LONDON, England
Arsenal provided a major statement about their title credentials as they thrashed Chelsea 5-0 at the Emirates Stadium to move three points clear at the top of the Premier League table.
Kai Havertz and Ben White
scored twice each in a rampant second-half performance from Mikel Arteta's side
after Leandro Trossard had struck an early opener in an end-to-end first
period.
The emphatic victory, coming
just three days after they bounced back from losses to Aston Villa and Bayern
Munich with a 2-0 win at Wolves, gives Arsenal a three-point cushion on
Liverpool in second and puts them four clear of champions Manchester City in
third.
The title-race spotlight now
turns to Liverpool, who face Merseyside rivals Everton at Goodison Park, live
on Sky Sports on Wednesday, before City play the first of
their two games in hand away to Brighton, also live on Sky Sports on
Thursday.
For Chelsea, meanwhile, the
chastening defeat, the club's heaviest in a London derby since 1986, following
an FA Cup semi-final loss to City at Wembley on Saturday, dents their hopes of
salvaging a European spot from a bitterly disappointing season.
Before Arsenal's devastating
second-half display, there was a more evenly-matched first period, despite
Trossard converting a smart diagonal finish from Declan Rice's pass in the
fourth minute for his 10th Premier League goal of the campaign.
The Gunners created a
succession of chances to add to their lead, with Trossard seeing a deflected
effort fortuitously hit Djordje Petrovic after the Chelsea goalkeeper had saved
brilliantly from Havertz, but as the hosts spurned opportunities, Chelsea grew
in confidence.
Mauricio Pochettino's side
were able to find the gaps they needed to play through the uncharacteristically
open hosts and had chances to equalise, hitting the post when Nicolas Jackson's
cut-back bounced off Gabriel, almost outfoxing David Raya.
Arteta cut a frustrated figure
on the touchline during that opening period but he was able to plug the holes
in his midfield at half-time and Arsenal quickly took the game away from
Chelsea, significantly boosting their already superior goal difference in the
process.
White added the second only
seven minutes after the break, finishing coolly following a corner after Rice's
shot had bounced into his path off Thomas Partey, and the third arrived only
five minutes after that as Havertz held off Marc Cucurella to lift a cool
finish over Petrovic from the excellent Martin Odegaard's ball in behind.
A party atmosphere had gripped
the Emirates Stadium at that point and Chelsea's collapse continued when
Havertz collected a Bukayo Saka pass and capitalised on more passive defending
from the visitors to send a low finish into the net off the post to compound
the misery of his former side.
Arsenal continued to pour
forward, with White further delighting the home fans when his first-time,
volleyed cross sailed over Petrovic and into the net. His sheepish celebration
suggested he did not mean it. Not that it really mattered to the hosts.
They could have added to their
lead after that, amassing a total of 27 shots as Chelsea continued to wilt,
powerless to stop an Arsenal machine which looks increasingly capable of
securing the club's first Premier League title in two decades.
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