ARSENAL outclassed Tottenham in a dominant North London Derby that ended in humiliation.
The Gunners powered to a 4-1 win at the Emirates thanks to a hat-trick from Eberechi Eze.
The hosts limited Thomas Franks’ side to just four touches in the box as Richarlison‘s goal came from 40 yards.
The victory has put Arsenal six points clear at the top of the Premier League with their eye on a first title since 2003.
In our hit YouTube show Tactics Exposed, Dean Scoggins explains how Arsenal got the better of their neighbours…
Eberechi Eze’s ‘space invader’ move
Eze was the star of the show with his three goals to rub salt in the wounds of Spurs – who had tried to sign him in the summer.
The midfielder proved clinical in front of goal with each of his efforts proving unstoppable for Guglielmo Vicario.
But it was the former Crystal Palace man’s intelligent movement that saw him find space and time at the top of the Tottenham box.
Eze was consistently found 18 yards from goal with plenty without a marker anywhere near him.
His movement afforded him the opportunity to take his time and pick his spot with his efforts that flew into the net.
BEST FREE BETS AND BETTING SIGN UP OFFERS
This awareness allows Eze to sniff out dangerous moments to threaten the opportunity as he gets himself into a space invader-type of position.
Arteta has helped Eze become more of a goal threat by moving him into the no10 position in Martin Odegaard‘s absence.
Mikel Merino the ‘magnet-man’
Mikel Merino is given a huge responsibility for Arsenal as he has proven to be a more than capable false-nine operator.
He found himself as a magnet man in the middle of the pitch who allowed the likes of Leandro Trossard and Bukayo Saka to cut inside.
The Spaniard would also drop deep to help build up and this was seen in the first goal.
Merino dropped off to collect the ball and played a delightful pass over the defence for Trossard to pounce on for the opener.
He would also drift into the wide pockets that had been vacated by both wingers to create overloads on the Spurs defenders.
His movement was pivotal and would often drag markers out of shape to create gaps in Tottenham’s backline.
The makeshift forward would also drop into the midfield when out of possession to solidify the Arsenal team and stop the Spurs press.
Mikel Arteta – ‘tactical genius’
Mikel Arteta came prepared for Spurs’ back five and aims to play long balls and winning knockdowns to start their play.
He was able to instruct his players to block the first pass by getting his fullbacks to move inside.
This stopped Richarlison from being able to take the ball into his feet and often cut off the visitors’ attacks.
Any time there was a knock on it was usually messy with Arsenal’s extra players able to win the second ball.
Arteta was also able to take advantage of Spurs’ two-man midfield by simply exploiting the spaces to the side of them.
To progress up the pitch, Riccardo Calafiori would step into the midfield and create more passing options.
Spurs wing-backs Destiny Udogie and Djed Spence were also often pinned back by the combination of wingers and Calafiori and Jurrien Timber.
Jurrien Timber – ‘best Premier League full-back’
Timber showed his best form yet again against Spurs and further proved that he is at the top in the Premier League.
He was able to combine with Bukayo Saka effectively as their partnership yet again excelled.
While Saka hugs the touchline, Timber is able to exploit the space left inside with his bursting underlapping runs.
Against Tottenahm, this overloaded Spence which was evident in the move before the opening goal.
After the break, Timber showed his expert defensive qualities as he won duels and disrupted Spurs in order to keep Arsenal on the front foot.
He and Riccardo Calafiori take live touchline coaching, but more importantly, they understand the rotations.
This allows Saka and Merino to roam, Declan Rice can surge, Martin Zubimendi will sit, and whoever vacates a zone is instantly replaced.
Timber does not just stand in those spaces—he plays from them, progressing the move.
Piero ‘the hero’ Hincapie
There was always a debate whether it would be Piero Hincapie or Cristhian Mosquera who would line up against Spurs.
But it was the Ecuadorian who got the nod and it proved to be an excellent choice by Arteta.
He kept the left-side balance intact and allowed William Saliba to stay in his natural slot.
There was also a question over whether to use a more defensive left-back to protect a new centre-half—no need. Hincapié was outstanding, in the air and on the deck.
His starting positions echoed Gabriel’s, and his instincts were elite.
When Saliba engaged Richarlison—whether competing for a header or stepping in—Hincapie was able to read the next move.
He anticipated where the ball would drop and hoovered up the second ball.
On the ball, the highest compliment is that he was barely noticed.
Hincapie did not force the play and recycled cleanly to the full-backs, or into Zubimendi and Rice without any frills or fuss.
