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Former Arsenal forward Theo Walcott says a "fitter" Viktor Gyokeres is showing signs of growth as he fully settles into life as a Premier League striker.

Gyokeres now has 15 goals in all competitions this season, including four in his last five appearances.

Walcott told Monday Night Club: "The fact he has had to adapt very quickly, the expectation to win the league is kind of all on him. At the start of the season he put too much pressure on himself and kind of went away from what he is good at.

"I feel like he's not overthinking it. If I had more time I would then make a rash decision or overthink it. I just feel like he's not overthinking it now."

Former Premier League striker Chris Sutton replied: "My game was always about building relationships with players, understanding. That certainly comes with time. I think that is what has happened with Gyokeres."

Hit play on the clips above or below, or watch Monday Night Club on iPlayer and listen on BBC Sounds

BBC Sport's tactics correspondent Umir Irfan analyses how Mikel Arteta got the best out of Viktor Gyokeres in the north London derby win over Tottenham and how Arsenal have not always played to the striker's strengths this season.

• Read Danny Murphy's piece on Arsenal's victory

On the latest episode of BBC Radio 5 Live's Monday Night Club, the panel discuss the Premier League title race.

It could be argued that the narrative has slightly shifted in the last few weeks, giving Manchester City a more favourable shot at the title - but former Premier League striker Chris Sutton isn't buying it.

"Pep Guardiola is trying to show that the confidence and belief is there for the final run-in, but I'm not sure that it washes," Sutton said.

"The reason I think Arsenal will still win it is looking at their bench against Tottenham - they don't have a weak spot. It is an amazing bench."

The Observer's Rory Smith added: "[Everyone has been saying] Arsenal are stumbling, choking, and Manchester City are coming and gathering strength - but they have had the exact same record this calendar year. Arsenal were two points clear at Christmas and are two points clear now [assuming City win their game in hand]."

Watch the full episode on BBC iPlayer and listen on BBC Sounds

Former Arsenal winger Theo Walcott believes the Carabao Cup final is critical in deciding who goes on to win the Premier League.

Monday Night Club presenter Mark Chapman explained he feels "the noise" around the Gunners will be significant if they lose to Manchester City at Wembley on 22 March.

"That's the game," Walcott added. "That's the one that essentially sets the tone for how this whole year is going to look for Arsenal."

But ex-Premier League striker Chris Sutton said: "I really don't think the League Cup final has any bearing on the Premier League.

"I actually think you could flip that - whoever loses that thinks: 'Do you know what, let's go.'"

Watch Monday Night Club on BBC iPlayer or listen on BBC Sounds

Laura Kirk-Francis
Fan writer

Image source, Getty Images

In the aftermath of Arsenal's 4-1 win in the north London derby, the headlines will rightly belong to Eberechi Eze and Viktor Gyokeres. The game was defined by their firepower, and it was their goals that proved the gulf in class between the two sides.

'To the Viktor go the spoils' of course, but Arsenal's victory was enabled by a remarkably mature performance from Cristian Mosquera.

Jurrien Timber has looked tired in recent weeks, with his performance in the draw at Wolves perhaps one of his worst in an Arsenal shirt. Substituted on 57 minutes just moments after Randal Kolo Muani's goal was disallowed, the game was finely balanced and the atmosphere raucous.

Spurs had also found some joy targeting the space behind Timber, so it was perhaps no surprise, with the player on a yellow card, that Mikel Arteta decided to make the change.

Mosquera, who is only 21, played with the cool head of a player several years his senior.

Moments after coming on, he even created a big chance for Bukayo Saka, having won the ball. For the rest of his 33 minutes, he also completed two clearances, made five tackles and won each of the five duels he faced.

Arsenal's defensive security has recently faced some scrutiny, with mistakes coming from senior players that have cost the team dearly.

There is a calmness to Mosquera and an assurance that meant Spurs no longer had much success on his flank. He quietly and efficiently took a lot of the sting out of the game, giving Arsenal's forward players the confidence to push on.

One day Arsenal fans will have to consider life beyond Gabriel and William Saliba. But with a player as promising as Mosquera making his mark in the side, their legacy looks like it will simply continue with this next generation.

