Arsenal run riot at Spurs but Manchester City keep pace

Arsenal delivered a statement north-London derby performance, overwhelming Tottenham Hotspur in a one-sided contest that left the hosts searching for answers. Eberechi Eze and Viktor Gyökeres each struck twice as the Gunners capitalised on a Spurs side hampered by mounting injuries and evaporating confidence, prompting the Guardian Football Weekly panel to question whether Ange Postecoglou’s men are now the division’s worst outfit.

The comprehensive defeat deepens the gloom around the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, where a lengthy treatment list and a sequence of poor results have eroded belief. Arsenal, by contrast, head into the international break buoyant, their attacking display underlining renewed title ambitions.

Manchester City refused to allow the leaders any breathing room, edging Newcastle 2-1 to maintain the pressure at the summit. Teenager Nico O’Reilly caught the eye with a dynamic display that has pundits asking whether the Stockport-born midfielder has forced his way into England’s Euro plans.

Liverpool remain in the hunt after a dramatic stoppage-time winner at Nottingham Forest in a match dominated by VAR reviews and fierce handball arguments. At the other end of the table, Burnley snatched a late equaliser at Chelsea to keep survival hopes flickering, while Crystal Palace again left it late under Oliver Glasner to secure a valuable result. Tammy Abraham came off the bench to earn Aston Villa a point, and Brighton continued their upward curve with another eye-catching victory.

Off the pitch, racist abuse aimed at several players drew swift condemnation from anti-discrimination group Kick It Out and social-media giant Meta, highlighting the ongoing fight against online hate. In Scotland, Hearts surged to the top of the Premiership with a weekend win that intensifies the title race, and the A-League Men’s New Zealand derby served up a comical own goal that quickly went viral. The podcast also celebrated James Milner’s record-breaking 633rd Premier League appearance, a milestone that began during his breakthrough at Leeds two decades ago.