Five-star Arsenal beat Chelsea to take lead in Premier League football news

Kai Havertz and Ben White scored twice as Arsenal thrashed Chelsea 5-0 on Tuesday to take the lead in the Premier League title race and increase the pressure on Liverpool and Manchester City. Leandro Trossard was also on target in the record win over Chelsea for the Gunners, who are three points clear of Liverpool and four ahead of Manchester City. The fate of the title rests in City’s hands as the reigning champions have two games in hand. Liverpool have played one less game than Arsenal and are in action at Everton in the Merseyside derby on Wednesday.

However, Mikel Arteta’s men’s goal difference advantage now looks unassailable should it become decisive in the title race.

“We have made our guys very proud, it is a big derby for us and I know what it means,” Arteta said.

“We started the game very well but we couldn’t take all our chances – we were a bit loose in certain areas of the pitch.

“In the second half we were more disciplined and created chances and were ruthless in front of goal.”

Title rivals Chelsea and Arsenal were dealt a major blow before kick-off as Blues danger man Cole Palmer was ruled out through illness.

Palmer has scored or assisted almost 50 percent of Chelsea’s Premier League goals this season and his presence was greatly missed by the visitors.

Despite a disappointing first season under Mauricio Pochettino, Chelsea were unbeaten in eight consecutive league games before Saturday’s FA Cup semi-final defeat to Manchester City.

But they were stunned by an Arsenal team keen to reaffirm their title credentials after losing their last home game to Aston Villa.

“It is very difficult to accept the result and the performance because it is not good to see your team playing like this from the beginning of the game,” Pochettino said.

“Today we did not compete against a team that is fighting for the Premier League. We need to be aware that we need to compete in a different way.”

The hosts burst out of the blocks and were ahead within five minutes.

Trossard ended up at the Emirates after Arsenal were beaten by Chelsea in the battle to sign Mykhailo Mudrik in January 2023.

The Belgian proved to be the far more productive signing and scored his 15th goal of the season past Djordje Petrovic at the near post.

Havertz troubles Chelsea

Petrovic atoned for his mistake on the opening goal by making two superb saves to deny Havertz’s low effort and a deflected shot from Trossard to keep his side in the game before half-time.

The Serbian kept Arsenal at bay for a short period of time with saves from Declan Rice and Havertz early in the second period.

However, the floodgates opened after White headed in Arsenal’s second when Chelsea failed to clear a corner in the 52nd minute.

Havertz scored the winning goal in the Champions League final for Chelsea during his three years in west London, but he has not consistently performed at the level he has found in recent months under Arteta.

Martin Odegaard’s brilliant ball was met with the finish it deserved as Havertz fired past Petrovic.

His next finish was more subtle as the German international fired past Bukayo Saka off the post for his seventh goal in his last 14 club games.

A night to forget for Chelsea ended when White’s effort flew into the top corner from another sensational Odegaard pass.

After the defeat, Chelsea still sit in ninth place, three points behind the European places.

Arsenal now appear to face their toughest hurdle yet being away to Tottenham in Sunday’s North London derby.

If Arteta’s side win at home to their arch-rivals, City will need to produce the best of their last six games to retain the title.

(This story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)