Arsenal v Chelsea player ratings: Odegaard 9, Havertz 8; Mudryk 3, Jackson 4

Gunners three points clear at top of the Premier League after thrashing London rivals 5-0 at the Emirates Stadium

David Raya 6/10

ARSENAL RATINGS: Not shots on target for Spaniard to deal with until 69th minute when Sterling’s dipping free-kick flew straight into his arms. Getty Images

Ben White 8/10

In right place to block goal-bound Cucurella shot that would have levelled scores. Calmly side-footed Arsenal into 2-0 lead at start of second half. Miss-hit a cross in 70th minute that flew into top corner for his second goal and Arsenal's fifth. APShow less

William Saliba 7/10

Left trailing in wake of Jackson in first half as Chelsea attacker’s surging run ended with defensive partner Gabriel hitting own woodwork. No problems in second half as Chelsea disappeared as attacking threat. AFPShow less

Gabriel 7/10

A couple of sticky moments at back including when he deflected ball onto own post after surging run and cross by Jackson. Out-muscled Mandueke before starting move for third goal. Reuters

Takehiro Tomiyasu 7/10

One the receiving end of a nasty tackle from Jackson early on but able to continue. Pace of Mandueke caused him a few problems but generally solid display from Japanese full-back. Reuters

Thomas Partey 7/10

Back in starting XI, Ghanaian kept things simple in middle of park as shown by first-time pass to Rice in build-up to Trossard goal. The fulcrum that allowed Rice and Odegaard to dominate between Chelsea's midfield and attacking lines. PAShow less

Declan Rice 9/10

England midfielder was outstanding. Teed-up Trossard to earn assist for Arsenal’s early goal. Silky touch and turn before curling just over which nearly put side 2-0 up. Fired low shot too close to Petrovic just after break and also hit post, although offside flag had gone up. AFPShow less

Martin Odegaard 9/10

Norwegian pulled strings in some style creating eight chances for teammates. Sensational ball through to Havertz who almost scored just after half-time then produced another wonder-ball to set-up same player for third goal. APShow less

Bukayo Saka 7/10

Shanked one backpass out for corner from halfway line in comical fashion. Usual attacking threat coming in from right, heavily involved in third and fourth goals. EPA

Kai Havertz 8/10

A night to remember against his former club. Missed three chances before showing fine composure in front of goal after break to score twice and earn a standing ovation when substituted. AFP

Leandro Trossard 8/10

Drilled Arsenal into a fifth-minute lead with his 15th goal of the season and almost grabbed another when he deflected shot was saved. Booked for late tackle on former Brighton teammate Cucurella. ReutersShow less

Gabriel Martinelli 7/10

SUBS: (On for Havertz 73’) Came on with team 5-0 up and in total control. Curled shot with outside of right boot wide of target and should have made it six when clean through but shot blocked by keeper. ReutersShow less

Gabriel Jesus 6/10

(On for Trossard 73’) Former Manchester City striker had no opportunity to add to the rout. AP

Oleksandr Zinchenko 6/10

(On for Tomiyasu 73’) Easy time to come on with team in total control and the opposition a rabble. PA

Jorginho 6/10

(On for Partey 73’) Slotted into midfield with little problem with match well and truly over. Reuters

Fabio Vieira N/A

(On for Saka 81’) Fired shot into side netting after Chelsea defence backed off. AP

Djorde Petrovic 5/10

CHELSEA RATINGS: Busy night for keeper as Arsenal scored five, had 27 shots with 10 on target. Poor for opening goal when he failed to block Trossard’s low strike with his legs but let down by porous defence for rest. AFPShow less

Alfie Gilchrist 5/10

Making his first Premier League start, 20-year-old was unable to prevent Trossard scoring down his flank. Booked for late challenge on same player. Tough night for a young defender in young Chelsea team. APShow less

Benoit Badiashile 4/10

Looked very shaky throughout with poor distribution, positioning and decision-making as Arsenal ran Blues defence ragged. His central-defensive partnership with Disasi was a shambles. Reuters

Axel Disasi 4/10

Nearly on end of cross into middle but failed to get foot onto ball. Almost scored own-goal when his deflection on Trossard shot forced save from Petrovic that keeper knew little about. Getty Images

Marc Cucurella 5/10

Saw shot that would have made it 1-1 blocked then set up Enzo with rebound that teammate failed to finish. Booked in first half which made trying to deal with Saka tricky. Out-muscled by Havertz for Arsenal’s third goal. AFPShow less

Moises Caicedo 5/10

In right place to intercept Havertz pass intended for Rice as Arsenal piled on early pressure. Chelsea midfield given runaround by Odegaard and Rice. AP

