Arsenal midfielder Eberechi Eze once again proved Tottenham’s tormentor-in-chief, scoring twice as the Premier League leaders thrashed their north London rivals 4–1 on Sunday to reignite their title charge.

Mikel Arteta’s side halted a worrying two-match winless run and restored a five-point cushion at the top of the table over Manchester City, powered by Eze’s brilliance and a brace from Viktor Gyökeres.

Having turned down a move to Tottenham during the close season, Eze has consistently reserved his finest Arsenal performances for meetings with his former suitors.

The 27-year-old had scored a hat-trick when Arsenal routed Spurs 4–1 in November, and despite a recent dip in form, Arteta recalled the England international to the starting line-up for the return fixture.

That faith was emphatically repaid. Eze struck twice for the first time since that November treble, ending an 18-game goal drought. He opened the scoring in the first half at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium before Randal Kolo Muani responded almost immediately with an equaliser.

Arsenal reasserted control after the interval. Gyökeres steadied nerves with a powerful finish moments after the restart, Eze added a decisive third, and the Swedish striker capped a dominant display with a late fourth.

For Gyökeres, whose first campaign following his move from Sporting CP has been challenging, the goals carried a sense of release equal to Eze’s long-awaited return to form.

The twin redemption stories could not have been better timed. Arsenal’s title momentum had stalled after damaging draws against Brentford and Wolves, squandering what once appeared a commanding lead.

City’s 2–1 victory over Newcastle on Saturday had trimmed Arsenal’s advantage to just two points, intensifying pressure on the Gunners.

Arteta, acutely aware of the scrutiny, had urged his players to embrace the demands of a title race, warning that those unable to cope with the “noise and bullets” should “join another club” and challenging his squad to write their “own destiny.”

Agile Eze

Arsenal’s response was emphatic, though City still control their fate. Should Pep Guardiola’s side win their remaining 11 fixtures, the title will be theirs regardless of Arsenal’s results in their final 10 matches.

The Gunners are now unbeaten in eight consecutive north London derbies, and their supporters took obvious delight in reminding Tottenham fans that another top-flight meeting next season is far from guaranteed.

Spurs sit just four points above the relegation zone after extending their winless league run to nine matches in the first game of interim boss Igor Tudor’s tenure following the dismissal of Thomas Frank.

Despite Tudor’s insistence that he is “100 percent” confident of survival, the threat of a first Championship campaign since 1977–78 looms large, with Tottenham managing only two wins from their last 18 league outings.

Arsenal’s dominance finally told in the 32nd minute when Pape Sarr lost possession dangerously on the edge of his own area. Bukayo Saka delivered a precise cross, and Eze controlled before volleying home from 10 yards.

The advantage lasted barely two minutes. Declan Rice was caught in possession outside his box, allowing Kolo Muani to surge past William Saliba and unleash an unstoppable drive beyond David Raya.

Arsenal emerged from the break with renewed authority. Jurrien Timber slipped the ball into Gyökeres, and Tottenham’s passive defending granted the striker time to turn and thunder a finish past Guglielmo Vicario.

Eze delivered the decisive blow in the 61st minute. Micky van de Ven halted Saka’s initial effort, but João Palhinha failed to clear, leaving Eze to calmly slot home from 12 yards.

Gyökeres completed the rout in stoppage time, holding off Archie Gray before drilling past Vicario as Tottenham supporters headed for the exits.