THIS FOOTBALL CHAMPION IS A CHESS GRANDMASTER

 

TOTTENHAM LEGEND LEFT WITH EGG ON HIS FACE AFTER EBERECHI EZE VERDICT BEFORE ARSENAL CLASH

Tottenham hero Les Ferdinand gave his thoughts on Eberechi Eze's start to life at Arsenal before kick-off in the North London Derby, only to see him score a hat-trick

Eberechi Eze put Arsenal 2-0 up before half-time(Image: Justin Setterfield/Getty Images)

Eberechi Eze made Les Ferdinand eat his words after scoring a tremendous hat-trick for Arsenal as they thrashed Tottenham 4-1 in the North London Derby. Eze was the star of the show on Sunday afternoon as the Gunners continued their utter dominance of the fixture and moved six points clear at the top of the Premier League table.

Leandro Trossard opened the scoring before Eze took centre stage by finding the net with three confident and composed finishes. Richarlison scored a staggering consolation goal for Spurs from distance as he lobbed David Raya, but that was all their fans had to cheer.

Eze has now scored six goals in four games against Spurs across his career and the fact Tottenham tried unsuccessfully to sign him from Crystal Palace over the summer won't have been lost on Thomas Frank and co. Ferdinand played a role in Eze's development as QPR's director of football when they signed him in 2016 and he shared his thoughts before kick-off.

"I took him to QPR and straight away I saw a talent, someone we felt could go on and he's done that, in terms of going to Crystal Palace and then here (Arsenal)," Ferdinand said on Sky Sports. "I've often said I felt he could've gone from QPR to one of the bigger clubs.

"But he's come to Arsenal and I think he's playing with the handbrake on, that's what I'd call it. I think there's so much more from him. The reason Arsenal have bought him, he's got a calmness about him, the way he plays, his attitude and the way he is. I just feel he's got so much more to his game."

Asked to clarify his handbrake comment, he added: "There's so much more to come from him. It's almost like he's come to Arsenal and he's working his way in, rather than saying 'I'm the man, watch what I can do.' It's like he's working his way into it. I think he's got so much more to give.

"Every time I'm watching him, I'm thinking 'come on Ez, you've got more than this'. He's got what it takes to unlock teams playing a low block - I'm just not seeing him do it enough."

Les Ferdinand gave his thoughts on Eberechi Eze before kick-off(Image: Sky Sports)

Eze certainly did enough on Sunday and could have scored four goals, had it not been for a good save from Guglielmo Vicario in the closing stages. Having come into the match with two goals in an Arsenal shirt, he now has five to go with three assists in 16 appearances.

"That's a good one man. Enjoyable day. Happy to help the team and to win today was a special," he told Sky Sports. "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."

- Felix Keith

JAMIE CARRAGHER APOLOGISES LIVE ON TV AS HE HAILS ARSENAL STAR EBERECHI EZE

Eberechi Eze has proven Jamie Carragher wrong since his move to Arsenal, the former Liverpool defender admits.

The Gunners star scored his first senior hat-trick to inspire his side to a 4-1 north London derby thrashing over Tottenham Hotspur on Sunday.

It comes after Spurs saw a deal to sign Eze from Crystal Palace in the summer hijacked by their bitter local rivals.

Arsenal swooped to secure his signature for £67.5million including add-ons back in August.

Eze's treble at the Emirates Stadium has taken his tally for the club to five goals and three assists in 16 appearances across all competitions.

Carragher was full of praise for the 27-year-old after the match as he assessed his performance live on Sky Sports.

He admitted: "I must be honest, I think when Arsenal signed him and when I had my Liverpool hat on, and I looked at the signings Arsenal made.

"Beside Viktor Gyokeres, it felt like a lot of them were to strengthen the squad really.

"So where Arsenal had problems the year before was when (Bukayo) Saka was out, they bought (Noni) Madueke. (Martin) Odegaard was out, they bought Eze. One of the centre-backs was out so they got a couple of centre-backs.

"It was only really Gyokeres who I felt was going to go into the team. If I am being honest I think if (Kai) Havertz was one 100 per cent fit, Havertz would probably be the centre-forward in this team I think."

Carragher continued: "So, when Eze came in I thought, 'Okay, maybe he’s not a game-changer', and Les (Ferdinand) knows him a lot better than me and he still said earlier on in the show, 'there’s still a lot more to come'.

"But then we still see some of his highlights this season and there are a few great goals in there and then he goes and scores a hat-trick, so apologies.

Carragher is holding his hands up for underestimating Eze

"Apologies, I've certainly undervalued the importance that signing was"

Jamie Carragher on Arsenal signing Ebere Eze ✍️ pic.twitter.com/jD6oRfzEFY

— Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) November 23, 2025

"Certainly undervalued the importance that signing was because he looks like he could make a real difference for Arsenal this season and go on and win the title."

Arsenal are now six points clear at the top of the Premier League following their derby day victory.

Arteta on Eze signing

Meanwhile, Mikel Arteta has revealed that he spoke to Three Lions boss Thomas Tuchel before signing Eze.

Tuchel has included him in all four of his squads since taking charge in January.

Across that time, Eze has won seven caps and scored three goals for England.

Speaking to talkSPORT's Alex Crook after the match, Arteta explained: "When I spoke to Thomas TucheI, I said, ‘how good is he?’

Arsenal were urged to sign Eze by England boss Tuchel, Arteta has revealedCredit: Getty

"He said to me, ‘one of the best I've seen. I rate him one of the best in terms of talent'.

"The willingness he has to play for this team and the joy I sense every single day when he's in the building, we have a special player there."

Eze's match-winning display comes ahead of a potentially crucial week in Arsenal's season.

They host Bayern Munich in the Champions League on Wednesday before a trip to Chelsea next weekend.

As well as topping the Premier League, they are one of three clubs to have won all four matches in Europe's premier competition this term.

It leaves them level with Bayern and Inter Milan, although the German champions top the league phase on goals scored.

- Ciaran Wiseman

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