Daily Express

This time a year ago, Liverpool beat both Manchester City and Real Madrid within days of each other. The win over City put the Reds nine points clear of second-placed Arsenal while reigning champions City were 11 adrift. Those games, followed by a strong November, underlined that Liverpool were the best team in England (and briefly Europe). So it proved as they won the league.

Arsenal's 4-1 win over Tottenham today puts them six ahead of second-placed Chelsea, seven in front of their main challengers City and 11 clear of reigning champions Liverpool. Like the Reds a year ago, the dominant manner of the Gunners' derby day victory simply puts in bold font that Arsenal are the best team in this league. They're one of the very best in Europe too.

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Barring an unprecedented spate of injuries or the most extraordinary collective head loss, Arsenal will be named champions in May. Maybe even earlier, actually. Excluding a phenomenal Richarlison goal, which was a freak long-range finish, Arsenal absolutely thrashed Spurs. This was a hammering. Eberechi Eze was incredible.

And yet this was an Arsenal team without talismanic centre-back Gabriel Magalhaes and captain Martin Odegaard. Both would have started if fit. Also on the list of absentees? Kai Havertz, Gabriel Jesus and Viktor Gyokeres. Noni Madueke and Gabriel Martinelli were only just back from knocks and started on the bench.

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Those absentees mattered not at the Emirates. Yes, Spurs offered extremely little. But Arsenal blew them away and played some magnificent football. They could have scored six.

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Their challengers? Liverpool are well, well out of the title race. City, with four defeats in 12 games, have shown they are far from infallible despite improving on last season. Chelsea could yet assert themselves as Arsenal's main challengers but are not without issues of their own. They don't look ready to win a league.

Arsenal have by far the best defence in the division, even without Gabriel, and perhaps the best in Europe. And after dismantling a very defensive-minded Spurs team with ease, their next opportunity to prove themselves? Bayern Munich at the Emirates in midweek.

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Bayern are one of just three teams in the Champions League to have also won four of four. They have scored three more goals, but also conceded three while Arsenal have leaked none in Europe. Win that, and it is another massive statement from the Gunners.

Chelsea at Stamford Bridge await next weekend. Win that, and Arsenal have one hand on the trophy already, similarly to how Liverpool did a year ago. The chips are falling for the north Londoners in terms of having no elite-level title rival but immense credit must go to Mikel Arteta and his staff because it's easy to forget how many injuries they have dealt with this season.

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And Arsenal have prepared so well, across multiple campaigns, for this. They can play pretty football, as they did against Spurs, and they can also beat you up in a physical battle. Want to put all your defenders on the pitch and play for a point? Well they'll probably just score from a set-piece then. They're pretty good at that.

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Arteta's Arsenal have their critics but they are a serious football team. It's hard to see what stops them confirming that with a league title in the spring.

Arsenal cruised to a 4-1 victory over Tottenham in the first north London derby of the campaign as Eberechi Eze bagged a sensational hat-trick. Mikel Arteta’s side had far too much for the Lilywhites as they killed the match off as a contest by half-time.

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Arsenal dominated their rivals from the outset as they pinned the visitors back inside their own territory. And the hosts took the lead nine minutes before the interval as Leandro Trossard stole in and fizzed a shot past Tottenham goalkeeper Guglielmo Vicario via a deflection off Micky van de Ven.

The Gunners went 2-0 up in the 41st minute as Eze swivelled on the edge of the box before firing home. And the England winger then grabbed his second and Arsenal’s third moments after the interval with another fine finish from just inside the penalty area.

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Tottenham were handed a huge lift when Richarlison chipped David Raya from 45 yards after Martin Zubimendi was dispossessed. But Eze put the game to bed with his team’s fourth as the Gunners bagged the three points. And Express Sport rates and slates the Arsenal players.

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Arsenal player ratings (4-3-3)

David Raya: 5

Didn’t have much to do for much of the game as Arsenal dominated, but was caught in no man’s land as Richarlison embarrassed him from 45 yards. Was called into action later into the match.

Jurrien Timber: 9

Was a rock in defence as he used his strong physique to bully his opponents. And supported his team-mates in attack as he teed up Eze’s second.

