Player Ratings: Viktor Gyokeres shines as Arsenal smash Tottenham Hotspur | OneFootball

Tottenham Hotspur 1-4 Arsenal: Player Ratings and Match Reaction

Arsenal delivered a powerful response in the latest north London derby, defeating Tottenham Hotspur 4-1 and reinforcing their position at the summit of the Premier League. The match carried extra weight for both sides, with Tottenham Hotspur adjusting to life under interim boss Igor Tudor, while Arsenal arrived under pressure after a frustrating midweek slip.

Arsenal Control Key Moments

Arsenal settled quickly at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, showing intent through sharp movement and clinical finishing. Eberechi Eze opened the scoring after 32 minutes, reacting first inside the box and guiding a composed finish past Guglielmo Vicario. Spurs responded almost immediately when Randal Kolo Muani drove forward and found the net with an impressive solo effort, levelling the contest at 1-1.

The equaliser briefly lifted Tottenham Hotspur, yet Arsenal’s structure and composure soon returned. Viktor Gyokeres restored the visitors’ advantage shortly after the break with a precise strike from 20 yards, a goal that shifted momentum firmly back towards Mikel Arteta’s side. From that moment, Arsenal managed the tempo with maturity, moving the ball confidently and restricting Spurs to limited openings.

Photo: IMAGO

Derby Turning Points Shape Result

The decisive phase arrived just after the hour mark when Eze struck again. Tottenham Hotspur struggled to clear their lines, and the Arsenal midfielder capitalised on loose defending to extend the lead. The goal highlighted Arsenal’s persistence in attacking second balls and maintaining pressure high up the pitch.

Spurs attempted to push forward through Yves Bissouma and Xavi Simons, yet the final pass often lacked precision. Arsenal’s defensive line, led by Gabriel and Piero Hincapie, stayed organised and forced Tottenham Hotspur into rushed decisions. Late in stoppage time, Gyokeres added his second, outmuscling Archie Gray before finishing calmly to secure a 4-1 victory that reflected Arsenal’s efficiency.

Tactical Takeaways From North London Derby

For Tottenham Hotspur, the afternoon exposed familiar issues around defensive positioning and transitions. While there were flashes of attacking promise, especially through Kolo Muani, Arsenal’s intensity proved too much across the full ninety minutes. Igor Tudor will likely focus on compactness and sharper decision making ahead of upcoming fixtures.

Arsenal, meanwhile, demonstrated resilience following recent setbacks. The midfield balance between Declan Rice and Martin Zubimendi allowed creative players such as Eze and Bukayo Saka to flourish. Their ability to maintain pressure after taking the lead showed growth and maturity in high pressure situations.

From a Player Ratings perspective, Arsenal’s attacking trio delivered decisive contributions, while Tottenham Hotspur struggled to match the visitors’ quality in key areas. The derby atmosphere remained electric throughout, yet the gulf in clinical finishing ultimately defined the scoreline.

Player Ratings

Tottenham Hotspur:Guglielmo Vicario 4Archie Gray 4Joao Palhinha 5Radu Dragusin 5Micky van de Ven 5Djed Spence 4Conor Gallagher 5Yves Bissouma 6Pape Sarr 5Xavi Simons 6Randal Kolo Muani 7

Arsenal:David Raya 7Jurrien Timber 7William Saliba 6Gabriel 7Piero Hincapie 7Declan Rice 6Martin Zubimendi 7Eberechi Eze 8Bukayo Saka 7Leandro Trossard 6Viktor Gyokeres 9