London Evening Standard

Sorry Spurs are locked in battle with Leeds, Nottingham Forest and West Ham to retain their Premier League status

Four-way battle: Nottingham Forest, Tottenham, West Ham and Leeds are all fighting for Premier League survival

Getty Images

Sam Tabuteau

COMMENTS

Your matchday briefing on Tottenham, featuring team news and expert analysis from Sam Tabuteau

I would like to be emailed about offers, event and updates from Evening Standard. Read our privacy notice.

Tottenham are firmly in the midst of a relegation battle following their 4-1 defeat by Arsenal in the north London derby.

Injury-plagued Spurs remain winless in the Premier League in 2026 and sit just four points above the bottom three in 16th place.

Interim boss Igor Tudor has a sizeable task on his hands if he is to turn around Tottenham’s fortunes, but the Croatian is adamant that he will guide the club to safety.

With 11 games to go, Spurs, West Ham, Nottingham Forest and Leeds are locked in a four-way battle for top-flight survival, but who has the most favourable run-in?

Standard Sport has assessed each team’s remaining fixtures to find out...

Tottenham

Spurs need to pick up results... and fast, or they could be playing Championship football next season.

The only Premier League team yet to win a game in 2026, Spurs have won just two of their last 18 league matches and are looking anxiously over their shoulders from 16th place.

Read More

Too good to go down? Six shock relegations that serve as warning for Tottenham

Why ex-Liverpool coach turned down Tottenham offer after 'mystery' move

Tottenham injury update: Porro, Bergvall and Danso latest return dates

Sponsored

Art After Dark is back with an exciting calendar of cultural events

Tudor’s side have a favourable run-in, but need results quickly and will view games against Fulham and Crystal Palace as must-win if they are to put distance between themselves and the drop.

Tricky away trips to Liverpool, Aston Villa and Chelsea are unlikely to generate the points Spurs need, but with a four-point buffer to 18th-place West Ham, they know they could be safe with victories against bottom-of-the-table Wolves and relegation rivals Forest and Leeds.

Pressure on: Tottenham are the worst team in the Premier League by the recent form table

Action Images via Reuters

Fulham (A)

Crystal Palace (H)

Liverpool (A)

Nottingham Forest (H)

Sunderland (A)

Brighton (A)

Wolves (A)

Aston Villa (A)

Leeds (H)

Chelsea (A)

Everton (H)

Difficulty ranking: Kind, the easiest run-in of the four relegation rivals

West Ham

West Ham are the form team at the bottom heading into the final months of the season, despite looking down and out following their defeat at home to Forest at the start of January.

Seven points adrift of safety and having lost five of their previous six league matches, their turnaround since then has been impressive.

Nuno Espirito Santo’s side have lost only once in their last eight games across all competitions and are now within just two points of 17th-place Forest.

The issue for the Hammers now, though, is that they face a tricky run of fixtures over the next month as they try to keep pace with the teams around them.

Liverpool, Manchester City and Aston Villa are all to come for West Ham in their next four league fixtures before they face a potentially season-defining game at home to Wolves.

West Ham’s home form has been a major issue this season, but with Everton and Leeds still to visit the London Stadium, their hopes of Premier League survival rest on their ability to make the ground a fortress.

Turnaround: West Ham have genuine belief in a great escape under Nuno Espirito Santo

AFP via Getty Images

Liverpool (A)

Fulham (A)

Manchester City (H)

Aston Villa (A)

Wolves (H)

Crystal Palace (A)

Everton (H)

Brentford (A)

Arsenal (H)

Newcastle (A)

Leeds (H)

Difficulty ranking: Hard, the toughest run-in of the four relegation rivals

Nottingham Forest

Nottingham Forest hope a new manager bounce can keep them afloat, but they also face a tricky run-in.

New manager Vitor Pereira, Forest’s fourth permanent manager of the season, has made an encouraging start at the City Ground, and they were unlucky to lose late on against Liverpool in his first league game in charge.

However, with four of the current top six still to play, Forest’s fixtures do not get any easier.

Their trip to the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium at the end of March feels like it could go a long way to deciding both teams’ fate this season, while Burnley’s visit to the City Ground will be billed as a must-win game.

