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Premier League, Matchweek 29
Arsenal
1st in Premier League
ARS
5
Tue Apr 23
Full Time
0
CHE
Chelsea
8th in Premier League
L. Trossard 4'
B. White 52'
K. Havertz 57'
K. Havertz 65'
B. White 70'
goal
3.42
xG
1.68

How Arsenal thrashed Chelsea 5-0 to extend their lead at the top of the Premier League table

Goals from Leandro Trossard, Ben White and Kai Havertz led the league leaders to a brilliant 5-0 win
Michael Dominski
How Arsenal thrashed Chelsea 5-0 to extend their lead at the top of the Premier League table
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Instant reaction to Arsenal's historic blowout

The Athletic’s Jordan Campbell and Liam Twomey have analysed tonight's result, a huge win for the home side with ramifications for both teams.

  • Have Arsenal earned a psychological advantage in the title race?
  • Question marks over Djordje Petrovic’s place?
  • Has this made it clear where Kai Havertz should play?

Follow the link below to check out their breakdown!

Arsenal 5 Chelsea 0: Psychological advantage in title race? Petrovic doubts? – The Briefing

GO FURTHER

Arsenal 5 Chelsea 0: Psychological advantage in title race? Petrovic doubts? – The Briefing

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Pochettino: We don't deserve to qualify for Europe playing like this

Pochettino: We don't deserve to qualify for Europe playing like this

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Pochettino was also asked whether Cole Palmer was the reason for today's loss: "We cannot say that was the reason we lose the game but we lose a player who is a creative player who helps to link the team.

"Where Arsenal are is where we need to be as well. We are talking too much this season and all the information we receive now is that we want to be in a different position next season."

On Chelsea's chances of making Europe: "Now it is difficult to see the future because after this game we feel disappointed. It is difficult to talk about objectives. If we compete like Saturday, OK. But if we compete like today, I think we deserve to go into Europe? I think in this way, no."

Chelsea failed to cope with Arsenal's pressing

Arsenal recovered possession 15 times in the final third against Chelsea today, their most in a Premier League match under Mikel Arteta.

Pochettino: We need to be more clinical

Mauricio Pochettino spoke to TNT Sports after Chelsea's dismal performance: "I think we started the game not so well. We concede the goal and then it was difficult for us to recover from this goal. I think in the first half we compete after 10, 15 minutes. We could not approach the game like we started in the first half and we didn't compete the way we needed to compete and then when they scored the third it was easy for Arsenal to control the game.

"I think you need to be clinical. Like against Manchester City three days ago, we were not clinical and then today the same thing happened. Difficult performance because it is not nice to see your team play like this when you are meant to have full energy. After three days when you play a fantastic game against Manchester City, today we are disappointed with the performance."

Odegaard has been out of this world

Odegaard has been out of this world

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Martin Odegaard had flashes of greatness in the opening three or four months of this season but since December onwards he has been out of this world.

Beyond Arsenal, I don't think the wider football audience is aware of just how many opportunities he is creating in single games. It is top level.

Arteta on Odegaard's leadership

Arteta on Odegaard's leadership

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More from Arteta to TNT Sports: "Very happy with the win, with the amount of chances and goals we scored. And with the clean sheet as well it shows the consistency.

"We weren't disciplined enough with some stuff we did in the first half and we needed to be more disciplined and we did that in the second half."

On Martin Odegaard: "We agreed that he was a player with huge talent and he could grow with us. We were convinced he could add something special to the team."

On making Odegaard captain: "That's always a question: How are you going to handle a different role? He has done it so naturally and he is loved by everyone. With the love that he has, it is enough for everyone to wan to follow him."

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Arteta: 'A special night'

Mikel Arteta spoke to TNT Sports after Arsenal's win: "We have made our people very proud. It is a big derby for us and I know what it means. Let’s enjoy tonight but then get back to work because we have a big one on Sunday (at Tottenham). We have to do our job, now we will watch the TV and see what happens (with Liverpool and Man City).

