Arsenal moved six points clear at the top of the Premier League table on Sunday afternoon after a 4-1 win over Tottenham, with Eberechi Eze scoring a hat-trick
The scenes following Arsenal's 4-1 thrashing of Tottenham Hotspur were revealing.
Mikel Arteta's team, in another commanding performance this season, easily defeated their city rivals, putting them six points ahead at the top of the Premier League. Eberechi Eze's spectacular hat-trick led the way, making him the first Arsenal player to score a treble against their north London derby rivals since 1978.
At the beginning of the season, much of the media predicted another campaign where the Premier League title would evade the Gunners. However, with each passing week, Arsenal continues to make a statement, demonstrating to the nation that their season is destined to conclude with the ultimate prize.
Since their only loss to Liverpool in August, Artet's team has been formidable. After Sunday's match, Jamie Carragher had some stern advice for one Arsenal star, and the reaction from the dressing room was revealed as we examine the biggest stories surrounding the league leaders.
Carragher's advice to Odegaard
Liverpool legend Jamie Carragher advised Martin Odegaard that despite being the club's captain, he will face a significant challenge to regain his place in the starting line-up due to Eze's form. The Norwegian captain has been plagued by injury this season and has missed Arsenal's last eight matches due to a knee problem.
In the absence of Odegaard, Eze has risen to the occasion, first scoring the decisive goal against his former team Crystal Palace last month and now with a stunning hat-trick against Spurs.
Speaking to Sky Sports post-match, Carragher conceded that given the impact the England star has made, Odegaard's immediate return to the starting line-up is not a certainty.
"There was always this talk they [Arsenal] needed a goal-scorer," Carragher commented. "They needed to score more goals, certainly last season to compete with Liverpool. But Arsenal in general play didn't create enough, that was a problem.
"Doesn't matter who your striker is, if you're not creating chances for him, he's not there to finish. He's [Eze] made a difference with that. Even this season if we go back to early on, if we go back to Anfield, that was almost like the Arsenal of last season. Very strong defensively but not really looking like scoring going forward.
"I'm certain Eze played [in the next game] at Newcastle away and you felt like there was a difference. It just feels like his signing, which I felt to be fair would just be something that would be to back up Odegaard -- Odegaard is out at the moment -- but Odegaard has a real fight."
Dressing room footage revealed
Arteta's Arsenal squad, despite experiencing numerous league disappointments, appears to have grown stronger. The celebratory mood was palpable as the final whistle sounded on Sunday, with tens of thousands of fans rejoicing and players like Gabriel Magalhaes and Bukayo Saka joining in the celebrations.
Arsenal shared a video of the players heading into the dressing room through the tunnel, with Eze receiving high praise from injured stars such as Odegaard and Viktor Gyokeres who were eager to compliment their teammates.
The team spirit at the Emirates seems to be at an all-time high, and considering their impressive results and current 15-match unbeaten streak, why wouldn't it be?