Arsenal 4-1 Tottenham
Well, that was alright, wasn’t it?! As far as derby games go, was this a heavyweight, iconic clash? No, it wasn’t. This was two teams at very different stages, a clear gap between them and one where the main man on the day, who came so close to playing for the opposition, left his mark in red and white.
Pre match conversations with friends centred on who would step in at centre back after the setback with Gabriel’s injury during the international break, which looks like ruling him out for a number of weeks. The man chosen was Hincapié and what a game from the new recruit. He already looks another excellent addition to the defence, versatile enough to cover multiple positions, whether full-back or centre-back. Here, he gave nothing away, tenacious in the challenge, strong in the air. Of course, sterner tests will come, but against a Spurs side operating without an out-and-out striker, much like Arsenal at the moment, he was flawless.
And speaking of stepping up, Merino once again delivered. Operating as a false nine, he dropped deep, won headers, controlled the ball on the turn, and showed the technical quality to unlock defences. He was instrumental in a couple of the goals I’ll come to later.
The atmosphere leading up to the game was electric. Walking up Holloway Road and then up to the ground, pyro going off, singing, drums, it was fever pitch. Inside the ground, it felt like a Champions League night against Real Madrid or PSG, and this time the tifo didn’t disappoint.
The place was buzzing, and the players fed off it. The only change from Sunderland was Hincapié for Gabriel, with Trossard continuing on the left where he’s been so influential this season, and Eze once again in the No.10 role.
From the first whistle, Arsenal smothered Spurs. Ten minutes in, the press was relentless, half chances created, and the energy set the tone. Spurs looked confused, going short from goal kicks, inviting the press, then clipping into midfield for Richarlison. But Saliba and Hincapié marshalled him superbly, nicking balls, winning headers, never letting him settle. Arsenal were on the front foot time and again, while the away side failed to register a single shot in the opening half.
The first big chance came very early, Eze with a stylish flick on the edge of the box, taking three Spurs players out of the game, Rice bursting onto it and firing a first time volley that Vicario blocked well. From that moment, I sensed Arsenal would score and win. The team looked relentless, even without some of our attacking stars, though it was encouraging to see Martinelli and Madueke back on the bench.
Spurs sat deep, packed their defence, and the game became scrappy, niggly fouls breaking up play. Arsenal worked the ball side to side, Saka drawing fouls in identical positions, firing free-kicks goalwards, one just over, one saved. It felt like once the first goal came, the floodgates would open. With our defence so assured, it was hard to see how Spurs could find a way back.
And finally, in the 36th minute, the breakthrough. Crafted by Merino, our utility false nine, who received the ball 30 yards out and floated a deft pass over the Spurs defence. Trossard ran through, swivelled, and though the finish looked scruffy from my angle, the touch and control were brilliant, aided by a deflection off Van de Ven. The game was unlocked.
The second followed swiftly. Down the right, Trossard combined with Saka and Timber. Timber strode forward, clipped a ball across, headed out, but Rice kept the pressure alive, firing the cleared ball to Eze. With his trademark close control, he shifted right and fired low to make it 2–0 and it was thoroughly deserved. Comfortable, controlled, and fast paced without needing a set piece to break Spurs down.
Barely a minute into the second half, it was game over. Fans around me hadn’t even sat down when Eze struck again, a slick left footed finish into the bottom corner. Saka kept the ball alive, Timber’s pass rebounded back to him like a wall pass, and Eze, in acres of space, swept it home with a lovely left footed finish.
A clean sheet would have been perfect, but Spurs grabbed one back. Paulinha, their only bright spark, slid in to win the ball from Zubimendi, who lingered too long. Richarlison pounced, spotting Raya off his line, and finished brilliantly from near the centre circle.
Some nerves, but no real fightback. Arsenal regained control, dictating the ball and the tempo. Saka had a shot on the turn saved before the fourth for Arsenal arrived and the hat-trick goal for Eze. Again, Merino and Trossard were central in the goal, Hincapié won a header, Rice flicked it on, Merino found Trossard, and he rolled it to Eze. One touch, a Spurs defender falling over, and Eze picked his spot perfectly. A hat-trick for his new club, the club he supported and you can only imagine how he felt as that ball hit the back of the net. What a signing. Thank goodness he didn’t end up at the wrong end of Seven Sisters.
He nearly had a fourth too. Saka capitalised on a Van de Ven mistake, found Eze again, and his powerful strike forced Vicario into his best save of the day. Five would have been the icing on the cake. Instead, Arsenal saw it out with composure, pass after pass, winding down ahead of the midweek clash with Bayern. No new injuries, players returning, and top of the league.
Tougher tests await. Chelsea next week, currently second in the league. But if Arsenal keep ticking off games, coping with injuries, and maintaining this rhythm, they’ll head into the new year in fine shape. A perfect Sunday, rivals dropping points, a comprehensive win against the old enemy, and Eze stepping into Arsenal folklore.
Until the next one have a great week, and UTA.
The View From Block 107 