The former Spurs target scores his first goals since November to seal 4-1 derby rout; Mac Allister’s 97th-minute strike breaks Forest hearts.
LONDON – Eberechi Eze once again proved to be Tottenham’s worst nightmare as his brace propelled Arsenal to a commanding 4-1 victory in the north London derby on Sunday, restoring the Gunners’ five-point lead at the top of the Premier League.
The pressure was mounting on Mikel Arteta’s side following consecutive draws against Brentford and Wolves, which had allowed Manchester City to close the gap. However, Arsenal responded in emphatic fashion, spoiling the debut of interim Tottenham manager Igor Tudor.
Eze, who famously chose Arsenal over Spurs in the summer, opened the scoring just after the half-hour mark with a close-range finish. Tottenham briefly leveled through Randal Kolo Muani, but Viktor Gyokeres restored the lead early in the second half with his most significant goal since joining the club.
Eze then added his second after Guglielmo Vicario denied Bukayo Saka, before Gyokeres rounded off the scoring in stoppage time. The result gives Arsenal breathing room in their quest for a first league title in 22 years, while Tottenham remain just four points above the relegation zone.
“I think you have to bring context to the situation and this is the beauty of football,” said Arteta. “We lift everyone up immediately. Now we have to show what we are made of.”
Tudor was blunt in his assessment: “It was a difficult game. It was a lesson.”
Liverpool Leave It Late
At the City Ground, Liverpool needed a moment of magic deep into stoppage time to snatch a 1-0 win over Nottingham Forest. Alexis Mac Allister swept home the rebound after Virgil van Dijk’s header was saved in the 97th minute, much to the despair of Forest’s new manager Vitor Pereira.
The result was harsh on Forest, who had looked set to earn a valuable point. Mac Allister had already seen a goal ruled out for handball in the build-up.
“I love scoring, I love winning, so in that sense I think it’s a really good day,” said Mac Allister. “But on the other hand, I don’t think we played very well. There’s plenty of things we need to improve.”
The win lifts Liverpool to sixth, level on points with Chelsea and Manchester United and within six points of Aston Villa in the race for Champions League qualification.
Elsewhere in the Premier League:
- Fulham climbed into the top half of the table with a 3-1 win at Sunderland, courtesy of a Raul Jimenez double.
- Crystal Palace eased fan discontent at Selhurst Park as Evann Guessand’s 90th-minute winner secured a 1-0 victory over 10-man Wolves.
