A rocky outdated ten-day interval for Arsenal resulted in jubilation. It is humorous how rapidly soccer can change, is not it?
After drawing with Brentford after which dropping factors in dismal style towards Wolverhampton Wanderers, the Gunners had a possibility to make issues proper once they confronted Tottenham Hotspur on Sunday night.
That stated, on paper, this didn’t seem like the simple task it did every week in the past. Mikel Arteta’s males had been low on confidence and Spurs had been now led by Igor Tudor after Thomas Frank’s sacking.
Nevertheless, the consequence actually made issues look straightforward. Eberechi Eze and Viktor Gyokeres ran the present as Arsenal proved that north London is certainly purple, beating their arch-rivals 4-1 to open up a five-point hole on the high of the Premier League desk once more.
How Arteta’s tactical tweaks defeated Spurs
This has been every week by which Arteta has experimented just a little. Whether or not or not it has labored, nevertheless, is up for debate.
In opposition to Wigan Athletic within the FA Cup, Arsenal had been initially anticipated to discipline Myles Lewis-Skelly in the course of the park however an damage within the warm-up to Riccardo Calafiori meant that {the teenager} was shuffled to left-back. Bukayo Saka began in midfield as a substitute.
It appeared like an impressed resolution and one which Arteta replicated at Molineux a number of days in the past. Whereas the England famous person did discover the online, Arsenal lacked high quality in extensive areas and appeared bereft of many concepts within the remaining third.
That every one modified towards Spurs. Saka was again on the fitting, Leandro Trossard returned on the left and Eze earned a uncommon begin within the Premier League.
Certainly, this was simply the second time the 27-year-old had began a league match in 2026 after he was withdrawn on the break in that 1-1 draw with Brentford.
On this event, the previous Crystal Palace man performed like a person with some extent to show. Talking after the sport, Arteta stated: “He was upset, even with me, as a result of I did not play him the opposite day from the start, and among the selections that I made. I begin to perceive how we will get the most effective out of him now.”
Nicely, he actually wasn’t upset on the finish of this one. At full-time, Eze and his supervisor shared a heat embrace after the big-money summer time signing had scored two extra objectives towards Spurs so as to add to his hat-trick towards the Lilywhites on the again finish of 2025.
Partnering Eze with Gyokeres labored a deal with and it does look as if the boss has lastly labored out the way to profile them each. Fact be instructed, it was the previous who performed a extra central position with the Swede peeling off and operating into the channels. It labored brilliantly.
The striker additionally scored twice and now seems to be as if he is lastly motoring in English soccer after his mega transfer from Sporting over the summer time.
Gyokeres has now bagged eight objectives in his final 12 video games. No participant within the Premier League has scored greater than him throughout all competitions this calendar yr, both.
An enormous flop? Assume once more. The centre ahead now seems to be each bit an Arsenal participant.
What Gyokeres’ kind means for the Arsenal squad
The Sweden worldwide has not had a straightforward experience in Arsenal colors, removed from it. After that draw with Wolves final Wednesday, it meant that Gyokeres had did not have a single shot heading in the right direction in 60% of his league matches since signing.
Nicely, how the narrative turned on Sunday. Whereas he has been bettering in 2026, this was his most interesting efficiency within the well-known purple and white up to now. Not solely did he rating twice, however he had probably the most touches (41) that he is ever had in a Premier League match. Speaking about lastly introducing your self.
This run of kind, nevertheless, is actually unhealthy information for Arsenal’s third-highest earner, Gabriel Jesus.
Taking dwelling a reported £265k-per-week, the Brazilian has delivered a number of robust performances since coming back from a prolonged damage lay-off. He scored twice towards Inter Milan and was on the scoresheet towards Wigan simply over every week in the past within the cup.

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The very fact of the matter, although, is that Jesus is just not practically as ruthless as Gyokeres. His method could also be nicer on the attention and extra aesthetically pleasing to look at however he has appeared manner off it in a variety of matches now.
The 28-year-old has discovered the online on simply two events in 11 league video games and reality be instructed, he seems to be moderately completed in an Arsenal shirt now.
His cameo off the bench towards Wolves final week simply appeared to cement that truth, with the previous Manchester Metropolis man spurning a superb late alternative to offer Arsenal all three factors.
Jesus obtained possession on the left flank and as a substitute of driving in the direction of purpose or supplying an help, acquired the ball caught beneath his toes. Inside moments of that incident, Wolves had scored an equaliser and the Gunners had dropped valuable factors within the title race.
Gabriel Jesus profession in England
Season
Video games
Objectives
2016/17
11
7
2017/18
42
17
2018/19
47
21
2019/20
53
23
2020/21
43
14
2021/22
41
13
2022/23
33
11
2023/24
36
8
2024/25
27
7
2025/26
18
5
There have been too many moments for Jesus of a like-minded nature since he returned to first-team motion and his cameos off the bench don’t converse of a participant who’s able to serving to Arsenal win the league this season.
When he comes on, he lacks the identical physicality and talent to occupy the defence as Gyokeres does. He loses the ball far too simply and does not press in addition to his colleague in assault.
A lot was promised of Jesus when he first arrived on the Emirates Stadium. He actually had a greater begin to life in north London than their present no.14, scoring 5 instances in his first eight league matches.
That degree of efficiency has now abandoned him and with Gyokeres lastly up to the mark at Arsenal, it is unhealthy information for Jesus. Mix that with Kai Havertz’s promising return over current weeks and the longer term seems to be bleak for the Brazilian within the English capital. Ought to each stay match between now and the tip of the season, there isn’t a excuse to not begin them.
Don’t count on him to nonetheless be with the Gunners come subsequent season both.

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