Find more from Laura Kirk-Francis at the Latte Firm podcast, external

Image source, Getty Images

Arsenal defender William Saliba spoke to the media after Sunday's derby victory: "We are so happy, and we know it's a big game agaisnt Tottenham.

"We were so bad against Wolves and a good game to respond. We wanted to show it was just a mistake. We are so happy to bounce back."

On Viktor Gyokeres and his recent form: "I never doubted him. I know that he's good. I played against him last season and we found it very difficult to play against him. Now he is showing everyone the guy that he is and I hope he will keep going and I'm sure he will. He's a top player for us and he will score more goals."

On the title race: "It's good, but we know that it's not finished. We have 10 more games, but we know that it's in our hands - if we do well, if we win all next 10 games we would win this league but we know that it's not easy. There is always a pressure because it's the best league in the world but we'll give everything and we will embrace the pressure."

Image source, Getty Images

The north London derby was "a good game to play" for Arsenal players after recent scrutiny over dropped points, says former defender Lee Dixon.

A draw against Wolves on Wednesday, having been two goals up, left many questioning the Gunners' mentality to win the Premier League title.

But an emphatic 4-1 win on Sunday against north London rivals Tottenham, who have been dragged into a relegation battle, will have given Mikel Arteta's squad a much-needed lift.

"For the players as well as fans [it was a psychologically important win]. With the criticism, and quite rightly so when they dropped two points against Wolves midweek having been two goals up, everybody piled in saying they are going bottle it again," Dixon said on BBC Radio 5 Live Breakfast.

"From the player point of view, it was probably a good game to play because, north London derby, you are on the front foot anyway regardless of where anybody is in the league table. But I think in that respect, it was a good game for them because they knew what they were going to be up against.

"When they got control of the game early on, you could see Tottenham weren't quite up to the standard of Arsenal's play. From the players' point of view, it is quite easy to go into your own little world when you're under pressure, and I think they showed a real team spirit.

"Everything went well for them and they played a really poor Spurs side on the day."

Listen back to the full discussion from 1:52:00 on BBC Sounds

Image source, Getty Images

Whoever wins the Carabao Cup final will also "go on and win the Premier League", says former Premier League striker Clinton Morrison.

Before they beat Tottenham on Sunday, Arsenal's lead in the league had been cut to two points by Manchester City.

The two sides will also be battling it out for the first trophy of the season in less than a month's time when they meet at Wembley in the Carabao Cup final on 22 March.

That is a match Morrison believes could have a decisive say in the Premier League title race.

"Arsenal are making defensive mistakes. You saw it against Wolves with Gabriel and [David] Raya. Raya didn't need to come for it. Gabriel is going to deal with it and then they scored the equaliser. [On Sunday], I think against a better team, they will get punished," he told BBC Radio 5 Live's Football Daily podcast.

"Tottenham are not a good team at the moment with all the injuries they've got. They aren't good enough to go toe-to-toe with Arsenal. So that was always going to be a struggle, but against the better teams they'll get punished with the mistakes they're making.

"I still think this is going to go down to the wire. I think this will be decided at the Carabao Cup final. Whoever wins that will go on and win the Premier League, because if they don't get over the line, Arsenal, in that game, then City play them two games later, and if City take the lead they will be celebrating again.

"If Manchester City take the lead, they're not getting caught, that's my opinion."

Listen to the full discussion on BBC Sounds

Image source, Getty Images

Declan Rice is hindered by how much he wants to win, former England captain Wayne Rooney has said after Arsenal beat Tottenham 4-1 on Sunday.

Rice made an error for Spurs' equalising goal in the first half of the north London derby, and Rooney thinks the midfielder needs to compose himself.

"It was a mistake and you make mistakes on the pitch," the former Manchester United forward said on The Wayne Rooney Show.

"The amount of times we've seen him wriggle out of a tight situation like that or pass through it, but I think it was because he got the team all together right after the goal that probably highlights the mistake a little bit more.

"With Declan, watching him over the past four weeks, he's getting more animated. He wants to win that much that sometimes it's not helping him.

"I was exactly the same - but take a deep breath and compose yourself and that will help him in this run-in. And I mean that as a compliment - he wants to win that much that after a bad result it's probably eating him up and you can see his frustration. Just take a deep breath."

