- author, Phil McNulty
- role, Chief Football Writer at Emirates Stadium
While Chelsea were swept away with embarrassing ease, Arsenal asked the question in the most emphatic manner. The answer lies with Liverpool and Manchester City.
If the Gunners shared the nagging doubts about their character (or 'bottles', to use the word) that have resurfaced after their recent brief slump, they were humiliated by Chelsea at a frenetic Emirates Stadium. It was wiped away by the virtuoso performance he gave.
Arsenal won 5-0, leaving them 3 points behind Liverpool and 4 points ahead of Manchester City, with a goal difference of +56, which goes without saying that they almost had a cushion for extra points.
They have played one game more than Liverpool and two more than City, but scoreboard pressure is important at the moment and Arsenal are in the lead in that regard.
Mikel Arteta's side were reeling from a 2-0 loss to Aston Villa in their final home league game, but the pressure and nerves going into the game were high as Liverpool had just lost to Crystal Palace at Anfield. , it seemed as if expectations had overcome them.
And with Bayern Munich's subsequent cowardly exit in the Champions League quarter-finals, one wonders whether Arsenal will “suffocate” in the same way that they languished at the final fence in last season's Premier League race. My anxiety increased.
The reaction of the champagne show, held in front of celebrating fans following Saturday's hard-fought win over Wolverhampton Wanderers, gave rise to the idea that a lack of personality could undermine Arsenal in back-to-back games. It should be overturned.
And what made the night even better for Arteta was that this player, acquired from a humble and dysfunctional Chelsea, underlined his growing status as something of a talisman. It was one of his summer signings that came under scrutiny.
Havertz: “It was great” – Arteta
Kai Havertz makes a mockery of those – myself – who labeled him 'Arteta's vanity project' when he struggled to identify his place in the team at the start of the season.
Even in the first half here, Havertz's languid style infuriated a few Arsenal fans, but it didn't last long and by the end of the game his name was echoed in the celebrations and the final whistle There were even loud serenades played after the ringing.
His two goals either side canceled out the most unlikely prospect of a Chelsea comeback, the second a thrilling high finish from one of Martin Odegaard's brilliant passes, produced with great regularity.
The elegant Havertz is suddenly becoming something of a lucky charm for Arsenal. He has scored in 11 games this season, with the Gunners winning in all of them.
Arteta told BBC Sport: “His overall contribution in every phase of play was huge. Add in the two goals he scored and the link-up he showed in important moments and it was a great performance.”
Arsenal were never in serious danger of ruining their record against Chelsea, who have a reputation for mediocre performances. A young fan watched as Mauricio Pochettino's side subsided, brandishing a banner that read: We want you to fight for us. ”
It's safe to say he went home bitterly disappointed. Harsh words, but accurate in this case. Chelsea's second half performance was gutless.
It was a chance for the hosts to take a break from the nerves of the defeat to Villa, and it was a night with all the party elements to boost their confidence ahead of Sunday's electrifying North London derby at Tottenham Hotspur. became.
Games like this, at this stage of the season, are often very tight and decided on fine margins and details. That is not the case here, as Arsenal ran riot in the face of Chelsea's non-existent challenge.
Their performance ticked all the boxes that Arteta would have wanted before the game, and some, barring a missed chance that could have further eclipsed goal difference.
A small rant on what was a near-perfect night before the view shifted to Goodison Park and the Amex Stadium on Wednesday and Thursday.
I'm talking about Liverpool and Manchester City.