Arsenal move five points clear at the top after Eze and Gyokeres torment Spurs

0:06Welcome to the Sky Sports Premier League podcast. The North London derby took centre stage on Super Sunday as Arsenal travelled to play their local rival Spurs. This is how we saw things at full time.

0:25it's Arsenal it is Arsenal again kings of their patch and top of the league by a hefty a comforting margin Michael Arteta digged for a response and Arsenal's retort to recent setbacks was emphatic more than that see what it means to him see what it means to them see in the wide eyes of victor jokeres the significance of an afternoon they needed they needed to pan out the way it has two goals for ever etch is a at once a north london derby specialist two goals for Victor Jokeres who now truly grows into that red Arsenal shirt briefly Kolo Mawani gave Spurs a reason to hope but it is bleak for those in white whilst Arsenal mentally psychologically Gary are back where they wanted to be yeah that was the big question coming into today's game the wobbles were there how much pressure were they actually feeling and that was the question at the start of the match would they demonstrate some level of anxiety or nerves.

1:41The answer is no. They had a blip in the first half, as you say, Peter, but in the second half, professional, stable, physically and mentally strong and really controlled the game. And Bakayo Saka looking for family, looking for friends with that big smile on his face, unmistakably his. And there's some smiles in there too and they can relax a little bit for a week. So for Spurs, this Sunday night is dark. still winless this calendar year, bereft, well beaten by the enemy and stressfully close to the danger zone. For Arsenal, five consecutive North London derby wins, a five-point advantage at the top of the Premier League and now just ten games to go.

2:27As it was at the Emirates in November, it is Spurs 1, Arsenal 4. Theo Walcott, Peter said it Arsenal needed this win They did and there's a few players that needed a performance tonight and just to put all the worries behind them that was an incredible performance the result, not just that, the standards that they've been speaking about midweek it wasn't acceptable walls but look they've just proved how dominating they are they're here to stay and what a performance by all of them, Eze today was absolutely fantastic I was really pleased for him because he's been coming under a lot So, look, fantastic, and they are here to stay.

3:03They absolutely are. Even having played the game more than Manchester City, how much more comfortable does a five-point gap feel? Oh, yeah, it's really important to have the points, of course, but it's still in their control, and they speak about this. They know their strengths, and they played to Victor Jokic's strengths today, and that's where you get the best out of Arsenal, when you're playing and unleashing certain players, and I felt they were allowed to access that today. So it's important just to remember there's some incredible talent in this group, but also they want to work after each other, and I think they showed all the factors tonight.

3:31Two wins and seven coming into this. They let advantages slip in games in the build-up, Jamie. Have Arsenal answered questions with this performance and with the reaction to Spurs pulling one back in the first half? Yeah, they were magnificent today. Even when they equalised Tottenham, you just felt there was a control about this Arsenal side. I thought it was a complete mismatch. You know, they were different leagues. Arsenal were so in control, so classy. They had a threat on the counter-attack on the break when they were having to maybe suffer a little bit. But they were so much better than Tottenham.

4:04You know what I mean? It was like two different leagues. If Tottenham aren't careful, they might be in a different league next season. They can't carry on performing like this. They've not had a win in 2026. But Arsenal, the way they played, the way that they defended at times, and then Jochores led that line. And Eze was wonderful. It was a brilliant, brilliant performance from them. And I think you've also got to remember that save. David Rale makes a save at 3-1. And if that would have gone in, then who knows? Because of the ghosts of what happened in midweek against Wolves, it might have just put a little bit of pressure on them.

4:36But that's what you need to keep at a step up. Made a mistake last week, great character earlier in the week, great character today. But Arsenal are fantastic, just too good for Tottenham. Well, Arsenal continuing the celebrations at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium. We will look back at their performance and we'll look at what needs to be done at Spurs to avoid them being dragged further into that relegation battle throughout the course of the evening. But let's remind ourselves of what's already happened in the Premier League so far this weekend. Aston Villa got that one-all draw against Leeds United.

5:07It was 2-0 to Brighton against Brentford. Burnley with a late, late equaliser against Chelsea. That victory for Manchester City over Newcastle temporarily put the pressure on Arsenal. It closed the gap at the top of the table to just two points. Arsenal have extended that this evening. Then on the Saturday night football, a goalless draw between West Ham and Bournemouth on the Super Sunday. Crystal Palace with a 1-0 victory against Wolves, who got that draw against Arsenal in midweek. Liverpool with late, late drama. You can see it all on the Sky Sports app if you scan the QR code that's on your screen right now.