Forest will be thankful that West Ham have a similarly tough run-in.

Encouraging start: Vitor Pereira is Nottingham Forest’s fourth permanent manager of the season

Getty Images

Brighton (A)

Manchester City (A)

Fulham (H)

Tottenham (A)

Aston Villa (H)

Burnley (H)

Sunderland (A)

Chelsea (A)

Newcastle (H)

Manchester United (A)

Bournemouth (H)

Difficulty ranking: Hard, the second toughest run-in of the four relegation rivals

Leeds

Home is where the heart is for Leeds, who have defied the odds under Daniel Farke this season and find themselves six points clear of the relegation zone in 15th place.

Much of Leeds’ success has come from their ability to win games at Elland Road, with six of their seven league victories this season coming at home.

Leeds will know that with the league’s bottom two teams, Burnley and Wolves, still to visit Elland Road, they could secure their Premier League status in front of their own fans.

Leeds have a kind run-in and have already put distance between themselves and West Ham.

The two teams meet on the final day of the season, at which point Leeds will hope to have already sealed their safety.

Home comforts: Leeds are a force to be reckoned with at Elland Road

REUTERS

Manchester City (H)

Sunderland (H)

Crystal Palace (A)

Brentford (H)

Manchester United (A)

Wolves (H)

Bournemouth (A)

Burnley (H)

Tottenham (A)

Brighton (H)

West Ham (A)

Difficulty ranking: Kind, the second easiest run-in of the four relegation rivals

MORE ABOUT

Make no mistake about it, Spurs are in a fight to avoid relegation

Spurs lost 4-1 to Arsenal in the north London derby on Sunday

Getty Images

Sam Tabuteau

COMMENTS

Your matchday briefing on Tottenham, featuring team news and expert analysis from Sam Tabuteau

I would like to be emailed about offers, event and updates from Evening Standard. Read our privacy notice.

Igor Tudor said he was not here to enjoy his time at Tottenham and there was not much to like about Sunday’s 4-1 defeat to Arsenal in the north London derby.

Tudor has a reputation as someone capable of making an immediate impact at clubs but the size of the job at Spurs was made clear on a grim evening at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.

Another bad result leaves Spurs four points above the bottom three and the threat of relegation is becoming very real. With 11 games to go, Spurs are in a fight to stay up.

Tudor is adamant he can steer Spurs to safety but has admitted that turning around their fortunes is a “big job” as he looks to change “bad habits” at the club.

Spurs are just four points above the relegation zone with 11 games left

Getty Images

“Of course, I’m confident,” said Tudor when asked if Spurs will stay up. “Because I believe these are good players with bad habits. They are good players, nobody can tell me they don’t have quality. But we need to change a mental switch and have this mental sharpness to be in the game from the first to the second minute.”

That assessment after just one week in the job suggests that, in order to make short-term fixes, he needs to address long-term issues in the squad.

Time is of the essence and Tudor now faces a big week on the training ground ahead of Sunday’s trip to Fulham.

Read More

Tottenham chances of relegation revealed after Arsenal thrashing

How to watch Everton vs Man Utd: TV channel and live stream

Tudor makes huge Arsenal claim after Tottenham thrashed in derby debut

Sponsored

Discover a hidden island paradise in the Indian Ocean

With West Ham having lost just one of their last eight games in all competitions, and Nottingham Forest looking revitalised under their new manager Vitor Pereira, Spurs do not have the safety buffer they had last season.

Spurs remain the only team yet to win a Premier League game in 2026. They are in relegation form and, with even Wolves picking up under Rob Edwards and Burnley showing some fight, there is an argument that they are the worst team in the division right now.

There was a moment on Sunday that epitomised the mentality shift that Spurs simply have to undergo if they are to put distance between themselves and the drop.

Igor Tudor delivered some home truths as deep-rooted problems at Spurs were exposed

Getty Images

Tudor, an increasingly frenetic presence on the touchline, called to stand-in captain Micky van de Ven to push Spurs’ defensive line higher up the pitch as Arsenal began to dominate.

Van de Ven failed to heed the call and Arsenal continued to attack, eventually getting the goals their performance had warranted in the second-half.