Watch The Wayne Rooney Show on BBC iPlayer or listen on BBC Sounds

We asked for your thoughts after Sunday's Premier League game between Tottenham Hotspur and Arsenal.

Here are some of your comments:

Spurs fans

Alan: Put in whatever manager you like, the problem is the mediocre players purchased who are not Premier League quality. We seem to buy anyone to plug the gap but it will never work - we need class players like we've had in the past, but we won't attract them in the Championship.

Dan: What I expected really, much of the same from the past two seasons. Moments of hope and positive flashes, but mainly negative football and silly decisions. I doubt even Pep Guardiola or Jurgen Klopp could make this current group of players perform well. If you had a team of workers in an office job who turned up each week and spent their day just mooching about the office, occasionally tapping some keys of the computer but producing nothing, they'd be sacked for failing to do what they're employed to do. Spurs are literally doing the equivalent of this on the pitch.

Tristen: Playing three at the back is suicidal. Playing too many players out of their natural positions is also comical. This game was a free hit as fans weren't expecting a win, but a proper system and structure is the minimum we should have got out this game. On this system and style, we are favourites for relegation.

Fran: Shocking display from Spurs... Archie Gray too weak, Djed Spence keeps losing the ball. No real fight. Can't see a way out of it.

Arsenal fans

Giso: Arsenal's mentality will make them win the title because they played against Spurs like nothing went wrong in the previous game.

Vince: A great result but let's not get carried away. This was a Spurs team missing key players through injury and unsurprisingly clunky in possession. Arsenal, meanwhile, were allowed to play their usual game - which they weren't allowed to at Brentford and Wolves and see what happened there. Still, it's a brilliant confidence booster for Eberechi Eze and Viktor Gyokeres and renews that all-important belief that this might be the season Arsenal cross the finish line first.

Helen: What's the earliest St Totteringham's day could be this year?

Tim: Another one-sided north London derby. The 4-1 scoreline really flattered Spurs. A very dominant performance and important to bounce back with three big points. Hard to name individuals in such a strong team performance, but Declan Rice, Eze and Gyokeres were immense, and that is not to mention the defence and David Raya. Onwards...

There have been times in the past when you are playing Arsenal that Bukayo Saka and Martin Odegaard are the two players you know you need to stop.

If they could condense play in their areas, teams would think they could control them - and if it goes over to another part of the pitch, they can cope with it.

On Sunday, however, it felt like Arsenal were coming from every angle in the end. Eberechi Eze, especially, was getting on the ball in these pockets of space in front of the Tottenham defence.

That helped Viktor Gyokeres too, because it meant there was more room for him.

Gyokeres had started well anyway, and had a great early chance which he made himself.

It probably helped that he had a yard of pace on Radu Dragusin, who is not the quickest defender, but he played on him nicely and it was clever of him to stay on the left side.

I remember watching a lot of Gyokeres' goals for Sporting and he liked to come off that flank a lot, and we have not seen him do it enough this season.

That might change now and, when he got his first goal, it was like the weight had been lifted off his shoulders.

Some of the Arsenal fans who are not convinced by him are going to be more on his side now he has scored twice against Spurs, and his goals were top quality too.

I'd say that was one of his best games in an Arsenal shirt and to do it in a north London derby will do him the world of good.

Read more of Murphy's analysis here

Arsenal and Chelsea are pushing Barcelona hard in the chase for Atletico Madrid's 26-year-old Argentina forward Julian Alvarez. (Teamtalk), external

Meanwhile, the Gunners are ahead of both Manchester City and Newcastle United in the race to sign Sporting's 21-year-old Spanish defender Ivan Fresneda. (Fichajes - in Spanish), external

Fresneda's arrival could see 28-year-old England defender Ben White leave north London. (Teamtalk), external

Manchester United are the frontrunners to sign Eintracht Frankfurt's 22-year-old Germany defender Nathaniel Brown this summer. (Caught Offside), external

Want more transfer stories? Read Monday's full gossip column

Follow the gossip column on BBC Sport

Pundits Danny Murphy and Shay Given join host Gabby Logan to bring you the action and talking points from Sunday's Premier League fixtures.

