Arsenal went three points clear at the top of the Premier League with an outstanding 5-0 win at home to Chelsea in the London derby on Tuesday night.
Leandro Trossard gave the Gunners an early advantage with their 100th goal of the season in all competitions and a dominant second-half display saw Ben White double our lead before Kai Havertz chipped in thier third, netted the fourth, and White made it five in a fantastic Emirates Stadium atmosphere.
Arsenal suffered last week with a home Premier League defeat by Aston Villa and a Champions League quarter-final exit to Bayern Munich but the manner of this win demonstrated the title momentum is now back with Mikel Arteta’s team.
Leandro Trossard settled any early nerves when he beat Chelsea keeper Djordje Petrovic at his near post and while the visitors occasionally threatened in the first half, Nicolas Jackson missing a clear headed chance, Arsenal simply ran riot after the break.
The second goal Arsenal craved came as Ben White turned in after Chelsea failed to clear a corner before former Stamford Bridge forward Kai Havertz struck twice in eight minutes, the second a quite sumptuous finish from Martin Odegaard’s magnificent pass.
As Chelsea subsided in embarrassing fashion, White looped his second over Petrovic. It pushed their goal difference up to +56 – 13 better than Liverpool’s and 12 ahead of Manchester City – on what was pretty much the perfect night for Arsenal.
Facts and stats
- David Raya kept his 14th clean sheet in the Premier League this season as he leads the race for the Golden Glove.
- Arsenal have scored their earliest goal in the Premier League against Chelsea (3:58) since Thierry Henry netted in the second minute versus the Blues in December 2004.
- Rice has recorded six assists in 34 Premier League appearances for Arsenal , as many as he provided in his final 105 outings in the competition for West Ham.
- Arsenal had 13 shots in the first half of this match, their most on record (since 2003/04) in the first half of a Premier League game against Chelsea.
- White’s goal was their 14th in the Premier League this season via a corner, the most of any team.
- Arsenal have scored 12 goals via defenders in the Premier League this season, the outright most of any team (Tottenham Hotspur & Newcastle United – 11).
- Havertz has been directly involved in 11 goals in his last 10 Premier League appearances (7 goals, 4 assists).