William Saliba: 8

Comfortable in possession as he got on the ball often in the first-half. And talked his centre-back partner Piero Hincapie through the match. Could have played forward at times to launch attacks rather than play the easy ball.

Piero Hincapie: 8

Filled in for the injured Gabriel at the heart of the backline, but didn’t appear to be a downgrade as the Arsenal defence looked solid as usual. Was aggressive and a constant threat at set-pieces.

Riccardo Calafiori: 6

Played a shaky pass in the second-half after Richarlison had given Spurs hopes of a comeback when Arsenal needed to calm things down. Put in a solid performance but didn’t offer as much as Jurrien Timber did down the right.

Eberechi Eze: 10

Unfazed in his first north London derby and oozed class throughout as he bagged a hat-trick. Was unplayable and even scooped a delicious pass to Declan Rice to carve out a chance for his colleague at one stage. Arsenal’s best player on the day by a long way.

Martin Zubimendi: 6

Drifted over to the Arsenal right to support Jurrien Timber on the few occasions Tottenham attempted to attack down the left. But gave the ball away unnecessarily as Richarlison gained possession and chipped Raya.

Declan Rice: 9

Forced a good save from Vicario early on when he should have scored and whipped in a string of excellent set-piece deliveries as usual. Assisted Eze’s first goal and stamped his authority on the match from start to finish.

Bukayo Saka: 7

Has been Arsenal’s main attacking threat for years and attempted to caused Tottenham problems all afternoon with his pace and technique. But was overshadowed by Eze as he failed to register a goal or an assist.

Mikel Merino: 7

Clipped in a sensational pass to Trossard to set-up the opener as he demonstrated his incredible technique. Was once again asked to fill in for Viktor Gyokeres up front and created space for his team-mates.

Leandro Trossard: 9

Made an intelligent run to latch on to Mikel Merino’s sumptuous pass and then kept his cool to fire in the first goal of the match. Was a menace throughout and even laid on an assist for Eze’s third goal before being replaced by Noni Madueke.

Substitutions

Noni Madueke: 6

Came on for Trossard with 12 minutes remaining but will be wondering how he’s supposed to win his place back.

Ethan Nwaneri: 6

Was given some game time towards the end when the match was already decided.

Cristhian Mosquera: 6

Had a run out for a couple of minutes at the end.

Myles Lewis-Skelly: 6

Has barely had a sniff of action this season and will be desperate for more minutes to win his England place back after coming on in stoppage time.

Former Arsenal defender Armand Traore once carried a knuckle-duster to the north London derby out of fear he might be attacked. Traore, 36, joined the Gunners in 2005 before making his first-team debut 12 months later.

Despite arriving in England from France as a teenager, the retired star had witnessed fierce atmospheres previously as a fan. He grew up supporting Paris Saint-Germain and regularly attended their heated encounters against Marseille, where he claimed rival fans would "batter each other." These experiences led Traore to take drastic measures when attending the north London derby as an Arsenal player. Concerned he might be spotted by a Tottenham supporter, he brought the weapon to a derby duel, which resulted in police involvement.

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Speaking in 2017, he said: "Coming from France, I used to go to PSG versus Marseille and the fans there would batter each other. I was only 17, and I had just started playing for Arsenal's first-team. I had these images in my mind.

"I went to the north ­London derby, but I was convinced ­someone might recognise me. I thought if a Spurs fan did, then I needed to be ready if ­something happened. So I had a knuckle-duster in my pocket - which was just stupid.

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"As I walked into the stadium, the police found it on me and I ended up in custody for more than 10 hours. I didn't see a ball kicked. Eventually they released me. Then Arsene Wenger found out about it. I was just stupid.

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"Young and naive. Can you imagine if ­something actually had ­happened? It would have been ­life-changing. I was young and I have learned my lesson. It was a stupid ­mistake."

Despite holding a five-year contract with Arsenal, Traore managed just 32 outings for the Gunners before his transfer to Queens Park Rangers. Throughout his time in north London, he spent periods on loan at Portsmouth and Juventus, and it was while with the Turin club that Traore witnessed the intensity of Italian football rivalries first-hand.

