Arsenal vs Chelsea LIVE: Premier League result and reaction as Gunners’ run riot after White and Havertz goals
Arsenal 5-0 Chelsea: Kai Havertz and Ben White both scored twice as the Gunners go three points clear at the top of the table
Arsenal moved three points clear of Liverpool at the top of the Premier League table with a blistering 5-0 victory over Chelsea at the Emirates Stadium.
Mikel Arteta’s men dominated from the get-go but couldn’t make full use of a first 45 minutes of controlled play despite Leandro Trossard’s fourth minute opener. He was fed the ball by Declan Rice then smoked the ball home at the near post.
After the break, the Gunners turned up the heat with Ben White latching onto a deflected shot from Rice and Kai Havertz lifting a fine finish over the goalkeeper to put Arsenal clear. Havertz then added a fourth with a guided finish to the bottom corner before White volleyed a beautifully dainty pass from Martin Odegaard into the top corner.
For Chelsea it was a night to forget but Arsenal took advantage of playing first this week and now Liverpool and Manchester City must respond if they hope to avoid dropping points in the title race.
Relive the updates from Arsenal vs Chelsea in tonight’s live blog below and get the latest match odds and tips, here
Arsenal’s humiliation of Chelsea reignites questions over Mauricio Pochettino’s future
So much for this being one of Arsenal’s awkward remaining fixtures, not to mention the idea the title race was over. Chelsea had other plans for all that, precisely because they couldn’t implement any kind of gameplan of their own. They couldn’t do much at all.
It means that, on a night when Arsenal went three points clear at the top with a 5-0 victory that is maybe Mikel Arteta’s best performance yet, it is hard not to talk about Chelsea. Focus will be back on Mauricio Pochettino’s future.
Focus should be on the wider running of this club. This was the humiliation that Chelsea had looked in danger of suffering for some time. So much, too, for the players stepping up in the absence of an ill Cole Palmer.
Arsenal’s humiliation of Chelsea reignites questions over Pochettino’s future
Arsenal 5-0 Chelsea: Leandro Trossard, Kai Havertz and Ben White all found the back of the net as the Gunners humbled their London rivals
Full-time! Arsenal 5-0 Chelsea
90+7 mins: There goes the whistle. Mikel Arteta’s Arsenal go three points clear at the top of the table. That was the type of performance that wins league titles.
They’ll still need some help but Arsenal are right in the mix to win the Premier League.
Arsenal 5-0 Chelsea
90+3 mins: Arsenal are doing all they can to maintain their clean sheet but Chelsea aren’t really threatening the goal despite their control of possession.
Both teams seem to be winding down to the finish.
Arsenal 5-0 Chelsea
90 mins: There are seven minutes of added time to play! Chelsea won’t be best pleased about that.
Arsenal 5-0 Chelsea
85 mins: Chelsea are having a good period on the ball, probably because Arsenal fancy some defending for a change. The cross comes into the box from the right but lands straight in the hands of David Raya.
Arsenal 5-0 Chelsea
82 mins: Pochettino has brought on Thiago Silva to replace Alfie Gilchrist and Cesare Casadei comes on for Noni Madueke.
Arsenal 5-0 Chelsea
79 mins: Chelsea have switched to a back five with a touch over 10 minutes to go. Mauricio Pochettino is attempting to limit the damage now.
Every time Chelsea look like they’re taking a step forward they get knocked back.
Arsenal 5-0 Chelsea
76 mins: Chelsea just want to get off this pitch. Arsenal have blown them away in the second half with four more goals. This is the type of performance they’ve been putting in all year.
Can the Gunners keep this up and maybe win the league?
Arsenal 5-0 Chelsea
73 mins: Time for some changes. Mikel Arteta brings on Gabriel Martinelli, Gabriel Jesus, Jorginho and Oleksandr Zinchenko to replace Kai Havertz, Leandro Trossard, Takehiro Tomiyasu and Thomas Partey.
GOAL! Arsenal 5-0 Chelsea (White. 70’)⚽️
70 mins: Oh my god!
Bukayo Saka sends the ball inside from the right wing and finds Martin Odegaard. He chips the ball over the top as Ben White sweeps into the box.
He volleys the ball across goal and mishits it. Instead the ball flies into the far top corner!
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