Eze Does It: Gunners hit form again in Derby Delight

Mikel Arteta's Arsenal got back to winning ways when it mattered most in the North London Derby as the Gunners dominated Tottenham in a 1-4 derby thrashing.

BOUNCING BACK WITH A BIG WIN. pic.twitter.com/gmXcunGGwy

— Arsenal (@Arsenal) February 22, 2026

Arteta's team went into the match with just two wins in their last seven league fixtures, with the latest being a 2-2 draw away to bottom side Wolves in what was a really poor showing from the North Londoners. This time however, they did show up in the fixtur the fans would want them to show up most.

In Tottenham interim coach Igor Tudor's first outing as Spurs boss, the Croatian had to deal with a multitude of injures and suspensions which resulted in just fourteen senior outfield players being available.

Our North London Derby line-up 👊

🔢 @krakenfx pic.twitter.com/9WOT7DyTj7

— Tottenham Hotspur (@SpursOfficial) February 22, 2026

Arsenal meanwhile had almost everyone fit, aside from Kai Havertz and Ben White, with Arteta opting to start Bukayo Saka back in his familiar right-wing position, with Eberechi Eze given the nod in midfield alongside Martin Zubimendi and Declan Rice.

🔴 𝗧𝗘𝗔𝗠𝙉𝙀𝙒𝙎 ⚪️

💡 Eze our creative spark
©️ Saka skippers the side
😤 Gyokeres leads the charge

We know what this fixture means - let's do this Gunners 👊

🤝 Presented by @deel

— Arsenal (@Arsenal) February 22, 2026

Amongst a fierce home atmosphere, Arsenal needed a strong start at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, and they got that with three early chances coming their way in the opening minutes. The most significant of which saw striker Viktor Gyokeres whistle a powerful low shot from the left-side of the penalty area inches wide of the Tottenham net.

Following a break in play due to issues with the officials technology, Arsenal would get their deserved lead on 32 minutes, as a low cross from Saka found Eze inside the penalty area and after a first touch the £68 million summer signing volleyed home to give Arsenal a precious opening goal.

However, that lead only lasted 30 seconds, as straight from the restart a error from Declan Rice in possession presented Randal Kolo Muani with an opportunity to equalise, and the Frenchman made no mistake. Firing low beyond David Raya to level the game in a flash. Despite that strike being Tottenham's only touch inside the Arsenal penalty area in the first half, both sides went in level at the break.

"You CANNOT believe that" 🤯

Randal Kolo Muani snatches the ball off Declan Rice and fires in an equaliser for Spurs! pic.twitter.com/cgL9LiIHnv

— Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) February 22, 2026

Despite being gulity of missing multple chances in the first half, Arsenal took the first one that came their way in the second, as Gyokeres fired in from the edge of the box. There were questions raised about why the Swede had enough time and space to get his shot away but the finish was superb from Arsenal's number fourteen who gave his side the crucial lead they needed early on following the restart.

What a strike from Viktor Gyökeres?! 🎯 pic.twitter.com/ZwjrAbySxE

— Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) February 22, 2026

And things would get even better for the Gunners and even worse for Tottenham on the hour mark as a scramble in the penalty box led to a loose ball falling to Eze with an open net, and he made no mistake to give Arsenal the two-goal advantage they so desperately needed.

Spurs would come close to getting themselves back in the game. Kolo Muani was denied his second after a push on Gabriel, and the home side almost forced the ball in with ten minutes to go but the ball was somehow clawed off the line by Raya when it looked certain to go in.

A stop on the line by David Raya! 🧤

Richarlison's backheel looked like it was going in, but the @Arsenal 'keeper scrambled back to make the save! pic.twitter.com/MwNxD6FK88

— Premier League (@premierleague) February 22, 2026

Spurs would come close to getting themselves back in the game. Kolo Muani was denied his second after a push on Gabriel, and the home side almost forced the ball in with ten minutes to go but the ball was somehow clawed off the line by Raya when it looked certain to go in.

And in the end, Arsenal's dominance throughout the contest would be reflected in the scoreline, as with just minutes to go Gyokeres broke through the Spurs backline and finished into the far corner for his tenth Premier League goal to start the party in the away end and send the Tottenham fans home in familar disapointment. With Arsenal doing the double in the derby for the second consecutive season.

The result puts Arsenal back five clear at the top, whilst Tottenham's unimaginable relegation fears continue to grow, as they sit just four points off the drop zone with ten matches to go.