EBERECHI Eze was Tottenham Hotspur’s tormentor again as Arsenal made a title statement of intent by restoring their lead at the top of the Premier League table to five points with victory in the north London derby.
The pressure was on the Gunners after they lost a two-goal lead at relegation certainties Wolverhampton Wanderers in midweek, while Manchester City closed the gap with victory over Newcastle United on Saturday evening.
Spurs had high hopes of turning up the heat further in interim manager Igor Tudor’s first game in charge, but Arsenal simply possessed too much class and threat for their struggling arch-rivals.
And Eze, who scored a hat-trick in the 4-1 north London derby win in November, was his side’s spearhead again with goals either side of the interval.
Eze, who was on the point of joining Spurs when Arsenal clinched a £60m deal with Crystal Palace in August, put Arsenal in front from close-range after 32 minutes.
Randal Kolo Muani produced a fine solo effort for Spurs’ equaliser two minutes later, only for the much-maligned Viktor Gyokeres to restore Arsenal’s advantage with a clinical 20-yard finish with his right foot just after half-time.
Unlike at Wolves, where Arsenal sat on their lead with catastrophic results, Mikel Arteta’s pace-setters continued to press, adding the third after 61 minutes when Eze picked up a loose ball in the area to sweep a finish past Spurs keeper Guglielmo Vicario.
Spurs had no answer as Arsenal remained in control, Gyokeres outmuscling Archie Gray to score his second in the closing moments of stoppage time to seal an emphatic win.
Eze’s Arsenal career had gone into something of a dip since he made himself a hero with that treble against Spurs in December – but what a time for the 27-year-old England forward to bounce back to his best.
Since that hat-trick, Eze had featured in all 15 of Arsenal’s subsequent league games, but had made only four starts and played 360 minutes before this derby.
And, under the watchful eye of England head coach Thomas Tuchel, he delivered a reminder of his quality with perfect timing, just when Arsenal needed it most.
The pressure was on the Gunners after that Molineux slip, with Manchester City scenting blood and Arsenal’s nerve under pressure being questioned once more.
The fact that the examination came at Spurs who, despite their struggles, had new manager Tudor on the sidelines, made the assignment potentially more hazardous.
Arsenal were set back when Spurs equalised, but this was a calm and highly-competent display which will be even more pleasing for Arteta with Gyokeres, who has had his critics, adding two fine finishes of his own.
Arsenal’s next game is at home to Chelsea on Sunday, 1 March, (16:30 GMT), while Spurs travel to Craven Cottage to face Fulham on the same day (14:00).