Tom Olver
Published February 22, 2026 7:11pm
Updated February 22, 2026 8:41pm
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Arsenal star Noni Madueke couldn’t resist having a pop at Tottenham’s Mathys Tel (Picture: Sky Sports)
Noni Madueke was caught appearing to tell Mathys Tel he was ‘s***’ during Arsenal’s statement 4-1 victory over Tottenham in this weekend’s one-sided north London derby.
The Gunners entered the match under enormous pressure after surrendering a two-goal lead to draw 2-2 away to rock-bottom Wolves in the week.
The setback at Molineux meant Arsenal’s lead at the top of the Premier League table had reduced to just two points ahead of kick-off, with Manchester City getting the better of Newcastle 24 hours earlier.
But Arsenal were far and away the better team at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, despite Spurs going into the half-time break level after Randal Kolo Muani had cancelled out Eberechi Eze’s opening goal.
A second-half brace from a resurgent Viktor Gyokeres – either side of Eze’s second on the hour-mark – secured the visitors maximum points and bragging rights over their rivals, who were being managed by Igor Tudor for the first time.
The result leaves Tottenham hovering just four points above the relegation zone. Arsenal, meanwhile, finish the weekend with a five-point advantage over City at the summit.
With Arsenal asserting their dominance after the break, the impressive Madueke took the opportunity to have a pop at opposite number Tel following a coming together on the touchline.
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WARNING: STRONG LANGUAGE
Noni to Tel: “You’re Shit”🤣🤣🤣🤣 pic.twitter.com/NXIP04KnPW
— dex (@afcdexter) February 22, 2026
After he was on the receiving end of a heavy challenge from Tel, Madueke was caught on a nearby microphone appearing to say, ‘F*** off, man!’, before letting the Netherlands international know that he thought he was ‘s***’.
Tel was wise not to risk getting himself in trouble by retaliating, with the hosts already up against it after yet more derby-day heroics from Eze – three months on from his hat-trick in the reverse fixture at the Emirates.
‘He had that belief and I’m really happy with him,’ Mikel Arteta said of Eze’s display in his post-match interview with BBC Sport.
‘He’s really trying to mold and adapt into what we want from him.’
Arsenal back in charge of the title race
A huge win for Arsenal puts them five points clear at the top of the Premier League table and they remain favourites to win the title, despite recent wobbles.
Spurs are not the toughest team in the league to play against, but the Gunners were threatening and potent again after looking blunt of late.
They should have been well ahead at the break and it was only an odd Declan Rice error which meant the game was level. Mikel Arteta’s men remained calm and kept coming, getting their rewards.
The pressure has been building, but Arsenal have eased it with the result and performance, both of which were excellent.
@metrosportukEze buries Spurs AGAIN 🤭 Arsenal beat Tottenham 4-1 in the North London Derby thanks to two goals from Eberechi Eze and two from Viktor Gyokeres, as the former Crystal Palace midfielder has now scored five out of his six Premier League goals against Spurs. #arsenal #tottenham #northlondonderby #eze #premierleague
♬ original sound – Metro Sport
The link-up between Eberechi Eze and Bukayo Saka was really impressive at Spurs and if Arteta can get those two firing on a regular basis then few defences will be able to handle them.
It is curious that Eze has scored five of his six Premier League goals this season against Spurs and has not really sparkled much outside of the derbies, but clearly he has a lot more to offer in this title race.
There are twists and turns to come before anyone lifts the Premier League trophy, but the gloom hanging over Arsenal since Wolves has been lifted.
It will be another high intensity affair next time out as Arsenal host Chelsea.
Eze has scored five goals in his first two north London derbies with Spurs (Picture: Getty)
Though immensely ‘proud’ of the performance, Arteta was keen to remind his players that there was still a ‘long way’ to go in the Premier League, with ten matches remaining of the season.
‘I’m really happy, really proud about how we approached the game,’ the Spaniard added.
‘The initiative and the quality we showed to come here and win the game in the way that we did.
Arteta’s men finish the weekend with a five-point advantage over nearest rivals City (Picture: Getty)
‘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.
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‘This is the Premier League, it will go all the way for sure. Ten games in the Premier League is a long way.’
While Eze may take most of the plaudits after a fifth goal in two matches against Spurs, Arteta made sure to praise Gyokeres on his ‘complete’ showing up front.
‘For me, that was the best, the most complete and especially when we need him most,’ he said.
‘That is when big players and big clubs have to stand up: when you are needed.’
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