Reflecting on a memorable experience in Italy, he recalled: "There are some incredible rivalries in Italy. The one with Napoli was the worst. We arrived there the day before and there were about 300 Napoli fans outside the hotel.

"When we left to go to the ­stadium, they were ­following us on ­mopeds and ­crashing into parked cars. It was madness. I did not feel under threat ­exactly, no. But it did make you think, 'This is proper ­passion.'".

Traore could well be tuning in for Sunday's north London derby when Arsenal welcome Tottenham to the Emirates, with both teams missing some key men for the clash. On the back of a 14-match unbeaten run, Mikel Arteta's men will be hoping to hand their local nemeses a third loss in five outings.

Christian Norgaard, the Denmark international who joined Arsenal in a £12million deal from Brentford this past summer, has confessed that playing under Mikel Arteta is unlike anything he's experienced before in his football career. The move to Arsenal ended Norgaard's six-year stint with Brentford and his long-term association with then-boss Thomas Frank, who also left the club to replace Ange Postecoglou at Tottenham.

Frank had signed Norgaard for Brentford back in 2019 after they had already worked together at Brondby for three years. In September, Norgaard praised Arteta's demanding approach, saying: "It is different than what I've been used to, but it's brilliant how his mind works and the way he wants us to play," He admitted that Arteta's tactics are physically and tactically demanding, adding: "So sometimes I still don't know exactly the things I do, but of course being out there, trying to execute it will always help."

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After missing the first month of the season due to injury, Norgaard returned to action in mid-September.

Norgaard's remarks echo those made by Declan Rice just a month after his £105m transfer from West Ham to Arsenal in 2023. Before making his Premier League debut for the Gunners, the England star confessed that Arteta's guidance had already altered his perspective on football.

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Despite having been coached by David Moyes and Manuel Pellegrini at West Ham, Rice acknowledged that Arteta's tactical acumen was on "another level". He explained: "Tactically, on the ball, off the ball.

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"I'm happy to know I'm learning so much because I'm trying to push myself to learn. Since the Community Shield, I feel I've taken a big step; everything is starting to click. I was blown away [by Arteta]; and working with him day-to-day, it's just another level."

Before his first league match in Arsenal colours, Rice told TNT Sports: "In the last four weeks, I've grown so much already and learned so much about football that I hadn't seen before. I'm honestly seeing the game in a completely different way already.

"Seeing how he works, how his mind operates, picking up stuff, seeing how he goes into detail on the opposition, and how he wants to improve us as players, individually and collectively, is really impressive.

"It's just the finer details of what he goes into, so there are no excuses on matchday. You can't say, 'we've not worked on this or that'. You're given everything and it's literally down to you to go and perform. The finer details you go into are on another level, and I've never seen that before."

Joaoa Palhinha has expressed his desire to remain at Tottenham but acknowledged that the final decision lies with the club's management. The 30-year-old is currently on loan from Bayern Munich, but the Europa League winners have the option to activate a £27million clause to make the move permanent next summer.

When asked about his future, Palhinha responded: "They should ask the owner, or Fabio [Paratici], or Johan [Lange], not myself! Of course, this is like a marriage. Both parts need to want [it]. But I am really happy here. I feel the support from the fans as well. When you feel this, for me it is really special. We have until the end of the season. We have a lot of things to happen. You know how it is in football. I just want to enjoy the time that I am here. Let's see what is going to happen."

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Palhinha insists that only a victory will suffice for Tottenham in the north London Derby - even if the pressure is entirely on Arsenal. The Portuguese veteran is determined to provide the resilience needed to secure Spurs' first away Premier League win over their rivals since November 2010.

Ahead of today's crucial match, Palhinha said: "I think it's a bit of a similar feeling to when we played PSG in the Super Cup because they beat everyone at that moment. They won the league, they won the Champions League, everything that they could have and when you have these teams that are in the top moment, top form, I think the pressure is probably more on their side than us.

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"I think we need to recognise their form and then their talent because if they are in the position they are in the moment then they deserve it, completely. But we know what we can do, we are really capable to give our best in that game and hopefully we can reach what we really want now, which is the victory.

