Arsenal enjoyed a much-needed derby victory on Sunday afternoon, dispatching local rivals Tottenham Hotspur to move five points clear at the top of the Premier League. Here’s three things Read Arsenal learned.
Eberechi Eze gave the Gunners the lead in the first half, acrobatically slicing beyond Guglielmo Vicario. This joy was short-lived for Mikel Arteta’s men, as Declan Rice’s error allowed Spurs to equalise 24 seconds after the restart.
However, Viktor Gyokeres’ outstanding long-range effort restored the away side’s lead, before Eze and the Swede both added to their tallies late on to wrap up a resounding victory. After enduring a period of turbulent form over the last month, securing such an emphatic win could prove to be hugely significant for Arsenal.
Arsenal finally get the best out of Eberechi Eze
Arsenal experimented with Bukayo Saka as a number ten against Wolves, and despite the winger getting on the scoresheet in the West Midlands, it’s safe to say the ploy didn’t pay off.
Speaking to the media after the North London Derby, Arteta revealed that Eze wasn’t happy with his omission in midweek, and he played like it. The England international showed why deploying Saka in an unconventional role, instead of him in his natural position, was ultimately a huge mistake.
That said, while Eze obviously deserves credit for his performance, Arteta finally found a way to unlock the maverick against Spurs, platforming him excellently. The Gunners have too often asked the former Crystal Palace man to mimic Martin Odegaard by dropping in to facilitate build-up.
🎙️ "He just picks on Spurs."
— Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) February 22, 2026
Ebere Eze gets ANOTHER! pic.twitter.com/mtRv3O5Jyi
This isn’t where Eze thrives, and instead, the likes of Saka and Leandro Trossard took on the responsibility to progress the ball. This allowed Eze to operate further up the pitch, in and around the box, where he is able to be a difference maker – and he delivered.
A different side to Viktor Gyokeres
At Sporting, Gyokeres consistently demonstrated an ability to effectively run the channels, carry the ball and create for teammates, alongside his goalscoring exploits. Thus far at Arsenal, he’s merely been a penalty box poacher, adding very little else to the Gunners’ general play.
This changed against Tottenham. We saw a different side to the 27-year-old; not only did he get into dangerous goalscoring positions, but he was heavily involved in build-up and combination play. He finished the game with 42 touches, significantly more than he has managed in any other Premier League game – a clear indication of how important he was to Arsenal’s victory.
This involvement meant Eze could focus on influencing proceedings in the final third, rather than being engaged in possession play, and both players subsequently performed to their highest level.
| Viktor Gyokeres’ Statistics vs Tottenham | |
| Minutes Played | 90 |
| Touches | 42 |
| Shots | 4 |
| Expected Goals | 0.32 |
| Key Passes | 1 |
| Accurate Passes | 18/27 (67%) |
| Touches in Opposition Box | 6 |
| Expected Assists | 0.36 |
Mikel Arteta took the handbrake off
Too frequently this season, Arsenal have been culpable of sitting off after establishing a one-goal lead. Away at Brentford and Wolves, they sank into their shell after scoring the opening goal.
Although the Gunners are exceptional defensively and can usually keep the opposition at bay, playing in this manner with a narrow lead is inherently risky. As shown in the Wolves game, an individual moment of brilliance from an opponent or a calamitous defensive mistake can cost you points in marginal football matches.
"You see how people react when they have a point to prove"
— Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) February 22, 2026
Mikel Arteta on Ebere Eze after making it five goals against Spurs this season! 🔴 pic.twitter.com/zc4Bb8cGdf
Against Spurs, Arsenal went for the jugular. After going 2-1 up, the Gunners pushed aggressively for a third, and then again for a fourth. Arteta took the handbrake off, and it paid dividends.
