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Chelsea striker Nicolas Jackson avoided even being booked for this challenge on Takehiro Tomiyasu – let alone being sent off!
Arsenal provided a major statement about their title credentials as they thrashed Chelsea 5-0 at the Emirates Stadium to move three points clear at the top of the Premier League table.
Kai Havertz and Ben White scored twice each in a rampant second-half performance from Mikel Arteta’s side after Leandro Trossard had struck an early opener in an end-to-end first period.
The emphatic victory, coming just three days after they bounced back from losses to Aston Villa and Bayern Munich with a 2-0 win at Wolves, gives Arsenal a three-point cushion on Liverpool in second and puts them four clear of champions Manchester City in third.
The title-race spotlight now turns to Liverpool, who face Merseyside rivals Everton at Goodison Park, live on Sky Sports on Wednesday, before City play the first of their two games in hand away to Brighton, also live on Sky Sports on Thursday.
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Sky Sports’ James Savundra and Nick Wright react to Arsenal’s 5-0 demolition of Chelsea to send the Gunners three points above Liverpool at the top of the Premier League
For Chelsea, meanwhile, the chastening defeat, the club’s heaviest in a London derby since 1986, following an FA Cup semi-final loss to City at Wembley on Saturday, dents their hopes of salvaging a European spot from a bitterly disappointing season.
Before Arsenal’s devastating second-half display, there was a more evenly-matched first period, despite Trossard converting a smart diagonal finish from Declan Rice’s pass in the fourth minute for his 10th Premier League goal of the campaign.
The Gunners created a succession of chances to add to their lead, with Trossard seeing a deflected effort fortuitously hit Djordje Petrovic after the Chelsea goalkeeper had saved brilliantly from Havertz, but as the hosts spurned opportunities, Chelsea grew in confidence.
Mauricio Pochettino’s side were able to find the gaps they needed to play through the uncharacteristically open hosts and had chances to equalise, hitting the post when Nicolas Jackson’s cut-back bounced off Gabriel, almost outfoxing David Raya.
Arteta cut a frustrated figure on the touchline during that opening period but he was able to plug the holes in his midfield at half-time and Arsenal quickly took the game away from Chelsea, significantly boosting their already superior goal difference in the process.
White added the second only seven minutes after the break, finishing coolly following a corner after Rice’s shot had bounced into his path off Thomas Partey, and the third arrived only five minutes after that as Havertz held off Marc Cucurella to lift a cool finish over Petrovic from the excellent Martin Odegaard’s ball in behind.
A party atmosphere had gripped the Emirates Stadium at that point and Chelsea’s collapse continued when Havertz collected a Bukayo Saka pass and capitalised on more passive defending from the visitors to send a low finish into the net off the post to compound the misery of his former side.
Arsenal continued to pour forward, with White further delighting the home fans when his first-time, volleyed cross sailed over Petrovic and into the net. His sheepish celebration suggested he did not mean it. Not that it really mattered to the hosts.
They could have added to their lead after that, amassing a total of 27 shots as Chelsea continued to wilt, powerless to stop an Arsenal machine which looks increasingly capable of securing the club’s first Premier League title in two decades.
Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta to TNT Sports:
“I’m happy with the win and the amount of chances and goals we scored. Also the clean sheet shows the consistency of this team.
“We had to be more disciplined in the second half to do the right things and we created many chances and we defended the box so much better.
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Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta was delighted with the performance of his side
“I congratulated the players for making our supporters happy in a big London derby and it was a joy to watch them play. It’s onto Spurs now.
“They know what we are playing for. They are so excited and they are at it. Even the players that haven’t played much have been outstanding and that holds the team together.
“My job is to keep challenging and be demanding of them but to also make them believe they can do it because that is a very important thing.”
Chelsea head coach Mauricio Pochettino in his press conference:
“It’s true we did not compete. I cannot blame the players, as a team we are showing this inconsistency. That is why we are where we are, because we are capable of having an amazing performance, and three days later to be at the other extreme.
“When we have bad days, we are so bad. When we are good, we are capable of everything. But it’s another thing that we need to be aware that we need to improve for the future.
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Chelsea boss Mauricio Pochettino was left despondent after his side were thrashed 5-0 by Arsenal
“We cannot blame the players, I’m not going to blame the players. The circumstances are bigger than the performance of the players.
“We cannot blame young guys who came here and after suffering some circumstances, come here to fight against a team preparing to win the Premier League.
“We cannot be unfair with our players. It is true we are disappointed with our performance, but I am not going to say something which is unfair to describe our team, our players, our squad.”
