Mikel Arteta, Arsenal’s manager, has lavished praise on Eberechi Eze after the midfielder’s stunning hat-trick in the North London derby against Tottenham Hotspur. 

Arteta highlighted Eze’s exceptional commitment to improvement, noting that he reported back early from international duty and asked for extra practice.

“He wanted to improve, he wanted to do more,” Arteta said. “When a player has that talent, and their desire is at that level, these moments arrive. He fully deserves it. He has brought an aura that this team needed”

Arteta emphasized Eze’s ability to win games on his own, saying, “At any moment he can win us a game, that’s the ability he has, and he wants to fulfil that talent”

The victory extends Arsenal’s lead at the top of the Premier League table to six points, but Arteta remains cautious, saying, “In this league, a six-point lead is not much. We need to stay consistent.”