Tudor wants his side to play aggressive, pressing football.

But Spurs are increasingly a team that reacts to rather than dictates the tempo of games.

It is obvious that Spurs are a team low on confidence and that is influencing their decisions on the pitch.

Spurs need to be comfortable taking risks in and out of possession, and Tudor must instil this belief back into his squad if they are to turn things around.

Tudor is already under pressure to deliver results, as Spurs gear up for a relegation scrap.

MORE ABOUT

Spurs’ injury problems remain despite new management

Sidelined: Pedro Porro, Lucas Bergvall and Kevin Danso

London Standard

Your matchday briefing on Tottenham, featuring team news and expert analysis from Sam Tabuteau

I would like to be emailed about offers, event and updates from Evening Standard. Read our privacy notice.

Tottenham suffered no fresh injury blows as they were beaten 4-1 by Arsenal on Igor Tudor’s Premier League bow.

Read More

Three things we learned from Spurs defeat as Tudor let down on debut

Three things we learned from Arsenal win as Eze runs north London derby again

Neville makes new 'wild' Premier League title prediction after Arsenal win

Sponsored

Discover a hidden island paradise in the Indian Ocean

Spurs were spirited in the north London derby but found themselves defeated by the league leaders.

Tudor was able to call upon just 13 players for Sunday’s clash, but his players showed their new interim head coach their fighting spirit despite their defeat.

They were able to welcome back Dominic Solanke from illness and Richarlison, with both coming off the bench at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.

Here’s all the latest Tottenham injury news and potential return dates...

Pedro Porro has been pushing to return in time for the north London derby

Getty Images

Pedro Porro

Pedro Porro has been sidelined since picking up a hamstring injury in the 2–2 draw with Burnley last month.

The right-back has missed Tottenham Hotspur’s last five matches, but is now approaching a return.

It had been hoped that Porro would be fit to face Arsenal, but the London derby against Fulham seven days later is more realistic after the Spaniard missed out on the matchday squad on Sunday.

Potential return date: March 1 vs Fulham (A)

Lucas Bergvall is out with an ankle injury

Action Images via Reuters

Lucas Bergvall

Lucas Bergvall has been sidelined since undergoing ankle surgery following the 2–0 Champions League win over Borussia Dortmund on January 20.

The midfielder had an operation and Tottenham have not set a firm timetable for his return, though encouraging reports from Sweden last week suggested his recovery is progressing well. He is no longer wearing a protective boot, with his rehabilitation said to be “moving in the right direction.”

It is believed Bergvall could be back on the pitch in around six weeks, leaving him in a race against time to be fit for Sweden’s World Cup play-off against Ukraine at the end of March.

Potential return date: Late March/early April

Kevin Danso

Kevin Danso suffered a torn ligament in his big toe during the 2–0 Champions League win over Eintracht Frankfurt on January 28.

The defender has since missed matches against Manchester City, Manchester United and Newcastle United, with his absence coming at a difficult time for Tottenham, who are also without Cristian Romero through suspension.

Speaking ahead of the Newcastle game, former Spurs boss Thomas Frank confirmed that Dano has spoken with a consultant” but “it will still be a few weeks before he’s available.”

Potential return date: Late February/early March

Destiny Udogie suffered a hamstring injury against Manchester United

REUTERS

Destiny Udogie

Destiny Udogie has once again been sidelined with a hamstring injury.

The left-back was hurt during the 2–0 defeat at Old Trafford on February 7 and was ruled out for up to five weeks.

“Unfortunately, Destiny has a hamstring injury and will be out for the next four to five weeks,” said Thomas Frank before his dismissal.

Potential return date: Mid-March

Mohammed Kudus

Mohammed Kudus has been sidelined since picking up a hamstring injury in the 1–1 draw with Sunderland on January 4.

He was initially ruled out until after the March international break, and reports last week said the winger had travelled to Amsterdam to see a specialist as he works towards a comeback.

Kudus returned there to consult a trusted expert from his time at Ajax and is still targeting a return to full training after the March international break.

Potential return date: April

Wilson Odobert suffered a serious knee injury against Newcastle

Action Images via Reuters

Wilson Odobert

Wilson Odobert suffered a serious knee injury against Newcastle earlier in February, and Spurs confirmed he would have surgery.

