Tottenham 1-4 Arsenal — Leaders Stretch Their Advantage

Arsenal cleared the North London hurdle with a 4-1 win that keeps them five points clear of Manchester City, their authority underlined by Eberechi Eze and Viktor Gyökeres sharing the goals while Tottenham’s slide towards the relegation pack continued.

Tactical Snapshot

Mikel Arteta retained the 4-3-3 that has become standard: Timber narrow from right-back, Hincapié aggressive on the left, Rice and Zubimendi alternating as the six. Spurs countered with a 3-2-5 in possession, Van de Ven stepping out, Gray tucked inside. Arsenal’s press set the tone; Gyökeres screened the first pass, Saka and Trossard locked onto the wing-backs, and Eze roamed into the half-spaces to receive between Sarr and Bissouma. Tottenham never solved the overload, their possession stuck at 39% despite being the home side.

Key Moments

• 32' – Eze arrived late to meet a square ball, low finish beyond Guglielmo Vicario.
• 34' – Response from Randal Kolo Muani, bursting in behind to take advantage of Arsenal’s high line for 1-1.
• 47' – Jurriën Timber underlapped, squared for Gyökeres to restore the lead inside two minutes of the restart.
• 61' – Eze again, slicing through a disorganised block, the decisive 3-1.
• 90' – Martin Ødegaard, fresh from the bench, slid Gyökeres through to complete the rout.

Tottenham’s fouling count (17) betrayed their inability to slow the rotations. Ange Postecoglou’s substitutions—Solanke for Gallagher, Richarlison for Kolo Muani—shifted bodies rather than structure; the midfield still lagged behind the ball and left Spurs chasing red shirts.

Player Focus

• Eberechi Eze: Two goals from three attempts on target, two key passes, a clinic in carrying between the lines.
• Viktor Gyökeres: 8.9 rating, two goals, held the ball to release runners, added one key pass.
• Gabriel Magalhães: Won all ten duels, calmed the Arsenal back line after the brief wobble.
• David Raya: Four saves, steady distribution (18 of 29 completed) when Tottenham tried to hem Arsenal in.
• Pape Matar Sarr: Tottenham’s best midfielder statistically (4 tackles, 3 blocks), yet the workload was too great with Gallagher off on 62 minutes.
• Randal Kolo Muani: Took his only chance but suffered in duels (3 of 14 won), isolated as the game wore on.

Statistics

• Possession: Tottenham 39% — Arsenal 61%
• Shots (on target): Tottenham 6 (5) — Arsenal 20 (7)
• Expected Goals: Tottenham 0.74 — Arsenal 1.93
• Pass Accuracy: Tottenham 73% (225/309) — Arsenal 80% (376/472)
• Corners: Tottenham 2 — Arsenal 5
• Fouls: Tottenham 17 — Arsenal 11
• Cards: Archie Gray, Yves Bissouma booked; Timber the only Arsenal caution.

What It Means

Arsenal sit on 61 points after 28 matches, still top and now posting WDDWW over their last five. The schedule brings home fixtures where that control can be reinforced before European tests. Tottenham stay 16th on 29 points (record now LLLDD), their home record reduced to two wins in 14 and pressure rising before a critical survival run that includes Nottingham Forest and West Ham. Arteta’s side, meanwhile, look primed for the sprint, the Gyökeres-Eze axis giving them a cutting edge that aligns neatly with the title plan.