5:42Late, late drama. One goal disallowed. Then McAllister scored again. That one was awarded. Then it was chalked off. Then it was back on again. You can follow it all on the app. Sunderland beaten 3-1 at home by Fulham and it ended with that 4-1 victory for Arsenal at Tottenham. Monday night football still to come. It's Everton against Manchester United. Edwin van der Sar is the guest in the studio for that one.

6:10So here's how things stand in the table. Arsenal five points clear of second place Manchester City. Liverpool's win means they go level on points with Manchester United, who, as we've seen, are going to play Everton tomorrow night, and level on points with Chelsea after they drop points this weekend. Meanwhile, at the other end of the table, there was almost an opportunity for Nottingham Forest to close the gap on Tottenham. It stays at two points because both of those sides have lost today, which just means that West Ham are within two points of Forest and four points of Tottenham.

6:49Saka, he's got away from Saar, Bukayo Saka, Eza!

6:59Well snatched here by Kolo Mwani, what a hit! In no time at all!

7:08Timba, Yokaraj, what a hit!

7:17Here goes Eze, through goes Saka. It came back to Eze who scored for Arsenal. Odegaard, Victor Jokerej, seals it. No wonder the Arsenal players were celebrating at the final whistle. It was a 4-1 victory at Spurs and they go five points clear again at the top of the Premier League table as they hunt down their first Premier League trophy in 22 years. The goal scorers, Avera Eze and Victor Jokereza with Patrick Davison Guys, well played, incredible performance incredible result, Avera if we can start with you it turns out you really enjoy the North London derby I remember you had a feeling before the first game did you again today?

8:03To be fair, I always have that feeling whenever I play but yeah, today it's worked out we thank God for it we put in a good performance we done what we needed to do today which was the main thing I think it's a huge contribution from you as well. Maybe your best performance in the red shirt? Yeah, in some aspects I think it was a good one. Then in some other I think I could have done a few bits better. But yeah, it was a tough game. But I think we showed much better things on the pitch today. Was part of that, Abert, was it a huge response from the team? Yeah, for sure. That's the main thing. We know what we're capable of and what we can do.

8:44We have to play games to dominate and to win. We've got the players and the team to do it. Again, an important win for us, an important performance, and we keep going. Just talk us through your celebrations. You really enjoyed your goals, as you should, but you've got a few friends who are Spurs fans, maybe? They've given you a bit of grief, I think is more likely. Yeah, quite a lot, but that's football. That's part of the game, and it's understandable. I think I'll keep doing what I'm doing and keep pushing. Just tell us about the finishes. Both of them, I suppose, in some ways pretty simple, but you need to just keep cool, right?

9:17Probably not simple. Sorry for the insult. Yeah, but I'm always trying to get in those types of positions to be ready and to find a space and to work hard to get those opportunities. So it takes a lot to get there. And yeah, it's worked out today. And how big a part did this guy play in the second goal? It was a lovely little one-two and then you released Bukayo, of course, and then it broke back to you. Yeah, Vic was doing that all game I think you can see the work ethic You can see how much he helps the team Not just with his goals But with the effort he puts in And puts players like me in good positions And it helps a lot And he's got these two goals today Which he deserves for sure Victor, I particularly wanted to ask you About the first goal An absolute thunderbolt Did it come at a really key moment For the team as well?

10:00Because it's 1-1 at that point And you must have talked about it at half-time It shouldn't have been Yeah, I think We do that a few times in training I think and then obviously I watched his goals against this last game so yeah tried to replicate it a little bit and yeah it worked so it was a nice goal. Why was Tottenham? For you? Yes for five year six Premier League goals? I don't know I don't know I tried to score every single game it seems to work a lot against Tottenham but yeah I think it's just a feeling that you get and you want to enjoy it as much as you can. Brilliant from both of you two goals each the player of the match is Victor.

10:39Deserved. There you are, my brother. Thank you, brother. Well done, guys. Nice and nice. Sorry about the simple goals, Dave. Well done. Yes, scoring goals is easy. Certainly much easier than holding a microphone or sitting in a studio, I would say. Look, a Beresi with a really good performance and maybe a point to prove, having been in and out of the side since that hat-trick against Tottenham last time out. But Victor Jokeres with a really important couple of goals in this one as well. Not just the goals, I felt today. He really commanded that position. And what was smart, at no point did he go see van der Ven.

11:16He knew where the weakness was in that Tottenham team. I'm going to dominate. I'm going to put on you. And it was from the minute one. He showed everything that we expect him to bring to this league. And yeah, a bit unlucky in this one. However, just the channel runs, which we see at times. But what I really like was this finish, which he would do every day in training. fantastic which we can analyse shortly soon but it's just the link playing, he brought the best out of the other players around him as well and that's what we want to see that's what we expected to see coming into this league but look, it's a really important moment for him as well going into it because of course now he's the top goalscorer, Bianca Havertz look at that there, so last two seasons but look, massive signing and it's one of those where you want to give him time but if they want to win the league he hasn't been fortunate to have that time so for me that was the best performance I've ever seen for him.