Odobert is the latest long-term injury problem at Spurs, who said in a statement: “Wilson will see a specialist next week before undergoing surgery, and will then commence his rehabilitation with our medical staff. We're all behind you, Wilson.”

Spurs have not put a timescale on his return, but he will not be back until next season.

Potential return date: Late 2026

Dejan Kulusevski

Dejan Kulusevski has been out since the end of last season with a patella injury.

Reports in Sweden earlier in February claimed Kulusevski is “nowhere near stepping out” on the pitch.

Just before he was sacked, Frank said he was unsure if Kulusevski would play again this season.

Dejan Kulusevski has been out since May 2025

Getty Images

“It's a complicated injury where it’s important to make sure there’s no pain in the knee,” said Frank. “That’s why he got an injection and it hopefully will help. So in three to four weeks’ time, he’ll be on the grass pain-free."

Posting on Instagram this month, Kulusevski shared a video of himself in the gym at Hotspur Way going through an intensive set of single-legged squats with his injured right leg.

Potential return date: Unknown

Rodrigo Bentancur

Rodrigo Bentancur was ruled out for three months after undergoing hamstring surgery in mid-January.

It means Bentancur is set to miss the majority of the rest of the season..

Potential return date: Spring 2026

Ben Davies

Ben Davies could have played his last game for Spurs after suffering a broken ankle in the 2-1 defeat to West Ham last month.

Davies has under a second operation and is a doubt for the World Cup should Wales qualify.

The left-sided defender has been at Spurs for 12 years, playing 448 games, but is out of contract at the end of the season.

Potential return date: Unknown

James Maddison

James Maddison has been sidelined since suffering a serious knee injury in pre-season.

He has since undergone surgery but is not expected to feature for Spurs this season.

Potential return date: Summer 2026

MORE ABOUT

Sport | Football

Three things we learned from Arsenal win as Eberechi Eze runs derby but familiar weakness strikes again

Eberechi Eze rewards Mikel Arteta’s faith with a brace in the north London derby as Gunners steady the ship

Eberechi Eze shone in Arsenal’s north London derby win to ensure Declan Rice’s error ultimately went unpunished

AFP via Getty Images

Matt Verri

COMMENTS

Your matchday briefing on Arsenal, featuring team news and expert analysis from Matt Verri

I would like to be emailed about offers, event and updates from Evening Standard. Read our privacy notice.

Mikel Arteta told his Arsenal players ahead of the match to ignore the noise but there was plenty of it coming from the away end on a dream afternoon.

The Gunners swatted aside Tottenham in dismissive fashion, a 4-1 win to move five points clear at the top of the Premier League again.

Eberechi Eze and Viktor Gyokeres both scored twice. A Declan Rice error helped get Spurs on the scoresheet in the first half, cancelling out Eze's opener and making it level at half-time, but Arsenal ran away with it after the break.

A biggest away win at Tottenham since 1978 was an emphatic response to the poor recent run. Arsenal now going into a rare midweek off in buoyant mood and with the chance to recharge.

Arsenal steady the ship

And breathe.

Arsenal's title charge was in danger of coming off the rails after their draw with Wolves in midweek, a result that made it just two wins in seven matches in the Premier League.

Manchester City's win over Newcastle on Saturday night reduced the gap to two points and the pressure was firmly on Arsenal to respond.

Read More

Arsenal player ratings: Gyokeres ruthless as Eze delivers in derby again

Arsenal extend lead at top with huge north London derby win over Tottenham

Three things we learned from Spurs defeat as Tudor let down on debut

Sponsored

Choose the right education path for your child

The atmosphere was bouncing in north London at kick-off but by full-time it was the away end in party mode and the home fans already filing out.

Arsenal players celebrate victory in the north London derby

AFP via Getty Images

Arsenal were a class above Spurs. They had 20 shots to Spurs' six and could well have won by a wider margin.

That is now four straight wins at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, the first time they have done that in north London derbies in 71 years. In enemy territory, Arsenal continue to feel right at home.

This result did not make up for the dismal showing at Molineux, but it was a necessary display of character and one that should massively lift Arsenal heading into the final ten matches of the season.