Conor Gallagher 6/10

Fabulous cross into box to pick out Jackson but striker made right hash of headed finish. Unfortunate that block on cross into box fell at feet of White who doubled Gunners’ advantage. Getty Images

Enzo Fernandez 5/10

Argentine was skinned in style by Rice in first half which almost ended with Gunners midfielder scoring. Side-footed good chance wide on half-hour mark when should have at least hit target. AP

Mykhailo Mudryk 3/10

Back in side but Ukrainian was invisible man for the 67 kinutes he was on the pitch. Should really have been hooked at break as game completely past him by. AFP

Noni Madueke 5/10

Surging run past Tomiyasu and ball into box almost ended with Cucurella and then Enzo scoring. Flashes of threat from the attacker but lacking in final product at times. Getty Images

Nicolas Jackson 4/10

Awful challenge on Tomiyaso’s ankle in opening 10 minutes should have seen a red card. One excellent run down left-wing ended with Gabriel hitting own post. No confidence in front of goal missing glorious chances in the air and on deck. AFPShow less

Raheem Sterling 4/10

SUBS: (On for Mudryk 67’) Struck free-kick from distance straight at keeper straight after coming on for Chelse’a first shot on target. Failed to track back with White for fifth goal and sloppy pass almost led to a sixth. Getty ImagesShow less

Trevoh Chalobah N/A

(On for Enzo 67’) Brought on to try and stem to the tide with side already 4-0 down. EPA

Thiago Silva N/A

(On for Gilchrist 78’) AP

Cesare Casadei N/A

(On for Mandueke 78’)

Ruthless Arsenal threw down the gauntlet in the Premier League title race with a 5-0 thrashing of London rivals Chelsea to move three points clear at the top of the table on Tuesday.

Leandro Trossard gave the home side an early lead before Ben White and Kai Havertz scored two each in a dazzling spell after the break to sweep aside a dazed Chelsea.

It was a powerful statement by Arsenal who have recovered impressively from a home defeat by Aston Villa and bowing out of the Champions League. And with four games remaining they are piling the pressure on Liverpool and Manchester City.

Arsenal have 77 points from 34 games with Liverpool, who face Everton on Wednesday, on 74 points from 33 games. Reigning champions Manchester City have 73 points but have two games in hand, starting with a trip to Brighton & Hove Albion on Thursday.

It was the sixth time Arsenal have scored five or more in a Premier League game this season and in such a tight race their superior goal difference could prove crucial.

“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,” said Gunners manager Mikel Arteta.

“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.

“It is a big London derby and we know what it means for the fans. We will enjoy it and rest and get ready for the next one.

“What I would like is that the players can manage themselves in the dressing room. You have to leave them some space. They know what they are playing for. That's what holds the team together. My role is to demand them and also in the right moments make them believe they can do it.

“We have a lot of games coming up. Let's enjoy tonight and let's go back to work.”

The Spaniard was also full of praise for captain Martin Odegaard's performance. “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,” Arteta said.

“That's always a question: How are you going to handle a different role [as captain]? 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.”

Roared on by the Emirates crowd the hosts needed four minutes to settle any nerves as a marauding Declan Rice drove into the heart of the area and weighted his pass perfectly for Trossard to fire home.

Dorde Petrovic would have been disappointed to be beaten from a narrow angle but made amends with a flurry of saves in quick succession to deny Bukayo Saka and Trossard, and then kept out a close-range deflection, although he knew little about it.

Despite being under siege, a Chelsea side without 20-goal Cole Palmer had their moments and Axel Disasi somehow failed to connect in front of goal from a flicked on corner.

Nicolas Jackson saw a cross hit the post via a Gabriel deflection but then inexplicably failed to head in a brilliant Conor Gallagher cross.

But Arsenal tuned up the heat in the second half and Chelsea could not cope. White made it 2-0 in the 52nd minute after Rice's shot deflected to him and Havertz was then played through by an exquisite pass from Odegaard and finished in style.

Former Chelsea forward Havertz made it 4-0 with a low finish and White then miss-hit a cross that flew into the back of the net to end the scoring.

The defeat left Chelsea ninth in the table and manager Mauricio Pochettino gave a downcast assessment of his team’s prospects of qualifying for Europe after a humbling loss.

“Now it is difficult to see the future because after this game we feel disappointed,” he said. “It is difficult to talk about objectives.

“If we compete like Saturday [in the FA Cup semi-final defeat to Manchester City], OK. But if we compete like today, I think we deserve to go into Europe? I think in this way, no.”

You can see the player ratings from Tuesday's game in the gallery above. To move on to the next slide, slick on the arrows or swipe if using a mobile device.