Mikel Arteta Reveals Key to Eberechi Eze's Historic Hat-Trick in North London Derby

Emirates Stadium witnessed Arsenal's dominance as they crushed their city rivals, Tottenham Hotspur, with a resounding 4-1 scoreline in the 12th week of the 2025/26 Premier League, Sunday (23/11) night WIB.

Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta emphatically stated that the match-winning hat-trick scored by Eberechi Eze against Tottenham Hotspur was the result of the player's discipline and hard work behind the scenes.

"I checked the statistics, when was the last time a player scored a hat-trick in the North London Derby? It was a very long time ago. That proves the level of difficulty, but Eze's performance was no coincidence," asserted Arteta, as reported by Arsenal's official website.

The Dedication Behind Eberechi Eze's Three Goals

Arteta revealed evidence of Eze's dedication. "After international duty, he was actually given two days off. But he refused and said, 'I want to train tomorrow.' He was even actively asking about positions, running patterns, and other technical details. When you combine talent, intelligence, and that willingness to learn, big things like this happen naturally," he explained.

Carving His Name in North London Derby History

Eberechi Eze's achievement holds deep historical significance for several reasons:

• A Rare Feat: This is only the fourth hat-trick in the entire history of the North London Derby.
• Arsenal Heritage: Three of those four hat-tricks were scored by Gunners players.
• Ending a Long Drought: This is the first hat-trick since Alan Sunderland achieved it in 1978, and notably the very first one in the Premier League era.
• A Local Boy's Dream: The moment is extra special because Eze is an Arsenal academy graduate and lifelong fan of the club, making his goals a perfect story.

A Special Atmosphere Felt From the Start

Arteta admitted he could feel a different atmosphere even before the match began. "I immediately felt goosebumps. As soon as I walked out, I knew today was different, today felt huge. I told the players the same thing, that this was a special match," recalled the Spanish coach.

He added that the players' focus had been solely on the derby and the crucial upcoming matches against Bayern Munich and Chelsea since returning from the international break. "I enjoyed every second of the preparation process. I could feel their spirit and desire to build momentum again heading into this decisive week," said Arteta.

Eberechi Eze Brief Profile:

Eberechi Oluchi Eze (born 29 June 1998) is an English attacking midfielder or winger currently playing for Arsenal. Starting his senior career at Queens Park Rangers, Eze then moved to Crystal Palace for £17 million, featuring in over 120 matches.

After winning the 2025 FA Community Shield with Crystal Palace, he was signed by Arsenal for a transfer fee of £67.5 million. Eze has represented the England national team since his debut in 2023 and played for his country at UEFA Euro 2024.