Eze runs riot against Spurs again

Arteta is one for thinking outside the box and finding unique solutions to problems.

Can he find a way to trick Eze into thinking he is playing Tottenham every week?

Five of his six league goals this season have come against Spurs. Eze had not scored in the league since his hat-trick in November's north London derby, but he broke that duck in style.

Eberechi Eze has scored five goals against Tottenham this season

Arsenal FC via Getty Images

His opener was well-taken from a bouncing ball, and he then pounced on some poor defending for his second. He was superb on the ball throughout, injecting pace into the attacks when needing and sliding some lovely passes through to Saka.

Eze also scored a brace at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium last season, for Crystal Palace, and he was also on target at the ground the year before.

Eight goals in his past five appearances against Spurs is some return. Eze could not kick on after his first starring display against Spurs this season - he needs to do so this time.

Familiar weakness hits again

Arsenal have repeatedly made things hard for themselves this season, whether that be by conceding soon after scoring or by gifting the opposition goals with individual errors.

Both were at play here, as Spurs equalised within two minutes of Arsenal taking the lead through Eze.

Declan Rice tried to dribble past Kolo Muani on the edge of his own area and was robbed of the ball. The Frenchman had the space to drive into the box and he finished low past David Raya.

Error: Declan Rice

Arsenal FC via Getty Images

It was a terrible goal to concede in that fashion, but also in the fact it immediately lifted the home fans and killed Arsenal's momentum.

In 2026 alone, that is now ten times across all competitions that Arsenal have conceded within ten minutes of scoring themselves. That pattern must be stopped.

Against the likes of Brentford and Wolves, that proved costly. This time Arsenal found a way to reset. When they hit the front again, they did not look back.

MORE ABOUT

Croat was making his bow in English football

To the heavens: Igor Tudor

Getty Images

Dom Smith

COMMENTS

Your matchday briefing on Tottenham, featuring team news and expert analysis from Sam Tabuteau

I would like to be emailed about offers, event and updates from Evening Standard. Read our privacy notice.

Tottenham were thrashed 4-1 by rivals Arsenal in the north London derby, in a repeat of the bruising scoreline inflicted on them back in November.

In Igor Tudor’s first match as interim head coach of Spurs, Eberechi Eze and Viktor Gyokeres both hit braces to pile more misery on their neighbours and keep Spurs 16th in the Premier League table.

Eze, who scored a hat-trick in the reverse fixture at the Emirates Stadium in November, was back to haunt the side he almost joined in the summer before U-turning and instead signing for Arsenal.

Randal Kolo Muani netted a well-taken goal for Tottenham’s only strike of a thoroughly miserable afternoon, which might — just might — have been different if his second goal was not harshly ruled out for a push on Gabriel and if David Raya had not produced an exceptional goal-line save to deny Richarlison before Gyokeres made it a comprehensive four for Arsenal.

Bitter start to Tudor’s tenure

Fans were impressed by Tudor’s confidence and attitude to the job he has inherited when he spoke this week. The Croatian insisted talk of a Spurs style of play must be put on pause due to their “emergency situation”. After his first taste of a north London derby, though, they remain 16th in the Premier League table and shot of confidence.

There were some promising individual performances for Tottenham — not least Kolo Muani, Radu Dragusin and Djed Spence — but that wasn’t nearly enough.

Read More

Three things we learned from Arsenal win as Eze runs north London derby again

Neville makes new 'wild' Premier League title prediction after Arsenal win

Gabriel taunts Tottenham with Instagram post after north London derby

Sponsored

Art After Dark is back with an exciting calendar of cultural events

Defeat saw Tottenham remain are the only side without a Premier League win so far in 2026, drawing four and losing five of their nine games. This was the very worst of them, for obvious reasons.

Tudor rewarded with key selection call

Tottenham’s interim head coach has favoured a back-three shape throughout his managerial career and he set Spurs up in that system with Conor Gallagher as one of the wide midfielders in his engine room trio, tasked with getting round the pitch.

The one interesting call was to select Kolo Muani up front instead of Dominic Solanke.