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"We don't want to draw, we just want to focus on the victory because this team is together and we push each other all the time. We know it will be difficult, of course."

Spurs remain without defeat away from home in the Premier League this campaign and no top-flight club has secured more points than Thomas Frank's outfit (13) on their travels.

Palhinha is not only determined to maintain that impressive away record but is also keen to silence his doubters following recent criticism from Jamie Carragher for being "too negative" in possession. He added: "I saw it because some people sent it to me, I couldn't say that I didn't see it.

"But to be honest, about this, what can I say? I don't care what the people say. If he says bad things about [Cristiano] Ronaldo, he can speak about everyone. Some people need to speak about another to be on the screens on the TV.

"My life is not about that, definitely. It makes it a bit embarrassing seeing sometimes the ex-players speaking that the way that they speak and they look sometimes like superstars on their past, I don't have problems to say.

"I think he should have seen probably more games of me at Tottenham. I think I am doing a top season and the things that he says about me go to the back [of my mind].

"But he's not going to be the first and he's not going to be the last one, you know? The way is about how we react. And the way I react is scoring a goal, after he said this to me, against Copenhagen. I will keep showing how I can do it. I don't need to give these answers, but that's what I feel.

"I don't really care about this kind of thing. It's not important for me. I just want to keep doing my job and show what I am capable of doing because I am really proud of what I have been doing until now."

Bournemouth star Antoine Semenyo has been linked with a move to Tottenham Hotspur and already shares a strong bond with one of his potential new teammates. The forward is reportedly drawing significant attention ahead of the January transfer window.

Semenyo was first identified as a target for Spurs during the summer, with Manchester United and Liverpool also expressing interest in the player. It was reported that Bournemouth set a £70million price tag on Semenyo during the most recent window.

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The 25-year-old eventually signed a new Bournemouth contract until 2030 and has clocked up nine goal contributions in 11 league games for the Cherries. Meanwhile, Spurs opted to strengthen their attack with a £55m deal for Mohammed Kudus in the summer, a player Semenyo knows well.

Semenyo earned his first Ghana call-up in May 2022 and has played alongside Kudus in 25 of his 32 caps. The Bournemouth star showcased their rapport during the September international break, teasing Kudus about Spurs' 1-0 loss to Andoni Iraola's team.

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In a video shared on social media, Semenyo asked: "Kuku, my boy, how was the game on Saturday? Let me go ask him how the game was."

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Approaching Kudus, Semenyo continued: "How was the game on Saturday, bro?" A shocked Kudus responded: "It was good." The clip ended with a laughing Semenyo repeating the 1-0 scoreline.

The Athletic has reported that Semenyo's new Bournemouth deal includes a £65m release clause, sparking speculation over his future as the January transfer window approaches.

It is stated that interested clubs must trigger that clause by a particular deadline to give Bournemouth sufficient time to secure a replacement. The release clause will also stay in place within his contract for future transfer windows.

Bournemouth parted ways with several key figures during the summer, including defenders Dean Huijsen and Milos Kerkez. While Semenyo could become another significant departure in the coming months, the Ghana international has emphasised that he won't allow transfer talk to affect his displays.

Speaking to Sky Sports earlier this month, Semenyo reaffirmed his commitment to Bournemouth. "I don't think about it too much. I try to stay present as much as I can," he said.

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"You see the news all the time, I see it as well, I'm not oblivious, but I try to keep focused. I'm enjoying my football here. If I'm not scoring goals, all of that goes away. I try to stay present, do the best I can for the team, score goals and whatever happens in the future happens.

"When they [his former teammates] all left [in the summer], there was a lot of interest and back and forth with the club. But I knew in my head that the manager's got something up his sleeve this year.

"How we finished off the season last year was so good and we could continue, especially with the players we've bought in as well. I wasn't too sure at the start but we've kicked on like a house on fire. I'm glad I committed to staying here because I'm enjoying every moment."

Arsenal will be unable to field a full-strength side against Tottenham in the first north London derby of the campaign. The current Premier League leaders are missing several players through injury, with Gabriel Magalhaes the latest to be struck down during the international break. He won't be available to face Spurs this weekend and it has even been suggested that he could be out until January.

