In a sensational display of dominance, Arsenal convincingly defeated a lackluster Chelsea side, solidifying their position at the top of the Premier League table in a thrilling match at their North London home.
Under the guidance of manager Mikel Arteta, the Gunners unleashed an onslaught on their opponents, propelling themselves three points clear of second-placed Liverpool and four points ahead of third-placed Manchester City, although both teams have played fewer games.
The tone was set early in the game when Leandro Trossard found the back of the net, settling any initial nerves for Arsenal. After the halftime break, Ben White extended the lead to 2-0 with an impressive goal. This was followed by a brace from Kai Havertz, turning the match into a rout and igniting jubilation among the Arsenal faithful. White later added a second goal, making it 5-0 on the 70th minute and establishing Arsenal as the dominant force in the capital once again.
The goals scored by Trossard and Havertz also marked their tenth in the league this season, joining Bukayo Saka as Gunners players who have reached double figures—a remarkable achievement. Furthermore, Arsenal surpassed the milestone of scoring 100 goals in all competitions this season, a testament to their attacking prowess.
The match was not without controversy, as Nicolas Jackson’s reckless challenge on Takehiro Tomiyasu raised eyebrows. Astonishingly, Jackson escaped without even a yellow card for his potentially leg-breaking tackle on the Japanese international. Thankfully, Tomiyasu managed to recover and continued his contribution to the game.
Despite Chelsea’s expensive squad, assembled at a cost exceeding £1 billion under manager Mauricio Pochettino, they struggled to pose a significant threat. Axel Disasi came close to connecting with a flick from Benoit Badiashile, but narrowly missed scoring in a crowded penalty area. Declan Rice also had an opportunity to level the score for Arsenal but fired narrowly over the crossbar.
Petrovic, the Chelsea goalkeeper, made two exceptional saves on the 26th minute, denying Havertz’s low strike and then blocking Trossard’s deflected shot to keep the scoreline at 1-0. Just before the half-hour mark, Noni Madueke’s low cross found Marc Cucurella, but White displayed his defensive prowess with a crucial block. Enzo Fernandes also came close to equalizing for Chelsea but saw his shot go inches wide.
As the game progressed, Arsenal relentlessly pursued a second goal to put the match out of reach. Petrovic made another important save, this time denying Rice, before Odegaard fired over the crossbar. The Chelsea keeper continued to impress by smartly stopping Havertz’s attempt, but the Arsenal pressure eventually paid off.
In the 52nd minute, White unleashed a powerful shot, beating Petrovic and extending Arsenal’s lead to 2-0, causing the stadium to erupt with a mixture of relief and joy. Five minutes later, Havertz displayed his prowess with a superb finish that found the roof of the net, cementing Arsenal’s control over the game. Havertz then secured his brace on the 65th minute, making it 4-0 for the Gunners, before White completed his own double with a cross-cum-shot, sealing a commanding 5-0 victory.
As the final minutes ticked away, the elated home supporters relished the fact that power had finally returned to North London after a two-decade wait. This dominant performance from Arsenal’s young and hungry team suggests that the power shift in London football will be a long-lasting one.