Glimmer of hope: Randal Kolo Muani

AFP via Getty Images

Whether because Solanke has this week been ill or simply because Tudor knows Kolo Muani and trusts him more from the off is not immediately clear, but the Croatian was vindicated in his call to start the French international in one significant positive for the new head coach.

Kolo Muani revitalised his career on loan at Juventus in the second half of the 2024-25 season, managed by Tudor, and is certainly yet to show at Spurs that he is the player Paris Saint-Germain splashed £76m on to sign from Eintracht Frankfurt just two and a half years ago.

Encouraging signs, though. The 27-year-old jostled with William Saliba to take down a long ball from Guglielmo Vicario, and getting back to help out defensively.

But just 24 seconds after the restart following Eze’s opener, a tenacious Kolo Muani robbed Declan Rice of the ball down the right, cut in, and fired through David Raya for his first Premier League goal for Spurs and his first goal in 19 games. Then a second goal, only for Peter Bankes to harshly rule it out for a light push on Gabriel. More starts to come? You’d think so, after this.

Spurs undone by defensive lapses

Tottenham had more than a foothold in the game at the halfway stage. Kolo Muani’s equaliser before the break had them level at 1-1 and a workmanlike performance was on track to earn them a valuable point if they could hold on.

That was not how it unfolded. Instead, Spurs were undone by shoddy defending for Arsenal’s second and third goals — Vicario apoplectic on both occasions.

Ninety seconds after the restart, Gyokeres reinstated Arsenal’s advantage from outside the box, helped hugely by the concerningly big gap between Tottenham centre-backs Joao Palhinha and the otherwise impressive Radu Dragusin. Gyokeres could not believe his luck, and took his time to fire home, Vicario livid.

Inquest: Radu Dragusin

Getty Images

Then the goalkeeper had done the hard work to deny Bukayo Saka and it seemed a simple case of clearing their lines for Tottenham. But an unhelpful deflection off the heel of Palhinha left Eze with the easiest of tasks to slam home his second and Arsenal’s third and leave those in the away end chanting “You’re going down” in Tottenham’s direction.

Little could be done to prevent Gyokeres’s second and Arsenal’s fourth. The damage by that point had long been done.

MORE ABOUT

Sport | Football

Arsenal player ratings vs Tottenham: Viktor Gyokeres ruthless as Eberechi Eze delivers in north London derby

Gunners return to form with an impressive win in north London derby as both summer signings score twice

Star man | Viktor Gyokeres

Getty Images

Matt Verri

COMMENTS

Your matchday briefing on Arsenal, featuring team news and expert analysis from Matt Verri

I would like to be emailed about offers, event and updates from Evening Standard. Read our privacy notice.

Arsenal thrashed bitter rivals Tottenham 4-1 to make a firm statement in the north London derby.

Eberechi Eze scored twice, backing up his hat-trick against Spurs at the Emirates earlier this season, and Viktor Gyokeres also netted twice as Igor Tudor’s side were swept aside.

The result moved Arsenal five points clear again at the top of the Premier League, though they have played a game more than Manchester City.

Matt Verri was at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium to rate the Arsenal players...

David Raya 8

Reacted superbly to claw Richarlison’s effort away on the line when it looked certain to roll in. Had little chance to get down in time for Kolo Muani’s effort, but good save from Simons’ strike from distance.

Jurrien Timber 6

Whipped a great pass into Gyokeres for Arsenal’s second goal. Poor defensively though, getting booked for a foul on Sarr after a poor pass and struggling with Spence’s strength. Replaced early in second half.

William Saliba 8

Particularly impressive in the second half, giving Kolo Muani and then Richarlison very little joy. No Arsenal player made more interceptions or headed clearances. Should have scored from a corner in the first half but headed wide.

Gabriel 7

Fortunate to win a free-kick when Kolo Muani gave him a touch for disallowed goal, throwing himself to the ground. Not really called upon for the kind of last-ditch defending he relishes, with Arsenal comfortable.

Read More

Arsenal extend lead at top with huge north London derby win over Tottenham

Three things we learned from Spurs defeat as Tudor let down on debut

Tottenham vs Arsenal LIVE: Result and updates from Premier League

Sponsored

Winter escapes and activities to end the year in style

Piero Hincapie 9

Brilliant pass in behind played Saka through on goal. He has grown into the left-back role in recent weeks and this was another strong performance. Pressed really well out wide, as Arteta barked instructions.

