Arsenal 5-0 Chelsea LIVE REACTION: Havertz scores twice against old club as magnificent Gunners batter woeful Blues to extend lead at top of Premier League
Arsenal extended their lead at the top of the Premier League table with a stunning 5-0 win over Chelsea.
The Gunners were sublime from start to finish against a dreadful Blues side, who were carved open time and time again.
Mikel Arteta’s side opened the scoring through Leandro Trossard inside five minutes, and then missed countless chances in the first 45 minutes.
However, the second half was a different story as Ben White swept home from a corner before Martin Odegaard played Kai Havertz through, and he scored against his old club.
The German got his second with a clever finish inside the box before White's cross looped into the back of the net.
There were further chances for the Gunners, who sent out a clear message to Manchester City and Liverpool.
Arsenal 5-0 Chelsea - REACTION
Right, that is it from us this evening as the Gunners sent out a message to their title rivals with a demolition over their London rivals.
Arsenal were brilliant, while Chelsea were appalling.
We hope you enjoyed the coverage and we will see you all soon.
But if you want to know more, read our match report.
Arsenal 5-0 Chelsea - REACTION
- Chelsea have conceded 57 goals in the Premier League this season; their most in a single campaign in the competition (overtaking their 55 from the 1994-95 and 1996-97 seasons).
- Arsenal have gone on to win all 15 games when they’ve been ahead at half time in the Premier League this season, equalling their best 100% record when ahead at the break in a single campaign (also 15/15 in 2013-14).
- Arsenal had 13 shots in the first half and 14 in the second half against Chelsea (27 in total) – indeed, these are now their two highest shot totals in a half of football against them on record in the Premier League (since 2003-04).
- Arsenal’s Kai Havertz became the first player to score a brace against Chelsea in the Premier League having previously played for them in the competition.
Gallagher reacts to Chelsea display
Fair play to Chelsea captain Conor Gallagher who has come out and fronted up after that display from the Blues.
Speaking to TNT Sports, he said: "We definitely are putting the effort in. I know how much it means to all the boys.
"It's a very young squad with not much experience, and as you've seen this season, we've had a lot of ups and downs.
"We are still working and improving as a team to get to the next level, and today was one of those days where we were nowhere it."
Martin Odegaard
The Norwegian is simply a sublime player.
He dominated this game with his guile and intelligence and ended the game with two assists.
He leads by example on the pitch and has to be one of the Gunners' best signings in recent times.
Pochettino reacts
Chelsea manager Mauricio Pochettino has shared his thoughts on his side's 5-0 thrashing off Arsenal.
Speaking to TNT Sports, he said: "We started the game not so well, conceded a goal, and it was difficult to recover.
"I think after ten, 15 minutes, we competed in the first half. We said at half time, we cannot start how we started the first half, but again, showed low energy and didn't compete.
"Once we conceded the third goal, it was easy for Arsenal to manage the game.
"Today, we didn't compete from the beginning.
"Now, it's difficult to see the future. It's difficult to talk about qualifying for Europe when we compete like that.
"We don't deserve to go to Europe [playing this way]."
Credit: Getty Arsenal 5-0 Chelsea - REACTION
- Arsenal recorded their biggest ever victory against Chelsea across all competitions (5-0), while this was the Blues’ heaviest defeat in a London derby since losing 6-0 to Queens Park Rangers in March 1986.
- Arsenal have won three London derbies in the Premier League this season by 5+ goals (5-0 v Crystal Palace, 6-0 v West Ham and 5-0 v Chelsea), the most such victories in a single campaign by a team in English league history.
- Arsenal picked up their 24th victory of the Premier League campaign; their joint-most after 34 games of a top-flight season. Of the three times they’ve had as many wins at this stage, two of them have come in the last two seasons under Mikel Arteta (also 24 in 2003-04 under Arsene Wenger).
Arteta overjoyed
Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has been speaking to TNT Sports about the Gunners' magnificent 5-0 win over Chelsea.
He said: "I am very happy with the win, the amount of chances [we created] and goals we scored.
"Another clean sheet, which shows the consistency of the team.
"It was a joy to watch them play.
"Now, we rest and go to Spurs."
Credit: Getty Arsenal 5-0 Chelsea - REACTION
These statistics make grim reading for Chelsea fans.
They almost conceded as many shots as Manchester United did against Brentford.
Arsenal move clear
Well, that is all Arsenal could do, win and put the pressure on Manchester City and Liverpool.
However, that performance was a statement.
Wright loving it
Well, it's pretty clear that Arsenal legend Ian Wright enjoyed that win tonight.
To be fair to him, it was a ridiculously good display from his side,who have bounced back from two defeats with back-to-back wins.
Trossard overjoyed
Arsenal's first goalscorer tonight Leandro Trossard has been speaking to TNT Sports about a stunning win over Chelsea.
He said: "The early goal helped us a lot, and after that, we played so well.
"We had a lot of chances, and it's a great night.
"Today was the perfect night, and it's credit to everyone."
He said they weren't going anywhere
You may remember before the game that Martin Odegaard said Arsenal weren't going anywhere, well, he was right.
That was a stunning display from the Gunners!
Credit: Getty Arsenal 5-0 Chelsea - FULL TIME
There goes the final whistle, and the Gunners move three points clear at the top of the Premier League table.
It was a sensational display from Mikel Arteta's men, who were on it from the first moment until the last.
Leandro Trossard, and doubles from Ben White and Kai Havertz condemned Mauricio Pochettino's men to a shocking defeat.
Arsenal 5-0 Chelsea - Chance
90+' - That should have been six!
Zinchenko clips a sublime ball over the top for Martinelli.
He bares down on goal, but blasts an effort straight at Petrovic.
Arsenal 5-0 Chelsea
90+' - There is barely anyone left in the away end, which given what they've seen, is fair enough.
Arsenal 5-0 Chelsea
90+' - Sterling loses the ball and Vieira heads a pass into Martinelli's path, and he lets fly with an outside of the boot half-volley that whistles past the post.
Arsenal 5-0 Chelsea
90+' - Seven minutes of added time indicated.
Arsenal 5-0 Chelsea
87' - Odegaard sends a pass into Vieira.
The he drives into the box and unleashes a stunning shot that rattles the side-netting.
What a strike!
Arsenal 5-0 Chelsea
84' - Chelsea enjoy a spell of possession and their fans start with the 'ole, ole, ole'.
Fair play to them for the humour.
Arsenal 5-0 Chelsea - Chance
82' - The hosts are still pushing for more goals, and they are close to another!
Jesus runs across the box and plays a delightful pass into Rice.
He turns and curls a shot around Petrovic that hits the post, but the offside flag goes up, so it wouldn't have counted.
Arsenal 5-0 Chelsea
80' - Vieira is brought on for Saka for the closing stages of the game.
Arsenal 5-0 Chelsea
79' - Gabriel is back on, so it looks like he's going to be fine to continue.
Arsenal 5-0 Chelsea
76' - Well, this might not be good.
Gabriel has gone down with no one around him.
Meanwhile, Thiago Silva is dragged from the bench to replace Gilchrist and Casadei comes on for Madueke.
Arsenal 5-0 Chelsea
75' - This young Chelsea fan has had enough.
Arsenal 5-0 Chelsea
73' - A whole hosts of changes from both sides as Sterling and Chalobah come on for Fernandez and Mudryk.
Jesus, Martinelli, Jorginho and Zinchenko replace Havertz, Trossard, Partey and Tomiyasu.