Arsenal continue their Premier League title bid at rivals Tottenham in the North London Derby this Sunday, live on Sky Sports. Kick-off 2pm.
Chelsea are on the road again with a trip to Aston Villa on Saturday. Kick-off 8pm. Mauricio Pochettino’s then host London rivals Tottenham, live on Sky Sports, on Thursday May 2. Kick-off 7.30pm.
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Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta was delighted with the performance of his side after they demolished Chelsea 5-0.
The top stories and transfer rumours from Wednesday’s newspapers…
DAILY TELEGRAPH
Arsenal and Manchester City are both considering a summer move for Newcastle United midfielder Bruno Guimaraes, raising the prospect of the two title-chasers going head to head for the same player for the second year in a row.
Manchester United remain at least £13m apart from Newcastle in their negotiations over a compensation agreement for sporting director Dan Ashworth.
Families of former footballers with dementia have hit out over ‘unconscionable’ delays in deciding their industrial disease application amid concerns over potential conflicts of interest.
THE SUN
Two Premier League footballers have been dramatically arrested over an alleged rape.
Wolves are set to add Manchester City’s Tommy Doyle to their pack in a £4.3m deal.
DAILY EXPRESS
West Ham are among a small group of Premier League teams keeping tabs on Portuguese international winger Jota Silva.
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FREE TO WATCH: Highlights from the Premier League clash between Arsenal and Chelsea.
DAILY MAIL
Kobbie Mainoo’s meteoric rise at Manchester United can be measured by the fact that he will sign a third contract in as many years with the club this summer.
AS Roma defender Evan Ndicka has been cleared to resume sporting activity after undergoing a series of tests, the Serie A club said on Tuesday, days after the 24-year-old collapsed on the pitch during their match against Udinese with a collapsed lung.
Rosenborg’s 17-year-old central midfielder Sverre Nypan is well-liked by Manchester United and is seen as a potential target as they overhaul the side.
Manchester United are rolling out a fresh set of changes to their ticketing system in the latest attempt to clamp down on touts.
Caitlin Clark is on the cusp of breaking another record as the former Iowa star is set to sign a historic deal with Nike.
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The Athletics’ David Ornstein runs through the latest on Arne Slot potentially replacing Jurgen Klopp at Liverpool.
THE ATHLETIC
Manchester United U18s have added the Premier League Cup to their league title with a 2-1 victory over Manchester City.
Aston Villa’s new crest for the 2024-25 season has been leaked on the website of new front-of-shirt gambling sponsor Betano.
A bank account belonging to Gerard Pique’s sports and entertainment company Kosmos has been embargoed by the judge investigating alleged corruption at the Spanish football federation (RFEF) during the presidency of Luis Rubiales from 2018 to 2023.
Leeds United winger Dan James will miss the club’s clash with Queens Park Rangers on Friday after suffering rib and abdominal injuries.
THE GUARDIAN
MPs have called for the Independent Regulator for Football to have the scope to reintroduce replays to the FA Cup, amend the parachute payment system and to enforce an effective financial settlement between the Premier League and the EFL, as they voted in favour of progressing the Football Governance Bill.
THE TIMES
The FA is to look at changing the rules to ban clubs from staging lucrative friendlies beyond the end of the season after Newcastle United and Tottenham Hotspur arranged a game in Australia three days after the climax of the Premier League campaign.
Rocky Flintoff showed that the apple does not fall far from the tree as the 16-year-old with the famous surname scored his first century for Lancashire’s second XI against Warwickshire at Edgbaston.
Gallagher Premiership coaches are becoming increasingly frustrated with the RFU over its lack of progress and clarity regarding central contracts.
The United States Anti-Doping Agency has called on international governments to appoint an independent prosecutor to investigate why 23 Chinese swimmers escaped punishment despite testing positive for a banned substance in the run-up to the Tokyo Olympics.
EVENING STANDARD
Feyenoord director Dennis te Kloese has confirmed the club’s interest in signing Tottenham’s forgotten man Bryan Gil.
DAILY RECORD
Hibs could appoint a technical director as part of the Bill Foley-led review into the footballing operation at Easter Road.
Upfront Connor Goldson has confessed he feels the pressure in the build-up to facing Celtic as the Rangers defender bared all about the unflinching reality of life in a football-mad city.
Edin Dzeko has reportedly taken de facto charge of Fenerbahce – and wants Ryan Kent out as one of his first acts.
Peter Leven is being eyed by Barnsley as incoming Aberdeen boss Jimmy Thelin’s plans are upset before he has even arrived.
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