Martin Zubimendi 6

Lost the ball to allow Spurs to counter late on, leading to Saka picking up a knock and going off. Only at 81% for pass accuracy and had limited influence on the match. Relied on Rice to do most of his running in midfield.

Declan Rice 6

Terrible decision to try and dribble out led to Spurs’ equaliser. Uncharacteristically sloppy. Poor pass to Gyokeres killed counter before half-time. Improved in second half when back to dominating midfield, mopping up Spurs breaks.

Bukayo Saka 7

Back out wide and looked sharp early on but frustrating moments in front of goal. Wasted massive chance to make it 2-1 before half-time. Not convincing when running through for chance that led to Eze’s second either.

Eberechi Eze 9

Delivered against Tottenham yet again with sensational display. Clinical brace proved the difference and he could have had more than that. Elegant and decisive on the ball, he stepped up massively.

At the double: Eberechi Eze

Getty Images

Leandro Trossard 7

Arsenal’s build-up looks better when he is in the side and he got into great positions several times. Should have done better more than once from the edge of the area, with his decision making slightly off.

Viktor Gyokeres 9

Ruthless finish restored Arsenal’s lead and similarly clinical in stoppage time to double up. Some nice flicks for runners in behind too. Did not always get the better of Dragusin physically but kept offering an out ball.

Substitutes:

Cristhian Mosquera (Timber 57’) 8

Filled in at right-back with Timber tiring and on a booking and did a great job. Won all of his duels and made four tackles in just over half an hour.

Gabriel Martinelli (Trossard 76’) 6

Did not really have a chance to get involved in attack but ran hard in both directions as ever.

Martin Odegaard (Eze 76’) 7

Welcome return to the side after a knee problem. Slid a lovely pass through for Gyokeres’ second.

Noni Madueke (Saka 90+1’) N/A

MORE ABOUT

Sport | Football

Tottenham player ratings vs Arsenal: Xavi Simons lacklustre as Randal Kolo Muani unlucky

Spurs were comfortably second best in north London derby

Dejected: Xavi Simons

Getty Images

Sam Tabuteau

COMMENTS

Your matchday briefing on Tottenham, featuring team news and expert analysis from Sam Tabuteau

I would like to be emailed about offers, event and updates from Evening Standard. Read our privacy notice.

Igor Tudor tasted defeat in his first game in charge of Tottenham as Arsenal coasted to a 4-1 win in the north London derby.

Eberechi Eze gave Arsenal the lead just past the half-hour mark, but Spurs hit back immediately as Randal Kolo Muani fired low past David Raya after winning the ball back from Declan Rice.

Looking to extend their lead at the top of the Premier League table, Arsenal responded emphatically after the break as Viktor Gyokeres fired home to restore the visitors’ lead before Eze added a third to put the Gunners firmly in control.

Gyokeres wrapped up the three points in the 94th minute as he held off Archie Gray to finish confidently past Guglielmo Vicario.

Sam Tabuteau rated the Spurs players...

Guglielmo Vicario 7: Nearly got caught out after rushing off his line to head the ball clear, but recovered well to smother Bukayo Saka in the first half and commanded his box. Not much he could do about either goal, and made some smart interventions to keep the score down in the second-half.

Radu Dragusin 7: Given plenty to think about by Gyokeres, but he responded excellently and was loudly cheered in the first-half after a strong sliding tackle inside the area. Having dealt well with Gyokeres in the first 45 minutes, he was dragged out of position by Eze to allow Gyokeres to fire Arsenal back ahead moments after the restart.

Read More

Arsenal player ratings: Gyokeres ruthless as Eze delivers in derby again

Tottenham vs Arsenal LIVE: Result and updates from Premier League

Arsenal extend lead at top with huge north London derby win over Tottenham

Sponsored

Rediscover your adventurous side on an exotic getaway

Joao Palhinha 5: Did not react quickly enough to Dragusin being pulled out of position, with Gyokeres sharper to the ball to fire Arsenal ahead. Some good last-ditch defending, but he was then also guilty of flicking the ball straight to Eze for Arsenal’s third.