12:00Yeah and having not had a shot on goal in the game against Wolves of his first four touches of the ball today, two of them were shots on goal. So he clearly came out with that kind of... He's a goal scorer. Of course he came out with that in his mind. But there was a sharpness to him, Jamie. Absolutely. I feel that makes a great point. He kept pulling onto Paulina and just had... It was too strong for him. He bullied him. I don't want to be a killjoy, but it's hard to assess because of how poor Tottenham were defensively. But a big day for him. The goal, you know, excellent. The touches, very pleased for him because he's had a lot of stick as well.

12:40What a year of golf we had in 2025. How on earth are we going to follow it? Well, on the Sky Sports Golf Podcast, we're going to do our very best. I'm Jamie Weir, and each week I'll be joined by the sport's biggest names and best pundits to chat about the latest action and biggest talking points. Can Rory become only the fourth man to successfully defend the Masters title? Can Tommy Fleetwood win the claret jug in his own backyard at Birkdale? Could Charlie Hull finally become a major champion? And perhaps play a big role in Europe winning back the Solheim Cup? All that and more on the Sky Sports Golf Podcast in 2026.

13:22Available wherever you get your podcasts.

13:31This is the Sky Sports Premier League podcast. Let's get more analysis of the game and return to the student. Eswe starts. Part of that, I was going to say emotional decision, maybe not emotional, but do you try and tap into the good feeling from what he did last time he played Tottenham? Well, certainly that is there. That's our recent history and his recent history as well with them as well. And because we believe that for this game it's the right player to play in that position. Can you say why he's the best player for today? Very good, that's right.

14:02Saka, he's got away from Saar, Bukayo Saka, Eze!

14:15Here goes Eze, through goes Saka, it came back to Eze who scored for Arsenal. This day, this occasion belongs to Ebereche Eze. Two of Arsenal's four goals today. A hat-trick against Tottenham in the reverse fixture at the Emirates. He just loved scoring against Tottenham for Arsenal. Yeah, fantastic. I thought it was amazing. Because when he got the hat-trick early in the season, you felt this is going to go from strength to strength. And then things didn't go to plan. After that game, he didn't have one shot on target up until today. But he's found his confidence. And this is what can happen in football.

14:56Things can change. and he'll get yourself in a really good position here, just gets off the back of Colin Warnie, improvises really well because that ball comes up high and he has to make sure that he gets his leg up, keeps that ball down. You can see him just drifting here. Colin Warnie has to pick him up. He doesn't. He lets him go. Good first touch, pops up, and then he just manages to get on top of it and it's a really, really good finish. You can see Dragasan can't do anything about it. Then the confidence starts to ooze out of him, Theo, doesn't it? It does as well. It does well to get his leg up that high as well, but it just shows not many players will be able to do that.

15:27but this is what we want to see more of as they're smiling and that's when he plays at his best, the energy. But it's hard to smile when you're not getting picked and you're sat on the bench and the manager's not trusting you, isn't it? Exactly, but you can see how much it meant not just him, but those teammates. I think it's really important to show away from the football how important he is in that role as well. But yeah, I was so pleased for him. He could have been playing for Tottenham, Kelly. Well, that was the link in the summer when Arsenal were all so interested in him and obviously ends up going to Arsenal.

15:54But I hadn't had a shot on target, as you say, between the hat-trick against Tottenham and then scoring his opening goal today. It has been difficult for him and it does work for him against Tottenham. Is it as much about what he doesn't have to do against Spurs as it is about what he can bring to the game? I think what he needs to bring to the game is just be effective in the right areas and it's trying to get him in those right areas. But at times I felt watching him previously, just want to shake him, just wake up a little bit at times maybe from being too harsh on him. But look, I just feel he's so gifted in spaces where you can't control him.

16:28And I think that was what he was missing. And to not have any shots, he'd know that. And he'd know why he wasn't playing. But look, he just shows now, look, you can trust me. You can believe me in these big arenas like this as well. And I think he's repaid the manager's faith today. I really do. I think that's important. He's such a smooth player to watch as well, Kelly. You know, he's always... And today, the way that Tottenham's midfield went man for man against them, he was finding a little bit of space. He would work off of Basuma, who was marking him, and he'd be the first one to create those problems.