Viktor Gyokeres and Riccardo Calafiori could also miss Sunday's game, with the pair battling to recover from injuries of their own. Martin Odegaard, Gabriel Martinelli, Noni Madueke, Kai Havertz and Gabriel Jesus have been sidelined in recent weeks, but Mikel Arteta hinted in Friday's press conference that some players could return against Tottenham.

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Express Sport looks at how the Gunners could line up against their bitter rivals...

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Goalkeeper - Raya

There will be no surprises in goal with David Raya set to line up between the sticks as usual. He has only conceded five league goals in 11 games and will be desperate to keep another clean sheet against Tottenham.

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Defence - Timber, Mosquera, Saliba, Calafiori

Jurrien Timber is arguably the world's best right-back on current form and will almost certainly start on Sunday. William Saliba will also feature in the middle of defence, while Christian Mosquera is expected to replace the injured Gabriel.

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Calafiori will play on the left if he is fit enough, but Arteta revealed on Friday that he was yet to train with the squad. Myles Lewis-Skelly could get the nod as a result, but the Gunners would much rather have Calafiori in their line-up.

Midfield - Zubimendi, Rice, Eze

The only major absentee in the middle of the park is Odegaard, meaning Eberechi Eze will be tasked with the role of creator. He looks set to be joined by regular starters Declan Rice and Martin Zubimendi.

Arteta will be able to bring Mikel Merino, Christian Norgaard and Ethan Nwaneri off the bench to refresh his midfield in the second half.

Attack - Saka, Trossard, Gyokeres

It remains to be seen if Martinelli will be available to face Tottenham, with Leandro Trossard seemingly the most likely candidate to start on the left. Bukayo Saka is a guaranteed pick on the right flank, especially in a game of this magnitude.

Whether or not Gyokeres will play as the lone striker is another question, but Arsenal will move heaven and earth to make sure he is available. If not, they may be forced to stick Merino up front once again.

Predicted XI vs Tottenham (4-3-3) - Raya; Timber, Mosquera, Saliba, Calafiori; Zubimendi, Rice, Eze; Saka, Trossard, Gyokeres.

Manchester United's Slovenian striker Benjamin Sesko was noticeably absent from their Friday training session ahead of Monday night's clash with Everton. The forward limped off the pitch during the match against Tottenham Hotspur before the international break, leaving the Reds a man down for the rest of the game.

Sesko immediately headed for the tunnel and manager Ruben Amorim hinted at a potential dip into the transfer market if the injury proves to be long-term. It remains uncertain whether this will be necessary, but Sesko was not spotted at Friday morning's training session. Harry Maguire and Kobbie Mainoo were also missing from the session.

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Since making his full debut for United, Amorim has either chosen to start with Sesko or opt for a formation without a traditional striker, as seen in the matches against Liverpool and Tottenham. If Sesko is unavailable, Joshua Zirkzee could be called upon, although the Dutchman has only played a full 90 minutes across five appearances this season.

It seems more likely that United will stick with the same system they used against Spurs. This would see Amad potentially playing alongside Bryan Mbeumo, with Matheus Cunha leading the line as a false nine.

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Alternatively, Mason Mount could be recalled to the starting eleven. He made a strong impression when he came on against Tottenham, setting up two opportunities for Sesko in the drawn match.

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Amorim is set to reveal more information about Sesko's injury in his upcoming press conference. Stay tuned to MEN Sport for live updates from his press briefing.

Conor Benn has defeated Chris Eubank Jr. by a unanimous decision in their rematch fight at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium. The fight was a repeat of the clash between the two fighters in April this year, which ended in a victory for Eubank Jr.

The judges confirmed Benn as the winner after the 29-year-old dominated the fight in North London. Benn won the fight with an impressive scorecard of 119-107, 116-110, 118-108 against Eubank Jr.

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It was in April this year that Eubank Jr. emerged victorious via a unanimous decision at the home of Tottenham Hotspur. This time, though, it was Benn who got the win on points.

