Arsenal made a powerful statement in the Premier League title race with a 5-0 rout of London rivals Chelsea on Tuesday, extending their lead at the top of the table to three points. The Gunners' impressive performance was led by Kai Havertz, who scored twice against his former team and was described as 'tremendous' by manager Mikel Arteta. Arsenal has won all 11 games in which Havertz has scored a goal this season.
The first half saw Arsenal threatening to blow Chelsea away, with Havertz having an early opportunity but straying offside. Chelsea manager Mauricio Pochettino was aggressive towards his players during the match and expressed frustration over missed opportunities.
Leandro Trossard opened the scoring for Arsenal in the fourth minute, and Ben White added a brace in the second half. Havertz's first goal came from a perfect throughball by Martin Odegaard, and he scored his second with a shot from the middle of the area.
Arsenal now leads Liverpool by three points and Manchester City by four, with both teams having games in hand. The Gunners have recovered impressively from a home defeat by Aston Villa and their elimination from the Champions League, winning all 11 games in which Havertz has scored a goal this season.
Chelsea's leading scorer Cole Palmer was absent with an injury, and the team's second-half collapse renewed questions about progress made under Pochettino. Chelsea languishes 30 points behind Arsenal in ninth place.
Sources: AP News, ESPN, BBC Sport