For the time being at least, it's Mikel Arteta's Arsenal who hold the bragging rights after putting Tottenham Hotspur to the sword in a 4-1 victory in the first North London Derby of the 2025/26 campaign. In what was a memorable occasion, both Gabriel Magalhaes and William Saliba took to Instagram to celebrate the win and troll Spurs' Richarlison.
Although it was Leandro Trossard to open the scoring after the Belgian was found by a brilliant Mikel Merino ball in the penalty area, Sunday's meeting with Thomas Frank's men was all about Eberechi Eze, who became the first Arsenal player since Alan Sunderland in December 1978 to score a hat-trick against their north London rivals.
GIVEMESPORT Key Statsitic: Eberechi Eze has scored the 400th hat-trick in Premier League history and also the 23rd player for Arsenal. In fact, no club has had more different hat-trick scorers since the league's rebrand in 1992.
Albeit in controversial fashion due to the fact there were Arsenal bodies between himself and Guglielmo Vicario, the 27-year-old playmaker grabbed his first four minutes before the half-time break before striking once again in the 46th minute. His third goal of the match – against a side he almost joined in the summer – came in the 76th minute.
Eze's name will be strung up in lights following his three-goal showcase on the weekend – but the foundations to win have been set for years and that's largely down to the central defensive partnership of Gabriel and Saliba. And, post-match, the two couldn't help but poke fun at Richarlison, who admittedly scored a worldie consolation five minutes shy of the hour mark.
Gabriel and Saliba Poke Fun at Richarlison After 4-1 North London Derby Win
Gabriel, who has been an ever-important piece to the puzzle at the Emirates Stadium, was unable to play in Arsenal's 4-1 victory on Sunday after picking up an injury while on international duty was Brazil. Earlier this month, the centre-back hobbled off during his nation's 2-0 win over Senegal and Arteta has since confirmed he'll be out for weeks.
He could still be seen celebrating Eze's hat-trick of strikes from the stands – and his post-match post has endeared himself to the Emirates Stadium more than was already possible.
Back in July, the Spurs forward took to Instagram to post a picture of him alongside his Man of the Match award, tagging Gabriel after a 1-0 win over Arsenal in a pre-season friendly in Hong Kong. At the time, the defender responded by sharing a picture of his three Premier League Player of the Match awards, all of which had been picked up against Spurs.
Making the most of Arsenal's win, he took to the same social media platform to pose in Eze's shirt with an Arsenal scarf wrapped round his neck. In the photo, too, was a signed match ball, the hat-trick hero's Player of the Match gong and his own Arsenal Player of the Month award from October.
Not only that, but he couldn't help himself but to tag Richarlison in the photo, too, as a subtle reminder of the chasm between the two sides from north London. As things stand, Arteta – widely regarded as one of the best managers in world football – and his team sit top of the Premier League; Spurs are current ninth with 18 points from 12 matches.
Across senior and youth sides, the pair have lined up alongside one another on ten different occasions – and Gabriel will hope that Richarlison can see the amusing side.
Saliba, too, couldn't help but get involved in the trolling of 28-year-old Richarlison, who has scored five Premier League goals since his side's curtain-raiser in August. The Frenchman – with the caption of "North London is still Red" – put up a picture of him tussling with the Spurs striker, who looked to be tumbling onto the floor.
The fifth picture of his carousel, again, included Richarlison – and it also depicted Saliba winning their match-long physical battle as he looked to be bringing his challenger to the floor. To rub even more salt into the wounds of Richarlison, the 24-year-old's post was re-posted by his partner in crime, Gabriel. Up next for the Gunners is mid-week Champions League action.