Eze's derby hat-trick sends Arsenal six points clear

LONDON :Eberechi Eze scored a majestic hat-trick as Arsenal trounced north London rivals Tottenham Hotspur 4-1 to open up a commanding six-point lead at the top of the Premier League on Sunday.

For 36 minutes the derby was a cagey contest with a defensively-minded Tottenham frustrating Mikel Arteta's side, but the hosts struck three times in 10 minutes either side of halftime to seize control.

Leandro Trossard broke the deadlock from close range before Eze, the player Arsenal snatched in a summer transfer tussle with Tottenham, rifled in Arsenal's second after 41 minutes.

The second half was only seconds old when Eze again found space on the edge of the area to dispatch another clinical finish inside the post.

Tottenham got a lifeline out of the blue in stunning fashion in the 55th minute when Richarlison lobbed Arsenal keeper David Raya from near the centre circle but Eze completed his hat-trick in the 76th minute to seal the points.

Arsenal, unbeaten in nine league games, have 29 points from 12 games, with second-placed Chelsea on 23. Tottenham's first away league defeat of the season left them ninth on 18 points.

Tottenham thought they were on the verge of signing Eze from Crystal Palace in August but Arsenal scooped him from under their noses. If that was not bad enough, the England international gave a graphic demonstration of what they missed out on as he lit up his first north London derby.

"That is crazy. Special day man. Special day for me, my family," said Eze, who had managed only one league goal for Arsenal prior to Sunday. 

"I probably should've scored four to be honest ... I'm always trying to score, always trying to take my chances. It's important to be relentless."

Tottenham had been impressive away from home