Thierry Henry has warned Arsenal captain Martin Odegaard he can no longer be considered a guaranteed starter after Eberechi Eze scored a hat-trick in Sunday’s north London derby demolition.
The Gunners maintained a six-point lead at the top and capitalised on Manchester City’s defeat at Newcastle 24 hours earlier with a dominant display against their fiercest rivals.
Leandro Trossard opened the scoring in the 36th minute before Eze doubled the lead shortly before the interval, beating two men of the edge of the penalty area and thundering a low shot beyond Guglielmo Vicario.
Arsenal appeared to have put the game beyond doubt moments after the re-start when he again beat the Tottenham goalkeeper a precise finish, this time with his left foot.
Richarlison briefly gave Tottenham hope with an opportunistic strike from the halfway line after Martin Zubimendi coughed up possession, but Eze settled the contest with another well taken goal 15 minutes from the end.
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The summer signing from Crystal Palace had made a satisfactory start to his Arsenal career with the majority of his early performances coming on the wing.
In the absence of Odegaard, however, Eze has assumed the role of creator in chief and gave a coming of age performance against Spurs, who he came close to joining prior to Mikel Arteta’s late intervention.
Metro at the Match: Arsenal 4-1 Tottenham
It just had to be Eze
A first north London derby and what a way to announce yourself against the club that almost signed him in the summer. Eberechi Eze was given license to roam and find space, and he repaid that faith with two well-taken finishes.
Trossard continues to go under the radar
The Belgian was kept quiet in the first 30 minutes, but a superbly timed run and finish gave Arsenal the lead and Leandro Trossard his fifth goal contribution in ten games. Arteta will find him hard to drop even as Madueke and Martinelli return to full fitness.
Hincapie impresses in Gabriel’s absence
Given his first league start since joining in the summer, Piero Hincapie proved exactly why Arteta previously described him as a ‘warrior’. The Ecuadorian didn’t have loads to do but threw himself at every ball and challenge when it came hs way.
Full Arsenal player ratings: Raya 7, Timber 7, Saliba 6, Hincapie 7, Calafiori 6, Zubimendi 6, Rice 7, Eze 9, Saka 7, Merino 7, Trossard 6. Subs: Madueke N/A,Nwaneri N/A, Mosquera N/A, Lewis-Skelly N/A.
Danso fails to deliver
Kevin Danso lined up alongside Micky van de Ven and Cristian Romero as Frank opted for a back-five against Arsenal, but a nervy display from the Austrian only got worse when he allowed Trossard to ghost in behind him for the opener. No surprise he didn’t re-emerge after the break.
Odobert anonymous
The young Frenchman was given the opportunity in Tottenham’s front three, but struggled to have any impact on the game before making way in the second half. The left side of Spurs’ attack remains one area where Frank is yet to find his preferred man.
Vicario the only positive
Perhaps the only saving grace for Tottenham was that it was only the four goals shipped to their arch rivals. For that, they have Vicario to thank, who, while still unconvincing on the ball, remains a superb shot-stopper, denying Eze and Rice superbly either side of the half.
Full Tottenham player ratings: Vicario 6, Spence 5, Romero 5, Van de Ven 5, Danso 3, Udoig 4, Palhinha 6, Bentancur 5, Kudus 5, Odobert 3, Richarlison 6. Subs: Simons 5, Sarr 5, Kolo Muani 5, Porro N/A, Johnson N/A.
Metro’s Ben Fleming with the ratings live from the Emirates
With Odegaard edging his way back towards full fitness, Arteta faces a major selection dilemma, but Henry insists there is no way Eze can be moved from his favoured position after wreaking havoc against Spurs.
‘By the way if I was Martin Odegaard,’ Henry told Sky sports. ‘I said it this guy is a 10 for me, he’s not a winger he’s a 10.
‘He needs to be in the middle of the park he showed it tonight so that’s what you want healthy competition that’ what you want.’
‘That’s a good one man,’ Eze said himself after a man of the match performance. ‘Enjoyable day. Happy to help the team and to win today was a special.
‘It’s special. I am grateful. I prayed for it. This is what I pray for. I prayed for a hat-trick so I am grateful to God.
‘That was the prayer today. God gave it to me and that is faith, man. All my family is here and that makes it even more special for me.’
Asked for his pick of the goals, Eze added: ‘They are all good. Maybe the second one. That was my favourite.
‘All of them are good for me because I have been working on the process to get in that position so that’s good again.’
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