ARSENAL moved three points clear at the top of the English Premier League tonight after a 5-0 thrashing of Chelsea at the Emirates Stadium.
The Gunners also massively improved their goal difference advantage over Liverpool and Manchester City in the riveting title race.
Full-back Ben White scored his first-ever top flight brace, while Kai Havertz also struck twice in the emphatic victory over his former club.
The victory is Arsenal’s second in a row after their 2-0 loss to Aston Villa put a massive dent in their title ambitions.
The Gunners were dominant in front of goal tonight, with Leandro Trossard opening the scoring after just four minutes with a shot through the legs of Chelsea goalkeeper Djordje Petrovic.
Chelsea improved after going behind and had chances of their own, but Senegal striker Nicolas Jackson failed to convert.
White doubled Arsenal’s lead seven minutes after the restart with a left-footed finish after the ball fell to him in the Chelsea box, and Havertz extended the advantage five minutes later as Chelsea’s resistance collapsed.
Havertz, who joined Arsenal from Chelsea last summer, was on hand again to punish his former employers, netting the fourth goal in the 65th minute.
White wrapped up the scoring on an embarrassing night for Chelsea when his mishit cross flew into the net in the 70th minute.
With the result, Arsenal recorded their biggest ever victory against Chelsea across all competitions, while this was the Blues’ heaviest defeat in a London derby since losing 6-0 to Queens Park Rangers in March 1986, according to Opta statistics.
While Arsenal are on top three points ahead of Liverpool (who have a game in hand) and four ahead of Manchester City (who have two games in hand), Chelsea are ninth.
