions in his opening two seasons before his move to Tottenham.

He has won the Copa America in both 2019 and 2021 as well as the Europa League with Tottenham in May.

Eberechi Eze (Left wing)

Eze has had a run to remember, the former Arsenal age-group player was dropped but has returned after excelling at Crystal Palace most recently. In recent interviews he revealed that it was always a goal to play for the Gunners from a young age.

The forward was signed by Arteta this summer after being linked with Spurs for a short time. Eze was purchased for £68m and was revealed to Arsenal fans during a Leeds game.

His Arsenal career has been fairly decent so far contributing to one goal and two assists. Fans are hoping the good money signing is one for longevity and with a league title or two.