Eze's derby double gets Arsenal title bid back on track

LONDON, Feb 22 : Eberechi Eze timed his return to the Arsenal scoresheet to perfection with two goals in his side's 4-1 derby rout of Tottenham Hotspur that calmed their Premier League title nerves on Sunday.

The England forward had not scored since a hat-trick in the reverse fixture in November but struck in each half while Viktor Gyokeres also netted twice as Arsenal moved five points clear of second-placed Manchester City.

Eze, who almost signed for Tottenham last August, volleyed in a 32nd-minute opener only for Randal Kolo Muani to equalise two minutes later.

Gyokeres restored Arsenal's lead shortly after the interval and Eze's second gave his side breathing space. Gyokeres capped a fine display with his second sealing the win in stoppage time.

Arsenal's biggest margin of victory at Tottenham in the league since 1978 lifted them to 61 points from 28 games with City, who have played one game fewer, on 56.

Tottenham's new manager Igor Tudor suffered a chastening debut and his side remain in deep trouble in 16th place, only four points above the relegation zone.

"Really happy, really proud about how we approached the game," Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta said. "The initiative and the quality we showed to come here and win the game.

"This is the Premier League, it will go all the way for sure. Ten games in the Premier League is a long way."

Successive draws against Brentford and bottom club Wolverhampton Wanderers, the latter after leading 2-0, had raised the spectre of Arsenal allowing a first Premier League title since 2004 to slip through their fingers.

City's 2-1 defeat of Newcastle on Saturday had cranked up the pressure, so a visit to a woefully out-of-form Tottenham, who have not won in the league in 2026, suddenly looked a