An insipid Tottenham Hotspur side were handed a reality check against league leaders Arsenal in the North London derby
Arsenal took control of the North London derby with a dominant display against Tottenham Hotspur, eventually easing to a convincing win. After early warning shots from Declan Rice and Bukayo Saka, the hosts finally broke through in the 36th minute when Leandro Trossard tapped in from close range following clever build-up play involving Mikel Merino. Eberechi Eze added a second just five minutes later, finishing clinically from inside the area; a goal confirmed after a brief VAR check. Arsenal struck again immediately after the interval, with Jurrien Timber supplying a low cross that Eze guided home for his second of the afternoon.
Tottenham briefly threatened a comeback when Richarlison fired in a superb effort from distance on 55 minutes, assisted by João Palhinha. But any hope of a revival was short-lived. Eze completed his hat-trick in the 76th minute after linking up neatly with Trossard once again. Arsenal controlled the set-piece battle as well, winning four corners to Spurs’ one.
Eze was unquestionably the game’s standout performer, repeatedly finding pockets of space in central areas and constantly troubling the Tottenham back line. Trossard contributed with both a goal and an assist, while Rice and Timber were heavily involved in orchestrating Arsenal’s forward play, with Rice managing an assist and several dangerous deliveries. Spurs had isolated moments of promise—Richarlison took their best chance well, and Xavi Simons forced a save shortly after being introduced at half-time—but overall lacked sustained pressure. Palhinha’s assist was one of the few notable positives, in a match where Tottenham also struggled with discipline, collecting three bookings. Arsenal, by contrast, received only a single late caution.
From a broader perspective, the result strengthens Arsenal’s early-season position. They arrived with 26 points from 11 matches, having conceded only five goals; they now move to 29 from 12 with another commanding display. Tottenham stay on 18 points from their 12 games as their inconsistent recent form continues. Previous meetings between the rivals had been more evenly balanced, but this emphatic victory shifts momentum firmly in Arsenal’s favour and reinforces their impressive start to the campaign.
Tottenham Hotspur Player Ratings vs Arsenal
Guglielmo Vicario: (5/10)
The Italian shot stopper was called into action immediately after kickoff as he denied Declan Rice the opener. Vicario was a busy man as Arsenal laid siege to his goal, pushing Tottenham onto the back foot. The Spurs man unfortunately was left to fend himself on numerous occasions and there was little he could have done to keep Mikel Arteta’s side quiet all night.
Cristian Romero: (4/10)
Not the Argentine’s best outing, as he continued to struggle against Arsenal’s quick forays down the flank. Romero made a crucial intervention to keep Merino at bay in the 10th minute, but was comfortably second best for the majority of the night.
Micky van de Ven: (3/10)
The Dutchman did not have a memorable game and was unable to play to his strengths as Arsenal got stuck in. Merino was a menace all night and Van de Ven was unable to make his presence felt. The centre-back showed moments of resilience
Kevin Danso: (3/10)
The centre-back was pulled at half-time for Xavi Simons as Thomas Frank looked for a way back in the game. Danso struggled all game and certainly will not look back at this match with any sense of pride.
Djed Spence: (3/10)
The full-back struggled to get going and was pegged back more often than not as Arsenal took control of the game. He eventually made way for Pedro Porro late on.
Joao Palhinha: (3/10)
A forgettable outing for the veteran star, who was second best to his Arsenal counterparts all night. The Iberian is a far better player than he was made to look to on the night as Declan Rice ran rings around him in the middle of the park.
Rodrigo Bentancur: (3/10)
The Uruguayan earned a yellow card in the first half and this saw him tiptoe over eggshells for the rest of the game. Palhinha won the ball a few times but struggled to make the most of it. Bentancur was eventually taken off.
Destiny Udogie: (3/10)
A terrible night for the youngster who had his plate full thanks to Eberechi Eze. Little said about his standout moments on the night, the better.
Mohammed Kudus: (3/10)
The Ghanian has arguably been our singing of the summer but was largely kept quiet by the Gunners. Kudus did little of note and will hope to avoid a repeat of the anonymous performance. He was taken on late in the second half for Brennan Johnson.
Wilson Odobert: (3/10)
The Frenchman struggled to get going all night and it came as no surprise when he was taken off for Pape Matar Sarr in the middle of the park.
Richarlison: (4/10)
The Brazilian star gave Tottenham fan their lone reason to celebrate on the night with a well taken goal in the second half. He cut an otherwise frustrated figure and was starved of service from those behind him in the attack.
Substitutes
Xavi Simons: (4/10)
The Dutchman did add some much extra attacking intent in the final third and also had a pop at goal after the hour mark.
Pape Matar Sarr: (4 /10)
The midfield star offered Tottenham some much needed presence in the middle of the park. Unfortunately for the visitors, Arsenal did not relinquish their control of the game, with Sarr making littler to no impact to turn it around.
Randal Kolo Muani: (3/10)
The Frenchman came on for Bentancur but had little to nothing going for him on the night.
Pedro Porro: (4/10)
The Spaniard replaced Destiny Udogie late on as Tottenham tried to manage the tie and see it out. A yellow card did his reputation little favours.
Brennan Johnson (NA)
The Welshman came on with the game dead and buried, and had little hope of inspiring a miracle.