Tottenham hero Les Ferdinand gave his thoughts on Eberechi Eze's start to life at Arsenal before kick-off in the North London Derby, only to see him score a hat-trick
Eberechi Eze made Les Ferdinand eat his words after scoring a tremendous hat-trick for Arsenal as they thrashed Tottenham 4-1 in the North London Derby. Eze was the star of the show on Sunday afternoon as the Gunners continued their utter dominance of the fixture and moved six points clear at the top of the Premier League table.
Leandro Trossard opened the scoring before Eze took centre stage by finding the net with three confident and composed finishes. Richarlison scored a staggering consolation goal for Spurs from distance as he lobbed David Raya, but that was all their fans had to cheer.
Eze has now scored six goals in four games against Spurs across his career and the fact Tottenham tried unsuccessfully to sign him from Crystal Palace over the summer won't have been lost on Thomas Frank and co. Ferdinand played a role in Eze's development as QPR's director of football when they signed him in 2016 and he shared his thoughts before kick-off.
"I took him to QPR and straight away I saw a talent, someone we felt could go on and he's done that, in terms of going to Crystal Palace and then here (Arsenal)," Ferdinand said on Sky Sports. "I've often said I felt he could've gone from QPR to one of the bigger clubs.
"But he's come to Arsenal and I think he's playing with the handbrake on, that's what I'd call it. I think there's so much more from him. The reason Arsenal have bought him, he's got a calmness about him, the way he plays, his attitude and the way he is. I just feel he's got so much more to his game."
Asked to clarify his handbrake comment, he added: "There's so much more to come from him. It's almost like he's come to Arsenal and he's working his way in, rather than saying 'I'm the man, watch what I can do.' It's like he's working his way into it. I think he's got so much more to give.
"Every time I'm watching him, I'm thinking 'come on Ez, you've got more than this'. He's got what it takes to unlock teams playing a low block - I'm just not seeing him do it enough."
Eze certainly did enough on Sunday and could have scored four goals, had it not been for a good save from Guglielmo Vicario in the closing stages. Having come into the match with two goals in an Arsenal shirt, he now has five to go with three assists in 16 appearances.
"That's a good one man. Enjoyable day. Happy to help the team and to win today was a special," he told Sky Sports. "It's special. I am grateful. I prayed for it. This is what I pray for. I prayed for a hat-trick so I am grateful to God.
"That was the prayer today. God gave it to me and that is faith, man. All my family is here and that makes it even more special for me."