By John Cross
They were playing all the party songs after the final whistle at the Emirates.
And no wonder the Arsenal fans were in the mood to dance after a five-star performance which put them three points clear at the top of the Premier League.
The Chelsea fans played party poopers as the away end was virtually empty long before the end after another humiliating night for Mauricio Pochettino. This felt like a new low for Chelsea as their second-half collapse was an embarrassment while Arsenal’s goal spree has restored belief they could yet be crowned champions.
Manchester City have got two games in hand but must go to Brighton on Thursday night knowing they cannot afford a slip, especially with Arsenal back to their free-scoring best.
Of course, the Arsenal DJ wheeled out the song of the season for Kai Havertz who scored twice against his old club and celebrated like it meant the world to him.
Havertz was brilliant again as his double took him to 11 goals in all competitions and he has played such a key role in Arsenal’s title challenge.
No wonder the home fans love their version of the Waka Waka song as they chant sarcastically: “£60m down the drain - Kai Havertz scores again.”
Havertz never quite fulfilled his full potential at Stamford Bridge but Mikel Arteta is definitely getting the best out of him now.
If only Chelsea had a striker who could put the ball in the back of the net as they were as bad in attack as they were defensively and Nicolas Jackson missed a hat trick of big chances.
No wonder the Chelsea fans are fed-up and it is hard to see how Pochettino can turn this shambles around as time looks to be running out for him with displays like this.
Arsenal were simply too good as Ben White also scored twice and, if they wobbled last week after back-to-back defeats to Aston Villa and Bayern Munich, then a gritty win at Wolves followed by a demolition of Chelsea has put them in the mood for Sunday’s North London derby.
They never looked back after taking a fourth-minute lead. Declan Rice was playing in a more advanced role in midfield with Thomas Partey restored to the starting line-up.
Rice drove forward from midfield, laid it off to Leandro Trossard and his low shot embarrassed Chelsea keeper Djordje Petrovic at his near post.
Jackson was lucky not to see red after an awful challenge on Takehiro Tomiyasu while Arsenal did not take their chances as Havertz passed rather than shot and then saw another effort saved by Petrovic.
Chelsea were very much in the game at half time but Arsenal came out refreshed after the break - and blew Pochettino’s men away.
They got a second after 52 minutes as Chelsea’s sloppy defending was horribly exposed. Rice’s shot was blocked but it fell perfectly for White to fire past Petrovic.
Five minutes later, Arsenal were 3-0 up. Gabriel looked to have fouled Noni Madueke but nothing was given and Martin Odegaard’s brilliant pass released Havertz who raced through, held off Marc Cucurella and then fired past Petrovic.
It was 4-0 after 65 minutes. Bukayo Saka set up Havertz who turned beautifully in the box, opened up his body and then fired in his second of the night. What an inspired signing he has been.
White got the fifth after 70 minutes. Odegaard got his second assist of the night as he played in White who finished brilliantly with a delicious side-foot volley.
It was a victory to get Arsenal back to full confidence and a defeat which is arguably Chelsea’s lowest point of a turbulent season.
It is also Chelsea’s heaviest defeat since a 6-0 thrashing at Manchester City in 2019 and Pochettino’s task looks harder than ever.
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