16:56And the link up today with him and Jokeres was brilliant. It was really good. It was telepathic at times. And you can see that love. I mean, I'm not sure how he felt gets two goals, comes off. We probably think I can get another hat trick here. But no, absolutely brilliant for him. And, you know, he's a very nice young man. He's, you know, and he's, as I say, hasn't always got the plan, but it's good to see that smile back on his face. Amidst all the euphoria of him scoring the opening goal in this game, Declan Rice gathered the players around and kind of gave them a little bit of a pep talk. He walked off and he was pointing to his temples and saying, make sure you focus, make sure you're concentrating here.

17:30And then it was a rare mistake from him that led to the equaliser just 24 seconds after the restart. Well, what you didn't want this to be, Kelly, was some kind of meme, like whatever happened to Steven Gerrard many years ago when he's talking to Liverpool players about we've got to make sure, no mistake, we go again, etc. He does that and then he does this. and it's uncharacteristic from him, but it's not his game now. I don't see really where Declan is going to, what he's trying to gain. This is, I love Declan as a footballer, but that's not his thing, like doing little Winnie Esther skills.

18:00He keeps it simple. Don't try anything that's too difficult. Keep it, you know, relatively basic, if you like. And then he obviously doesn't, but Colin Warnley does amazing after that. Really aggressive, gets into the box. You can see there, he's now thinking, please, please, please, let's get this win. Let's get this three points. I don't want this to be on me at the end of the season, but he's the sort of character that doesn't get to him as well, Theo, isn't he? Absolutely. I mean, as well, you even look at there. Look, the actual goal itself, brilliant. Maybe Raya could use his feet. I'm always, you know, questioning it.

18:30Maybe it's a bit too close to the keeper's feet. I think David De Gea was one of the best at doing it. But look, it was just out of character from Declan Rice. And he's a leader, by example. And I always see him as the captain, I really do. And that was definitely out of character. I mean, Theo was talking about Jokeres a little bit earlier and how important a game this was for him. and Gary Neville was saying in commentary, you know, he's a big, strong, physical player and he should be making his presence felt. Absolutely. I love this pass from Uriain Timber. It's such an intelligent pass into a really good area.

19:00If it doesn't go to Eze, it could go to Jokeres. And again, Theo, you were right. Look, he's making sure that he doesn't go to Dragosan. He'll keep pulling to Paulina, where he might get a bit of space. Lovely soft touch and a great finish. And this is where players, after training, they practice this finish and you always look at it in the stands thinking, why are they practising this finish? It's because they don't have to think about this finish because they know where they are on the pitch. As long as the first touch is perfect, it sets him and he knows what he's doing. I think that's exactly the finish that he would do every training session week after week and not just himself, I think all of them.

19:33They always have competitions there. So it's like who's going to be the last one standing and he always tends to be the last one standing because he's that good. And you talked about that relationship between Jokeres and Eze and they linked up for Arsenal's third goal. They did link up really well It's just his presence and like I said before he's he dominated Dragasen today and that little subtle touch Which you wouldn't have seen and just created that space and it's not simple finish He's got adjust yourself as well, but look this is what's what's his fear look up assume He's a defensive midfield player.

20:01He's on his heels He gets caught out and then obviously doesn't react after but that's the side of it as well You've got to recognize where maybe he might switch off in the past But he's recognized as danger there's a chance to actually break here and get a goal which obviously ended up being that fantastic finish in the end. And it could have been a lot more if they really wanted it to be as well, I felt. Well, it could have been a lot more, but also it's possible. And I always love this ref cam. I know we're supposed to see it for the major incidents in the game, but I love it for that behind the player shot.

20:29And he kept up with it. The referee kept up with it as play as well. It's one of those you can see if they actually keep up with play. So brilliant, brilliant. Love that view. Great shot of that. Arsenal go 3-1 up. As Theo was saying, it could have been more. but it was also possible that Spurs could have cut the deficit back and David Wright with a really important save particularly after what happened in midweek, Jamie. This is the game right here because I honestly look at 84 minutes on the clock I think it was six or seven minutes as well and Arsenal would absolutely no doubt if that goes in got Nervy.

21:00You know, we've seen it against Manchester City a few weeks ago where they were in a similar sort of predicament. They weren't necessarily playing well-tot and they got some out of the game. That is unbelievable. the reactions. Look at him there. You can hardly see where it goes for his legs. I mean, like you say, they'll be practicing that. You talk about strikers, what they practice every day. David Raya, we're doing that. And I've got no doubt, you can see the reaction of all of his players. Zubim Mendy, Gabriel, Saliba. They know that was a massive moment because they didn't want to have to take the next 10 minutes of the game with extra time having to deal with that pressure.