Arsenal's Eze Sinks Spurs Again as Liverpool's Dramatic Late Show Floors Nottingham Forest
Eberechi Eze tormented his former suitors with a clinical brace as Arsenal dismantled Tottenham 4-1 in a dominant north London derby display. Meanwhile, Alexis Mac Allister broke Nottingham Forest hearts in the 97th minute to hand Liverpool a priceless 1-0 victory in the Premier League title race.
Eze Haunts Spurs in Stunning North London Derby Masterclass
It was supposed to be a fresh start for Tottenham Hotspur — Igor Tudor's first match in charge as interim manager following a turbulent week at the north London club. What they got instead was a painful reminder of exactly why failing to sign Eberechi Eze last summer may go down as one of the most consequential transfer misses in the club's recent history.
Eze, who was strongly linked with a move to Spurs before completing a headline transfer to Arsenal from Crystal Palace in August 2025, delivered a two-goal masterclass to help the Gunners cruise to a dominant 4-1 victory at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on February 22, 2026. For the Arsenal faithful, the result tasted especially sweet — restoring their five-point advantage at the summit of the Premier League and halting the alarm bells that had begun to ring following back-to-back draws against Brentford and Wolverhampton Wanderers.
I think you have to bring context to the situation and this is the beauty of football. We lift everyone up immediately. Now we have to show what we are made of. That is about attitude and how you respond to a difficult moment.
— Mikel Arteta, Arsenal Manager
Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta had faced questions about his team's dip in form and, crucially, about Eze himself — the England international had found himself frozen out in recent weeks, with Arteta favouring alternative attacking combinations. But the Spain-born manager showed ultimate faith in his record signing by restoring him to the starting eleven, and Eze answered in the most convincing way imaginable.
Match Report: How the Goals Fell at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium
The defining moment of the afternoon came just after the half-hour mark. A slick Arsenal move opened up Tottenham's defence, and Eze was on hand to hook the ball home from close range — a poacher's finish that belied the skill with which he had created the space. The timing and composure were hallmarks of a player operating with the freedom of someone no longer burdened by expectation, but fuelled by it.
Tottenham refused to capitulate immediately. Randal Kolo Muani — one of the more impressive performers in Spurs' otherwise difficult afternoon — equalised almost instantly, raising brief hopes among the home crowd that Tudor's arrival might spark an immediate turnaround. That optimism lasted barely 15 minutes into the second half.
| Min | Event | Player |
|---|---|---|
| 34' | ⚽ Goal – Arsenal | Eberechi Eze (1st) |
| 37' | ⚽ Goal – Tottenham | Randal Kolo Muani |
| 53' | ⚽ Goal – Arsenal | Viktor Gyokeres |
| 71' | ⚽ Goal – Arsenal | Eberechi Eze (2nd) |
| 90+3' | ⚽ Goal – Arsenal | Viktor Gyokeres |
Viktor Gyokeres, signed by Arsenal to be the aerial threat and clinical finisher that Arteta craved, announced himself to north London in emphatic style. The Swedish striker powered in Arsenal's second early in the second period — his most significant goal since joining the Gunners — before adding a fourth in stoppage time to completely extinguish any flickering Spurs comeback.
In between those Gyokeres efforts came Eze's second of the afternoon, a composed finish after goalkeeper Guglielmo Vicario had denied Bukayo Saka. It was a goal that brought the Arsenal substitutes bench to their feet and confirmed what many had suspected all along: this is a player who saves his finest performances for the biggest stages.
What This Means for the Premier League Title Race
The win could not have come at a more critical juncture. Manchester City, never far from the conversation regardless of their own inconsistencies this season, still hold a game in hand and will have home advantage when they host Arsenal in what promises to be a title-defining April clash. But for now, Arteta's side have answered their critics loudly, moving five points clear at the top of the table.
For Tottenham, the reality is bleaker. Under Tudor — who inherited a side already in turmoil following the sacking of his predecessor — Spurs find themselves just four points above the Premier League relegation zone. The chasm between the north London clubs has rarely felt so vast, and questions about the club's direction, transfer strategy, and recruitment philosophy will only grow louder in the coming weeks.
Liverpool Survive Scare as Mac Allister Delivers Dramatic Anfield Intervention
If Arsenal's afternoon was defined by swagger and authority, Liverpool's felt more like a survival story. Arne Slot's side laboured against a resilient Nottingham Forest outfit — led by Vitor Pereira, who was taking charge of a Premier League fixture for the very first time — and found themselves on the verge of dropping two crucial points until Mac Allister's intervention in the dying embers of the contest.
The Argentine midfielder, who had earlier seen a goal controversially disallowed after the ball was adjudged to have struck his arm as he charged down Ola Aina's clearance, made amends in stunning fashion. Deep into six minutes of stoppage time — the clock reading 97 minutes — Mac Allister found the back of the net to send Anfield into raptures and secure a 1-0 victory that keeps Liverpool well within touching distance of the top of the table.
| Min | Event | Player |
|---|---|---|
| ~88' | ❌ Goal Disallowed | Mac Allister (handball) |
| 90+7' | ⚽ Goal – Liverpool | Alexis Mac Allister |
Mac Allister himself was refreshingly candid in his post-match assessment, conceding that the performance levels were not what the club would demand. His honesty resonated — this was a Liverpool side that lacked their usual rhythm and fluency — but the three points were accumulated nonetheless, and in a title race, those are the moments that define champions.
