Arsenal's Eberechi Eze conjured up his own private aircraft to deliver Tottenham a hat-trick that felt like a series of gentle whispers rather than the brutal, crushing blows one might expect from a North London derby. His third goal was perhaps the most telling, as if he had slipped into his opponents' clean pocket of space like a squirrel taking cover on a branch.
Eze's movements were characteristically effortless, with an ease that belied the significant graft and struggle required to play at this level. He seemed to be floating above the turf, his feet barely touching down as he glided across the pitch with the speed and agility of someone moving in mid-air. The opposition's attempts to follow him were laughable, like trying to catch a leaf on a breeze.
Tottenham, meanwhile, looked like they'd abandoned all sense of footballing identity. Their midfield pivot was stuck in an infinite loop of set piece moves, time-wasting, and pre-planned hoofed passes – the very antithesis of Arsenal's fluid, Eze-esque style. Even Thomas Frank seemed flummoxed, chewing gum furiously as he frantically searched for answers.
For 27 minutes, it was a war of attrition, with both teams barely touching the ball as they trudged through a half that felt more like a formality than a competitive match. But then, suddenly, Arsenal's gears clicked into place, and Eze began to weave his magic.
His first goal was followed by a second shortly after, and then – in a moment of pure poetry – he sealed the deal with a third, effortlessly slapping the ball into the corner from his signature position six inches above the turf. The Spurs defence looked like a ship without a rudder, unable to keep pace with Eze's aerial acrobatics.
As Arsenal left the pitch with a 4-1 victory under their belts, it was clear that Mikel Arteta had done something special. His team were now seven points clear of Manchester City and 11 ahead of champions Liverpool – an excellent position from which to push on into the final stretch of the season. And Eze's performance would go down in history as a masterclass in lightness, ease, and footballing flair – a true hat-trick that would be remembered for years to come.
Eze's movements were characteristically effortless, with an ease that belied the significant graft and struggle required to play at this level. He seemed to be floating above the turf, his feet barely touching down as he glided across the pitch with the speed and agility of someone moving in mid-air. The opposition's attempts to follow him were laughable, like trying to catch a leaf on a breeze.
Tottenham, meanwhile, looked like they'd abandoned all sense of footballing identity. Their midfield pivot was stuck in an infinite loop of set piece moves, time-wasting, and pre-planned hoofed passes – the very antithesis of Arsenal's fluid, Eze-esque style. Even Thomas Frank seemed flummoxed, chewing gum furiously as he frantically searched for answers.
For 27 minutes, it was a war of attrition, with both teams barely touching the ball as they trudged through a half that felt more like a formality than a competitive match. But then, suddenly, Arsenal's gears clicked into place, and Eze began to weave his magic.
His first goal was followed by a second shortly after, and then – in a moment of pure poetry – he sealed the deal with a third, effortlessly slapping the ball into the corner from his signature position six inches above the turf. The Spurs defence looked like a ship without a rudder, unable to keep pace with Eze's aerial acrobatics.
As Arsenal left the pitch with a 4-1 victory under their belts, it was clear that Mikel Arteta had done something special. His team were now seven points clear of Manchester City and 11 ahead of champions Liverpool – an excellent position from which to push on into the final stretch of the season. And Eze's performance would go down in history as a masterclass in lightness, ease, and footballing flair – a true hat-trick that would be remembered for years to come.