Watch on BBC iPlayer here

And listen back to full match commentaries on BBC Sounds:

• Sunderland 1-3 Fulham

• Crystal Palace 1-0 Wolves

• Nottingham Forest 0-1 Liverpool

• Tottenham 1-4 Arsenal

Phil McNulty
Chief football writer

Image source, Getty Images

Eberechi Eze's Arsenal career had gone into something of a dip since he made himself a hero with that treble against Spurs in December – but what a time for the 27-year-old England forward to bounce back to his best.

Since that hat-trick, Eze had featured in all 15 of Arsenal's subsequent league games, but had made only four starts and played 360 minutes before this derby.

And, under the watchful eye of England head coach Thomas Tuchel, he delivered a reminder of his quality with perfect timing, just when Arsenal needed it most.

The pressure was on the Gunners after that Molineux slip, with Manchester City scenting blood and Arsenal's nerve under pressure being questioned once more.

The fact that the examination came at Spurs who, despite their struggles, had new manager Tudor on the sidelines, made the assignment potentially more hazardous.

Arsenal were set back when Spurs equalised, but this was a calm and highly-competent display which will be even more pleasing for Mikel Arteta with Gyokeres, who has had his critics, adding two fine finishes of his own.

Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta, speaking to BBC Sport: "Really happy, really proud about how we approached the game. The initiative and the quality we showed to come here and win the game in the way that we did.

"That is the beauty of football. When you look back at the game against Wolves, how did we draw that game from there? I was out with them every day and I know how much they want it."

On Viktor Gyokeres: "He was outstanding today, I thought. There have been glimmers of it every week but today, I thought he was fantastic."

On Eberechi Eze: "He had that belief and I'm really happy with him. He's really trying to mold and adapt into what we want from him.

"This is the Premier League, it will go all the way for sure. Ten games in the Premier League is a long way."

Arsenal goalscorer Eberechi Eze, speaking to Sky Sports: "Today it's worked out, we thank God for it. We put in a good performance. We did what we needed to do today, which was the main thing."

On whether this was a response to dropping points: "Yeah, for sure that's the main thing. We know what we're capable of. We have to play games to dominate and to win and we've got the players in the team to do it. Important win for us and we keep going."

On his two goals: "I'm always trying to get in those positions to be ready and to find the space and to work hard to get those opportunities. It takes a lot to get there and it's worked out today."

On Viktor Gykeres' performance: "Vik was hoping that all game. You can see how much he helps the team. Not just with his goals, with the effort he puts in and he puts players like me in good positions and it helps a lot, and he's got his two goals today which he deserves for sure."

Did you know?

• Viktor Gyokeres has scored more goals in 2026 across all competitions than any other Premier League player, with eight of his 15 total goals for the Gunners coming this calendar year.

Whether you were at the game or following from elsewhere, we want to know what you learned.

Have your say on Tottenham's performance

What did you make of Arsenal's display?

Come back on Monday for a selection of your replies

Igor Tudor names Randal Kolo Muani as his striker in his first Spurs team with Palhinha in midfield. Richarlison and Dominic Solanke are on the bench.

Tottenham starting XI: Vicario, Gray, Dragusin, Van de Den, Spence, Bissouma, Palhinha, Sarr, Gallagher, Simons, Muani

Subs: Austin, Richarlison, Tel, Solanke, Souza, Oluesi, Williams-Barnett, Rowswell, Wilson

Mikel Arteta has made just two changes to the side that drew 2-2 with Wolves in midweek. Leandro Trossard comes in with Eberechi Eze starting as Arsenal's number 10.

Eze scored a hat-trick when these two played earlier in the season and the Gunners will be hoping that Eze can repeat that performance today.

Arsenal starting XI: Raya, Timber, Saliba, Gabriel, Hincapie, Zubimendi, Rice, Eze, Saka, Trossard, Gyokeres

Subs: Arrizabalaga, Mosquera, Jesus, Odegaard, Martinelli, Norgaard, Madueke, Calafiori, Lewis-Skelly

There are four games in the Premier League on Sunday and BBC Sport will bring you every moment.

• Crystal Palace v Wolves - listen on BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra 3

• Nottingham Forest v Liverpool - listen on BBC Radio 5 Live

• Sunderland v Fulham - listen on BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra 2

• Tottenham v Arsenal (16:30 GMT) - listen on BBC Radio 5 Live

Kick-off times 14:00 GMT unless stated

Follow all of the action and reaction from the 14:00 games here

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