Arsenal moved three points clear at the top of the Premier League after crushing Chelsea 5-0 at the Emirates Stadium on Tuesday evening.

The Gunners, who are now four points ahead of Manchester City and three ahead of Liverpool, also had Leandro Trossard on target.

With two games remaining, City, the reigning champions, still holds the power to decide the title.

Liverpool, who are playing at Everton on Wednesday in the Merseyside derby, have also played one fewer game than Arsenal.

But should it come down to a title match, Mikel Arteta’s men’s goal differential advantage currently appears insurmountable.

Cole Palmer, the danger man for Chelsea, was ruled out of the match due to sickness, dealing a severe blow to the championship rivals Chelsea and Arsenal before kickoff.

Palmer has contributed to or scored over half of Chelsea’s goals in the Premier League this year, so the visitors really missed him.

Before losing to Manchester City in the FA Cup semi-final on Saturday, Chelsea had gone eight games without a loss in the league despite having a dismal debut season under Mauricio Pochettino.

However, they were overwhelmed by an Arsenal team eager to prove their championship credentials after dropping their previous home match against Aston Villa.

In five minutes, the hosts were ahead after flying out of the blocks.

It was only after Arsenal was outbid by Chelsea in the January 2023 transfer window for Mykhailo Mudryk that Trossard found himself at the Emirates.

The Belgian striker scored his 15th goal of the year at Djordje Petrovic’s near post, demonstrating why he was a considerably more productive addition.

Nicolas Jackson’s studs-up attack on Takehiro Tomiyasu did not result in a red card, which was a fortunate escape for Chelsea, which would have otherwise compounded their poor start.

Before halftime, Petrovic kept his team in the match by making two outstanding stops to block Havertz’s low effort and Trossard’s deflected shot. This made up for his error at the first goal.

However, Chelsea had opportunities to tie the score before halftime.

At the weekend, Jackson wasted three excellent opportunities to score against City at Wembley and was just as careless when he headed a big chance into his own hands.

Declan Rice and Havertz saves early in the second half gave Petrovic a short lead over Arsenal.

But when White curled in Arsenal’s second goal on minute 52, after Chelsea had failed to clear a corner, the floodgates opened.

During his three years in west London, Havertz scored the game-winning goal for Chelsea in a Champions League final, but he never quite reached the level he has under Arteta in recent months.

Havertz put a thunderous through pass from Martin Odegaard past Petrovic, giving it the finish it deserved.

After Bukayo Saka’s pass, the German international scored his seventh goal in his previous 14 club games with a more understated finish, firing it off the post.

Jackson’s second sitter, hitting the side netting with only Raya to beat, summed up a forgettable night for Chelsea.

Pochettino’s luck did not improve when White’s attempted cross from another incredible Odegaard pass struck the upper corner.

Chelsea’s loss keeps them in ninth place, three points outside of the European spots.

Arsenal’s next challenge is what looks to be their biggest obstacle still—going to Tottenham on Sunday for their north London derby.

If Arteta’s team wins at their most formidable opponents’ stadium, City will probably need to win all six of their remaining games to hold the championship.

Photo by EPA/ANDY RAIN