Eubank Jr. was knocked down twice in the 12th and final round before being saved from a knockout by the bell. Benn, nicknamed 'The Destroyer', was delighted to get the victory over his long-time rival.

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"It's gone quiet quick. This would not have been what it was without Chris," Benn told DAZN after his victory in North London was confirmed. "This is generational. This has never been done in the history. Credit to Chris, man.

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Eubank Jr. was quick to praise Benn despite being defeated on points, with the 36-year-old acknowledging that his opponent deserved the victory on Saturday night.

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"I have been to hell and back to get to this night," Eubank Jr. also told DAZN. "It is what it is. I tried my best.

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"Kid fought hard, he fought tough. He put on a show, and Conor Benn was the best man tonight."

Eubank Jr. was also asked what could be next for him after the disappointment of the defeat in North London.

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"I have got to go away and sort some things out that I have been dealing with these past few months," said Eubank Jr.

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Former Premier League footballer Clive Wilson, who once graced the pitches for Manchester City, Chelsea, Queens Park Rangers and Tottenham, has traded in his boots for a blackboard. The versatile midfielder and full-back also had stints at Chester City and Cambridge United before retiring from professional football in 2000.

After hanging up his boots, he worked for Le Coq Sportif and Ted Baker before deciding to pursue a degree in sports science. This academic endeavour led him to a career in education, and since 2019, he's been teaching PE at Roding Valley High School in Loughton, Essex.

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But it's not just sports that he teaches; he also steps in as a substitute teacher for maths, English, history and geography.

Earlier this year, Wilson shared how he stumbled into teaching. "I started to work in education in 2008," he explained. "The odd thing was I fell into teaching by pure fluke. I was at a golf driving range one day and there was a lovely guy there who was a Fulham fan and recognised me as a former footballer and asked what I was doing.

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"He talked to me about the possibility of teaching. He suggested I should pop to a couple of local schools and have a look at them with no pressure, purely just to see what I thought."

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"I went along more as something to rule out really. However, it had the complete opposite effect and I really thought it would be the type of job that I would enjoy. I'm so grateful for his advice at the range. I haven't looked back!"

Wilson, whose two siblings are also teachers, believed his football dreams had vanished when he left school at 16 to study electrical work at college.

However, a City scout spotted him playing at Hough End, Manchester's answer to London's Hackney Marshes, and his ambitions were reignited.

He featured in the club's youth side that were runners-up in the 1980 FA Youth Cup Final against Aston Villa, before his senior debut arrived in a League Cup match against Stoke City in 1981 - a 2-0 victory. He remained at Maine Road for eight years, apart from a brief loan spell at Chester, before heading to the capital to join Chelsea.

He said: "I liked the idea of playing for a club in London but then I had the biggest culture shock in terms of trying to find anywhere affordable to live!"

"I realise it's nearly 40 years ago but you could get a three-bedroom house in Sale for £35,000. In London I was lucky if I could buy a garage for that!"

Chelsea dropped out of the top division that campaign, having lost a relegation play-off, which existed back then, seeing them face Middlesbrough from the second tier in a two-legged decider.

They recovered the following season, romping to the old Second Division championship with 99 points, before his departure to Queens Park Rangers.

It was boss Gerry Francis who converted him to left-back and he started to flourish as a defender, utilising his pace and distribution skills. Over the next four seasons, he was a consistent presence for Rangers, playing 172 league games and scoring 12 goals, with all but one scored from the penalty spot.

He said: "We finished fifth in the first all-new Premier League campaign in 1992-93 followed by another top-half finish the following season.

"Then I think Gerry had a falling out with the club over the sale of Les Ferdinand and soon after he moved to Tottenham as manager."

In 1995, Wilson reunited with Francis at White Hart Lane, seizing his final opportunity to play for one of England's biggest clubs. After a four-year stint at Tottenham, he transferred to Cambridge, but a series of injuries led him to decide it was time to hang up his boots.

He expressed: "I loved my time as a player and I often get kids ask me why I am a teacher when I used to be a top-flight footballer. There is a concept that top-flight footballers have always been well paid.

"It was a different time in English football. But I would never complain about it."