PLAYER RATINGS: Four Chelsea stars score just 3.5/10 in woeful 5-0 defeat at Arsenal… while Martin Odegaard was class personified
Arsenal put in one of their best performances of the season with a 5-0 thrashing of London rivals Chelsea at the Emirates on Tuesday evening.
Kai Havertz paced his former side by scoring a brace, with Ben White also scoring a pair of goals, while Leandro Trossard opened the scoring.
With the title race still in the hands of Manchester City, Mikel Arteta’s side sent a message to Pep Guardiola and Liverpool’s men with an impressive display.
Arsenal are three points ahead of Liverpool, who play Everton tomorrow, and four ahead of Man City, who have two games in hand.
Mail Sport’s Isaan Khan assesses how Arsenal’s players performed, while Kieran Gill gives his verdict on the disappointing Blues.
Arsenal produced a stunning performance to go three points clear with a 5-0 win over Chelsea
Arsenal (4-3-3)
David Raya: 7
A presence in the goal. Another clean slate.
Ben White: 7.5
He capped off a good performance with a neat finish to put his side 2-0 up and open the match.
Ben White bagged a brace on an excellent night for the Arsenal defender
Willem Saliba: 7
Physically, Chelsea’s front line battled well as they got into attacking positions.
Gabriel: 7
Almost had an own goal when the ball hit a post off his leg in the first half. Solid rendering.
Takehiro Tomiyasu: 7
Clattered by Nicolas Jackson after nine minutes, which should have been a red card. Did the right thing to stay on the field and keep going.
Martin Odegaard: 8
He provided two assists and was the personification of the class. A constant threat with his through balls.
Thomas Partey: 8.5
One of the best players on the field. It looked easy in the middle. He will be needed for this last series of games.
Arsenal captain Martin Odegaard was a class personality in an excellent performance for the Gunners
Thomas Partey was one of the best players on the pitch and made things look easy in midfield
Declan rice: 8
A nice assist for Leandro Trossard’s opener. Got into advanced positions, with Partey giving him that cover.
Bukayo Saka: 7
Grown as the game progressed. Aided by his fellow attackers who were on their A-game.
Kai Havertz: 8
Frustrated the crowd with a few early missed chances but hung on and scored two goals. That is resilience.
Leandro Trossard: 7.5
Set the tone with his early attack and caused major problems for the opposition by attacking from the left flank.
Manager – Mikel Arteta: 7
Despite the productivity in the first half, he stuck to his tactics. It worked wonderfully.
Leandro Trossard set the tone with the opening goal just four minutes into the match
Kai Havertz initially frustrated the fans but turned it around with a brace against his old side
Chelsea (4-2-3-1)
Djordje Petrovic: 4.5
He was beaten too easily at his near post in the early exchanges, but then made a series of saves that kept Chelsea in this match… until Arsenal took full control. Often hopeless.
Alfie Gilchrist: 5
One of Chelsea’s own players making his first Premier League start. He had to do his job with Leandro Trossard, who sometimes tormented him. Excellent potential, but not his night.
Axel Disasi: 3.5
Defensively Chelsea were a mess. They folded like a deck of cards, but honestly I’m not sure who to name as the wild card. Disasi had his goalkeeper to thank for denying him an own goal.
Benoit Badiashile: 3.5
Kai Havertz’s attacks behind him forever terrified Badiashile. Didn’t have the pace to overtake him when he made it 3-0. Softly when Havertz then made it 4-0.
Marc Cucurella: 4
Engaged in an ongoing battle with Bukayo Saka, which was exhausting to watch, let alone participate in. Being drawn to the ball twice allowed Ben White to score twice unmarked.
Chelsea were a mess defensively with Axel Disasi (right) in a backline that folded like a deck of cards
Moises Caicedo: 3.5
Another Chelsea signing previously admired by Arsenal, but this was not a midfield battle won by the visitors. Underwhelming results from the £115 million man.
Enzo Fernandez: 3.5
Shot just wide after a tap by Marc Cucurella. What could have been. But what did he do when Kai Havertz made it 4-0? Foreign.
Former British record signing Enzo Fernandez (right) and current record signing Moises Caicedo are both rated 3.5/10 after a terrible midfield performance from the pair
Noni Madueke: 4
A good run down the right as Chelsea tried to round Arsenal with one-twos in the first half, but in reality was largely ineffective. Clearly the ailing Cole Palmer was missed.
Conor Gallagher: 4.5
Tried to get wide of the isolated Nicolas Jackson but spent much of this game in defensive mode. There’s nothing to criticize about the work rate, but you can’t win by sweating alone.
Mychailo Mudryk: 4
Arsenal really wanted Mudryk before Chelsea swooped for him in January 2023, but he didn’t regret it here. Visitors were miserable from back to front.
Nicolas Jackson: 4
Fortunately, he was able to avoid a straight red for his foul on Takehiro Tomiyasu. Even luckier he didn’t get his 10th yellow of the season. Often Chelsea’s only outlet. He squandered every opportunity that came his way, even though he created most of them himself.
Nicolas Jackson was lucky to avoid a red card and somehow also avoid a yellow card in the match
SUBS
Raheem Sterling (for Mudryk, 67) – 5.5
Sent a free-kick straight into the arms of David Raya after being put in.
Trevoh Chalobah (for Fernandez, 67) – 5.5
Formed a back three as Chelsea focused on limiting the damage.
Thiago Silva (for Gilchrist, 78) – N/A
Cesare Casadei (for Madueke, 79) – N/A
Manager – Mauricio Pochettino: 3
Among Arsenal’s plethora of goals was one of the worst corners you will ever see defended. Terrible performance from a team that cost so much to put together. An interesting summer awaits.