LONDON, ENGLAND — The Tottenham Hotspur Stadium was supposed to be a fortress, but Arsenal turned it into a stage for their own coronation, dismantling their fiercest rivals 4-1 in a north London derby that was as one-sided as the scoreline suggests. The league leaders, sitting first in the Premier League table with 61 points, were ruthless, clinical, and utterly dominant against a Spurs side that finds itself marooned in 16th place and desperately short of answers.
The first half crackled with tension before Arsenal seized control in a devastating five-minute spell. Eberechi Eze opened the scoring in the 32nd minute, drilling a right-footed shot from the centre of the box into the bottom right corner to silence the home faithful. The lead lasted barely two minutes. Randal Kolo Muani pulled Tottenham level in the 34th, converting from the centre of the box to send the stadium into brief, frenzied relief. But Arsenal were not to be denied. Bukayo Saka, electric throughout the first half, forced Guglielmo Vicario into a sharp save in the 37th minute, the Spurs goalkeeper getting down well to his right to keep the scores level at the break.
Whatever Mikel Arteta said at half-time worked immediately. Viktor Gyökeres, making his presence felt from the first whistle of the second period, rifled a stunning effort from outside the box into the bottom right corner just two minutes after the restart — the 47th minute — with Jurriën Timber providing the assist. It was a goal of real quality, the kind that deflates a crowd and breaks a team's spirit simultaneously. Spurs barely had time to regroup before Eze struck again in the 61st minute, tucking home from the centre of the box to make it 3-1 and effectively end the contest as a competitive fixture.
David Raya was largely untroubled but produced two crucial interventions that underlined Arsenal's defensive composure. Richarlison, introduced as a substitute in the 68th minute to replace Kolo Muani, tested the Spanish goalkeeper twice in the closing stages — first with a close-range effort in the 84th minute that Raya smothered in the centre of the goal, then with a header from the centre of the box in the 90th+2nd minute that the keeper pushed away at the top. Raya's four saves across the afternoon were composed and assured. Gyökeres then put the gloss on a magnificent away performance in the 90th+4th minute, heading home from the centre of the box after Martin Ødegaard — introduced as a substitute for Eze in the 77th minute — delivered the assist.
Arsenal dominated the ball with 60.6% possession, pinning Tottenham back for long stretches and suffocating any attempt at sustained pressure from the hosts. The Gunners launched 20 shots at goal compared to Tottenham's 6, a staggering disparity that tells the full story of the afternoon. Tottenham were clinical in their limited opportunities, putting 5 of their 6 shots on target, but it amounted to little against an Arsenal side that was simply operating at a different level. Spurs committed 17 fouls to Arsenal's 11, with Yves Bissouma picking up a yellow card in the 86th minute, adding further frustration to a miserable afternoon for the home side.
Declan Rice was imperious in midfield, winning free kicks and dictating tempo alongside Eze, who was arguably the standout performer on the pitch before his withdrawal. Piero Hincapié provided the assist for Saka's disallowed effort and was a constant threat down the left flank, while Gabriel Magalhães marshalled the Arsenal backline with authority. For Spurs, Pape Matar Sarr tested Raya with a late effort from outside the box in the 90th+8th minute, but it was a footnote on a day that belonged entirely to the visitors.
Joy for Arsenal, despair for Tottenham as both clubs prepare for their next assignments. The Gunners will carry this momentum into their home fixture against London City Lionesses on March 15, while Spurs, who have little time to dwell on this humiliation, travel to Fulham on February 28 needing an urgent response.
