Tottenham v Arsenal live: Gyokeres and Eze earn big north London derby win for Premier League leaders

Igor Tudor took charge of Tottenham for the first time as they were well beaten by Mikel Arteta’s side

Mikel Arteta: Arsenal showed what they are made of by thumping Tottenham

Eberechi Eze timed his return to the Arsenal scoresheet to perfection with two goals in a 4–1 derby rout of Tottenham Hotspur that calmed his side’s Premier League title nerves on Sunday.

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

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

Gyökeres restored Arsenal’s lead shortly after the interval with a sublime curler, and Eze’s second — a tap-in — gave his side breathing space. Gyökeres then capped a fine display with his second goal, sealing the deal in stoppage time.

Victory lifted Arsenal to 61 points from 28 games, with City — who have played one game fewer — on 56. Tottenham, for whom new manager Igor Tudor was in charge for the first time, remain in 16th place, only four points above the relegation zone.

Follow all the reaction below.

Tottenham v Arsenal live: Latest Premier league updates

• Arsenal dominate Tottenham for crucial north London derby win in Premier League
• 90+4' GOAL! Gyokeres wraps it up with accomplished finish [TOT 1-4 ARS]
• 61' GOAL! Eze taps in second to put visitors in control [TOT 1-3 ARS]
• 47' GOAL! Gyokeres sweeps in to restore lead [TOT 1-2 ARS]
• 32' GOAL! Kolo Muani equalises immediately [TOT 1-1 ARS]
• 32' GOAL! Eze volleys in to open the scoring [TOT 0-1 ARS]

[22 February 2026 20:55 · Chris Wilson]

Pinned

Arsenal’s derby dominance jolts their title bid to life – and makes Tottenham’s relegation danger feel very real

When a chastened Igor Tudor emerged after Tottenham Hotspur’s 4-1 collapse to Arsenal, the interim coach was asked whether the display said more about his team’s problems or the qualities of what he described as “the best team in the world”, the response was simply: “Both things”.

He added: “There is a big gap between the teams.”

There certainly was in the scoreline, where Spurs were fortunate the defeat wasn’t much larger. That in turn made it one of those matches where, as Tudor indicated, it told a lot about both teams. There were two major storylines, that could yet come together for an Arsenal dream.

They could finally win the title, in the same season that Spurs are relegated.

[23 February 2026 07:00 · Chris Wilson]

Pundits hail Viktor Gyokeres’s ‘best performance’ for Arsenal after derby brace downs Spurs

Former Arsenal forward Theo Walcott praised the “best performance” he’s seen from striker Viktor Gyokeres after the Sweden international’s brace in the 4-1 win over Tottenham Hotspur.

Gyokeres swept in a superb first goal to re-establish Arsenal’s lead shortly after half-time, before rounding off the win with a well-taken second – and Arsenal’s fourth – in stoppage time, shrugging off the challenge from Archie Gray before curling in an accomplished finish.

[23 February 2026 06:30 · Chris Wilson]

Arsenal's title run-in

Here’s the run-in for Arsenal then, with just 10 games between them and a first title since 2004.

Arsenal's title run-in (The Independent)

[23 February 2026 06:00 · Chris Wilson]

Eberechi Eze and Viktor Gyokeres each strike twice as Arsenal thrash Tottenham

Eberechi Eze produced a timely brace to haunt Tottenham again and restore Arsenal’s five-point lead at the Premier League summit with a 4-1 north London derby win.

The title credentials of Mikel Arteta’s team had been questioned after they dropped points in consecutive matches at Brentford and Wolves but they responded with aplomb at the home of their fierce rivals.

Eze broke the deadlock in a white-hot atmosphere in the 32nd minute and while Randal Kolo Muani replied 123 seconds later for the first goal of Igor Tudor’s spell as interim Spurs head coach, Arsenal exerted their dominance after the break.

[23 February 2026 05:00 · Chris Wilson]

Premier League title race: Do Arsenal or Man City have the easier run-in?

The Premier League is building towards another thrilling run-in, as Arsenal and Manchester City face off in the title race.

After three second-place finishes in a row, Arsenal are bidding to finally end their 22-year wait for a league title under Mikel Arteta.

But they are once again facing competition from Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City, who denied them in both 2023 and 2024.

Here’s how the crucial run-in is shaping up.

[23 February 2026 04:00 · Chris Wilson]

Nico O’Reilly’s latest reinvention brings momentum to Man City’s title charge

When Manchester City won at Anfield, Pep Guardiola declared that all his side could do was breathe down the neck of Arsenal. And if the Premier League leaders are feeling ever more uncomfortable, it is because they can sense their pursuers are ever closer.

The margin is two points now, giving Arsenal all the more reason to rue the two they dropped at Molineux, all the more pressure in Sunday’s north London derby. City are acquiring the momentum Arsenal seem to have mislaid.

And, after Arsenal capitulated at Wolves, City had a player who grasped the opportunity.

[23 February 2026 02:00 · Chris Wilson]

The quirk of fate that saw sluggish Liverpool beat Forest and close in on Champions League places

Perhaps it was football at its most illogical. Liverpool were triumphant after a first-half performance Arne Slot felt was their worst in his time at the club. They got a goal from a player who may have only been in a goalscoring position because one of his teammates was injured and after he had struggled in his original role, amid a collective malaise. A team who have been aggrieved by refereeing decisions of late saw a seeming winner disallowed in contentious fashion and yet made off with three points. And Vitor Pereira, who seemed to have had an immediate impact with Nottingham Forest, reacted to his first home game in charge by saying: “I am frustrated, angry with football. Very, very unfair.”

[23 February 2026 01:00 · Chris Wilson]

WATCH: Eze bags brace in 4-1 win

And here are the highlights of Eze’s brace:

[23 February 2026 00:00 · Chris Wilson]

WATCH: Gyokeres scores first goal

Here’s a highlight as Viktor Gyokeres fired home his first of the day:

[22 February 2026 23:00 · Chris Wilson]

Next week's fixtures

And here’s the list of next week’s fixtures in the Premier League:

Friday, 27 February

Wolves vs Aston Villa

Saturday, 28 February

Bournemouth vs Sunderland

Burnley vs Brentford

Liverpool vs West Ham

Newcastle vs Everton

Leeds United vs Manchester City

Sunday, 1 March

Brighton vs Nottingham Forest

Fulham vs Tottenham

Manchester United vs Crystal Palace

Arsenal vs Chelsea