Five-star Arsenal thrash Chelsea
Kai Havertz and Ben White scored twice as Arsenal thrashed Chelsea 5-0 on Tuesday to surge ahead in the Premier League title race and up the pressure on Liverpool and Manchester City. The destiny of the title remains in City's hands as the defending champions have two games in hand. Liverpool have also played one fewer 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. The hosts flew out of the blocks and were in front inside five minutes. Leandro Trossard smashed in his 15th goal of the season at Djordje Petrovic's near post. Petrovic redeemed himself for fault at the opening goal with two brilliant saves to turn away Havertz's low effort and a deflected shot by Trossard to keep his side in the game before half-time. However, the floodgates opened once White curled in Arsenal's second after Chelsea failed to clear a corner on 52 minutes. Martin Odegaard's stunning through ball was then met with the finish it deserved as Havertz smashed high past Petrovic. His next finish was more subtle as the German international fired in off the post from Bukayo Saka's pass for his seventh goal in his last 14 club games. A night for forget for Chelsea was summed up by a sitter from Nicolas Jackson when he hit the side-netting with just David Raya to beat. And fortune was also not on Mauricio Pochettino's side when White's attempted cross flew into the top corner from another sensational Odegaard pass. (AFP)