LONDON — Eberechi Eze and Viktor Gyokeres each scored twice as Arsenal defeated Tottenham Hotspur 4-1 in a North London derby at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on Sunday, revitalizing the Gunners’ Premier League title challenge.
The victory lifts Arsenal to five points ahead of second-place Manchester City, who have played one fewer game, according to reports following the match. Spurs remain on 29 points, four points above 18th-place West Ham United.
Eze opened the scoring in the 32nd minute, finishing calmly after a ball bounced his way following a save from Hugo Lloris on a Bukayo Saka shot. Kolo Muani quickly equalized for Spurs in the 34th minute, capitalizing on a mistake by Declan Rice.
Arsenal regained the lead just before halftime, with Gyokeres firing home in the 47th minute. Eze extended the advantage in the 61st minute, winning the ball back and finishing after another opportunity created by Saka. Gyokeres completed his brace in added time, holding off Archie Gray to lash a shot past Lloris.
The match also saw a concerning moment for Arsenal as Bukayo Saka was forced off in the 90th minute after a challenge from Xavi Simons, with Saka landing awkwardly on his ankle. He was replaced by Noni Madueke.
Arsenal goalkeeper David Raya was crucial in preserving the lead, denying Richarlison with a goal-line clearance in the second half. The save came after a close-range pass from Djed Spence.
Spurs manager Igor Tudor made several changes to the lineup, starting Kolo Muani up front in a 3-5-1-1 formation, while Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta opted to start Gyokeres despite recent criticism of his form. Martin Odegaard and Gabriel Martinelli were introduced in the 76th minute, replacing Eze and Trossard.
The game was briefly delayed in the first half due to a technical issue with the assistant referee’s communication equipment. Eight minutes of stoppage time were added at the finish of the match.
Tottenham Hotspur will next travel to Fulham on Sunday at 9am ET, while Arsenal will host Chelsea two-and-a-half hours later.
