LONDON– Arsenal laid down a marker in the North London derby, hammering Tottenham Hotspur 4-1 at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on Sunday, February 22, 2026. The Gunners controlled the match from start to finish, moving five points clear at the top of the Premier League. Meanwhile, Spurs sank deeper into trouble near the bottom in Igor Tudor’s first game in charge.
It also made it two 4-1 wins over Tottenham this season. Earlier at the Emirates, Arsenal ran away with it as Eberechi Eze scored a hat-trick. This time, he hurt Spurs again, scoring twice and keeping up his strong record in the derby.
Match Highlights: Arsenal Take Charge – Watch the Highlights
The first half turned chaotic in a hurry, with both teams scoring within minutes.
- 32′ – Arsenal go ahead: Eberechi Eze finished from close range after a sharp move, putting Arsenal in front.
- 34′ – Spurs hit back: Randal Kolo Muani took advantage of a Declan Rice error and fired past David Raya to make it 1-1.
- 47′ – Arsenal strike after the break: Viktor Gyökeres bent a brilliant shot from the edge of the box to restore the lead soon after halftime.
- 61′ – Eze makes it 3-1: After Bukayo Saka’s effort was saved, Eze reacted first and turned in the rebound, which all but wrapped up the points.
- 90+4′ – Gyökeres seals it: The Swedish forward added his second in stoppage time, finishing off a dominant win.
Arsenal kept the ball well and created chance after chance. Tottenham, on the other hand, never built real momentum after Kolo Muani’s equalizer. Spurs also had a second-half goal ruled out, which only added to the frustration. Later, Richarlison nearly pulled one back, but Raya cleared a flicked effort off the line.
After a draw with Wolves last time out, Mikel Arteta’s team responded with calm play and sharp finishing. With 10 league matches left, Arsenal’s title push stays firmly on track.
Arsenal Player Ratings and Key Stats
Arsenal’s win came from control in midfield, quick breaks, and a solid shape at the back.
| Position | Player | Key Contribution | Rating (out of 10) |
|---|---|---|---|
|
GK
|
David Raya | Goal-line clearance, steady game | 8 |
|
DEF
|
(Backline solid) | Kept Spurs quiet for long spells | 8 |
|
MID
|
Declan Rice | Costly mistake, then settled | 7 |
|
MID
|
Martin Ødegaard | Linked play and created chances | 8 |
|
FWD
|
Eberechi Eze | 2 goals, led the attack | 9.5 |
|
FWD
|
Viktor Gyökeres | 2 goals, strong presence up front | 9 |
|
FWD
|
Bukayo Saka | Set up Eze’s second goal | 8 |
Arsenal also posted a strong shot count and better expected goals (xG), which matched the flow of the game. With Eze’s brace, he now has five goals against Spurs this season, putting him in rare derby form.
Tottenham Player Ratings and Ongoing Problems
For Tottenham, it was a rough start under Tudor. Defensive mistakes showed up again, and the midfield couldn’t match Arsenal’s tempo.
| Position | Player | Key Contribution | Rating (out of 10) |
|---|---|---|---|
|
GK
|
Guglielmo Vicario | Beat four times, little protection | 6 |
|
DEF
|
(Back four exposed) | Struggled with Arsenal’s pace | 5 |
|
MID
|
(Midfield overrun) | Lost key duels and second balls | 5 |
|
FWD
|
Randal Kolo Muani | Took his goal well, worked hard | 7 |
|
FWD
|
(Others limited) | Few real chances created | 5 |
Spurs sit 16th, only four points above the relegation zone. Even with that brief lift at 1-1, the overall display left supporters annoyed and worried.
Post-Match Quotes and What They Mean
Arteta praised his team’s reaction after recent pressure: “We showed character and quality today. This derby means a lot, and the players delivered.”
Tudor admitted the challenge ahead: “We need to improve quickly. The scoreline is harsh, but we must learn from it.”
In the end, Arsenal opened up more space, finished their chances, and took another big North London derby win. Tottenham now turn their attention to staying in the Premier League, while Arsenal looks down from the top with a five-point cushion.