Xavi Simons 4: Some lacklustre moments in and out of possession in the first-half, giving the ball away to Leandro Trossard on the edge of the box before letting Jurrien Timber run free into the area. Could not get hold of the ball in the final third, with Arsenal eventually making their dominance count.

Yves Bissouma 5: Provided an injection of energy as Spurs grew into the game after a frenzied start, but was beaten to the ball by Eze for Arsenal’s third goal. Despite his best efforts, he never truly looked in control of the midfield battle as Arsenal attacked in waves.

Energetic: Yves Bissouma

Arsenal FC via Getty Images

Archie Gray 5: In the wars, he picked up a yellow card for kicking the ball away, but acquitted himself well as Spurs frustrated Arsenal in the first-half. Drifted as the Gunners took control after the break. Another game in which his relative inexperience showed as he was bullied by Gyokeres for Arsenal’s fourth goal.

Conor Gallagher 5: Thought he had helped bring Spurs back level after crossing for Kolo Muani to score, but on the whole could not get into the game and completed just 11 passes before being replaced by Solanke in the 62nd minute.

Djed Spence 6: Nearly punished by Saka after losing the ball under pressure. Saka and Eze linked up to great effect to cause the Tottenham right-back plenty of problems in the second-half. Nearly got Spurs back into the game late on as he crossed for Richarlison, whose effort was clawed off the line by Raya.

Pape Matar Sarr 6: Roamed around the pitch, nipping in to regain possession and win fouls, but should not have let Saka bundle his way past him for Arsenal’s opener. Struggled as Arsenal took control after the break.

Micky van de Ven 6: Got back well to stop Saka getting a clean shot away, but was left fuming after Eze picked up the loose ball to score Arsenal’s third. Drew the ire of Tudor for failing to push Spurs’ defensive line up as Arsenal dominated.

Randal Kolo Muani 8: Got Spurs back on level terms out of nothing with his first Premier League goal. Did well to win the ball before unleashing an unerring right-footed strike past Raya. Let Eze drift in from the edge of the box to open the scoring. He was unlucky not to draw Spurs back level in the second-half after he was adjudged to have fouled Gabriel.

Substitutes:

Dominic Solanke 5: Started on the bench, having struggled with a sore throat this week. He was unable to turn the tide as Arsenal were rarely troubled in attack.

Richarlison 6: Back after a hamstring injury, he nearly dragged Spurs back into the game with an instinctive flicked finish.

Mathys Tel 5: Early days in Tudor’s reign, but it does not look like Tel will be assured of more minutes despite a change in manager. Brought off the bench as Spurs chased a route back into the game, there was little he could do to influence proceedings.

Unused: Austin, Rowswell, Souza, Olusesi, Williams-Barnett, Wilson.

MORE ABOUT

Sport | Football

Tottenham 1-4 Arsenal: Gunners extend lead at top of Premier League to five points with huge derby win

Gunners had seen their lead at summit cut to two

They take on league leaders Arsenal, looking for just their third home league win of the season, and Tudor has admitted his side needs to play with belief at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.

“I want to see all the things we were working on this week, of course. Courage, to be brave, also to play with a clear idea, which of course needed more time. But I'm sure that's something we'll see, because it's always happened,” Tudor told Sky Sports.

“So we need to be brave, but also smart in the same way, to understand the moment, but also believe that we are playing at home. So we'll play for a win, we'll play for a win. As I said, they are playing at home, Tottenham, but there's only one win since the opening day of the season in the Premier League.”

In Tudor’s first game in charge, Spurs are looking to put daylight between themselves and the relegation zone, with the 47-year-old adamant the club will avoid demotion to the Championship for the first time in the Premier League era

Andrew Mountbatten Windsor challenged his removal from the Royal Lodge by saying 'I'm the Queen's son', insider claims

Andrew challenged move to Royal Lodge saying 'I'm the Queen's son'

Andrew's former royal protection officer says he has been told to 'shut up' by the Met after he claimed ex–prince brought women to Buckingham Palace 'multiple times a week'

Officer claims Andrew brought 'multiple' women to Buckingham Palace