"It was a special night, it was a really good collective performance from the team. We started the game really well but didn’t convert all our chances. We were a bit sloppy in certain areas of the pitch. In the second half we were much more disciplined and created chances and was ruthless in front of goal."

Chelsea refuse to name Havertz on X

Chelsea refuse to name Havertz on X

Simon Johnson

Kai Havertz scored 6.7 per cent of his career Premier League goals against Chelsea tonight.

Meanwhile, the Chelsea X account resorted to omitting his name from their posts...

Trossard: 'The perfect night'

Trossard: 'The perfect night'

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Leandro Trossard also spoke to TNT Sports after Arsenal's blowout win: "I think the early goal helped us and after that we played so well. We had a lot of chances and we turned them into goals. It's a great night.

"They say clean sheets help you win games. We know if we score the goal we can win 1-0. But, obviously, we want to go for more. Today is the perfect night. I think everyone works so well and hard. I am really happy to be here."

On the title race: "We can only do our own job and that's winning games. We are on track now and we will try and win the rest of the games and we will see what happens."

Chelsea's historically bad defence

Chelsea's historically bad defence

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Chelsea now have conceded 57 goals in the Premier League this season, their most in a single season during the PL era.

And they still have six games left to play...

Arsenal dominating London derbies

Arsenal have now won three London derbies in the Premier League this season by 5+ goals: 5-0 vs Crystal Palace, 6-0 vs West Ham and 5-0 vs Chelsea). That's the most victories by that margin in a single season by a team in English league history.

For Chelsea, meanwhile, this was their heaviest defeat in a London derby since losing 6-0 to Queens Park Rangers in March 1986.

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White on whether his second goal was intentional

White on whether his second goal was intentional

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Ben White spoke to TNT Sports after his first career two-goal performance: "We know we can score goals and today it was a quick game and it was important to put the ball away when we had the chance."

On whether he intended to score his second goal: "I don't know. I'll let everyone else decide!"

On Arsenal's resilience: "It's not just the defence keeping the clean sheets, the wingers track back as well."

Arsenal's success against the "big six"

Arsenal have now taken 16 points from a possible 24 in matches against the 'big six' clubs this season. That number could rise as high as 22 by the end of the season, with games against Tottenham and Manchester United still to play.

Last season, Arsenal took 19 points against the 'big six' clubs, which was by far their best total since the moniker became widely used in 2010.

Odegaard is the new Ozil

Odegaard is the new Ozil

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Martin Odegaard created eight chances from open play against Chelsea, unofficially earning three assists as well.

The eight chances he created are the most by an Arsenal player in a Premier League game since Mesut Özil did the same against Everton in October 2017.

Havertz tormented his former club

Havertz tormented his former club

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With a pair of goals tonight, Kai Havertz became the first former Chelsea player to score a brace against them in the Premier League.

He didn't shy away from celebrating them, either.

Raya heading towards Golden Glove

Raya heading towards Golden Glove

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Tonight marks David Raya's 14th clean sheet of the season, four more than Jordan Pickford in second place in the race for this season's Golden Glove award.

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Chelsea are a mess

Chelsea are a mess

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The Chelsea "project" is a mess.

The Boehly-Clearlake era began with a wild, overexcited zeal but that has given way to confusion and a sense of drift.

This is not how to build a club.

The Chelsea ‘project’ is a mess, confused and drifting. This is not how to build a club

GO FURTHER

The Chelsea ‘project’ is a mess, confused and drifting. This is not how to build a club

Chelsea need yet more investment

Every time I look at a Chelsea starting line-up I think they need to spend another £500m.

Arsenal move three points clear in title race

Arsenal move three points clear in title race

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A look at the updated Premier League title race, where Arsenal lead by three points but Manchester City still control their own destiny if they win out.

  1. Arsenal: 77 points, four games remaining
  2. Liverpool: 74 points, five games remaining
  3. Manchester City: 73 points, six games remaining

It's worth noting that Arsenal enjoy a comfortable lead in goal difference (the first tiebreaker) over both of the other contenders.

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