Forest's Fight Under New Manager Vitor Pereira
The narrative from the City Ground side of proceedings deserves considerable attention. Nottingham Forest, who have endured a chaotic managerial merry-go-round this season — with Vitor Pereira becoming their fourth manager of the campaign — were outstanding value for at least a share of the spoils. Pereira had his side organised, compact, and dangerous on the counter-attack, and for the vast majority of the 90 minutes, they looked entirely capable of holding on for a point that would have been enormously valuable in their own battles this season.
The manner of the defeat — conceding in the 97th minute after playing such disciplined football — will be a bitter pill to swallow for the Forest camp. Yet it also demonstrated what Pereira appears to be building: a team with structure, belief, and a genuine defensive foundation. Whether those qualities prove sufficient for the rest of the season remains to be seen, but the performance against Liverpool suggests Forest are far from a side ready to simply roll over.
Transfer Context: How Recruitment Shaped This Weekend's Results
Sunday's Premier League action cannot be fully understood without examining the transfer decisions that created these exact moments. The Eze saga dominated the summer window. Multiple reports confirmed that Spurs had made significant enquiries about the Crystal Palace midfielder, with the player himself believed to have been open to a move across north London. Instead, Arsenal moved decisively, securing his signature in August in what now looks like one of the most astute pieces of business in recent Premier League history.
Eze's hat-trick against Spurs in November's first north London derby of the season had already underscored the poetic irony of the transfer. His brace on February 22 — again against the very club that wanted him — cements a narrative that will be told for years. The transfer had the hallmarks of a club operating with clarity of purpose: identifying the right player, moving quickly, and executing with conviction.
Gyokeres' contribution — two goals and a powerful display — adds another dimension to the Arsenal transfer story. The Swedish striker arrived with enormous expectations and has taken time to fully settle, but Sundays' performance suggested a player now fully integrated into Arteta's system. For Arsenal supporters who dared to dream about a first league title in 22 years, the sight of two new signings combining so effectively will have stirred genuine excitement.
Premier League Table Implications and What Comes Next
The title race has entered its most compelling phase. Arsenal sit five points clear at the top with Manchester City lurking with a game in hand, while Liverpool remain firmly in the conversation. The April showdown between Arsenal and City — with the added spice of home advantage for Pep Guardiola's side — now looms as potentially the definitive fixture of the entire season.
For Tottenham, the search for stability under Tudor begins immediately. Four points above the relegation zone is not the kind of buffer that allows for complacency, and the incoming January transfer window decisions — or lack thereof — may well come back to haunt the club's hierarchy. Questions around recruitment strategy and the failure to land Eze feel more relevant now than they ever have.
Liverpool, meanwhile, will look to use the momentum of Mac Allister's late winner as a springboard. The Champions League qualification race remains fiercely competitive, and dropped points in matches like Saturday night's encounter with Forest could prove costly come May. Mac Allister's goal was the difference, and Liverpool will need more of those match-winning moments from midfield if they are to sustain their challenge on multiple fronts.
Verdict: A Weekend That Defined the Season's Shape
What February 22, 2026 produced was a Premier League weekend that crystallised the storylines of an extraordinary season. Arsenal demonstrated they have the firepower, the tactical depth, and the psychological resilience to go the distance in the title race. Liverpool showed that even when they are below their best, they possess the quality and the will to win ugly. Tottenham served as a cautionary tale about the consequences of poor transfer decisions and managerial instability.
And at the centre of it all stood Eberechi Eze — a player who had every reason to choose Spurs and instead chose Arsenal, and who continues to remind his former suitors, match by match, derby by derby, just how consequential that decision truly was. In the theatre of the north London rivalry, few stories are written with quite this much delicious symmetry.
The Premier League title race is alive, the drama is relentless, and the football being served up at the top of the English game in the 2025–26 season is among the finest in recent memory. For fans of the beautiful game, there has rarely been a better time to be watching.
Frequently Asked Questions
What was the score in Arsenal vs Tottenham on 22 February 2026?
Arsenal defeated Tottenham Hotspur 4-1 in the north London derby at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on February 22, 2026. Eberechi Eze scored twice and Viktor Gyokeres also netted a brace, with Randal Kolo Muani's goal the only consolation for Spurs.
Who scored the winner for Liverpool against Nottingham Forest?
Alexis Mac Allister scored a dramatic 97th-minute goal to give Liverpool a 1-0 victory over Nottingham Forest on February 22, 2026. Earlier in the match, Mac Allister had a goal disallowed for handball.
How many points clear are Arsenal at the top of the Premier League?
After their 4-1 victory over Tottenham, Arsenal restored a five-point lead at the top of the Premier League table. Manchester City have a game in hand and the two clubs are set to meet in April.
Why did Eze join Arsenal instead of Tottenham?
Eberechi Eze was reported to be a target for Tottenham Hotspur before his transfer from Crystal Palace in August 2025, but Arsenal moved decisively to secure his signature instead. Eze has since scored multiple times against Spurs, including a hat-trick in November and a brace in February 2026.
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