ARSENAL returned to the top of the English Premier League standings tonight after a comfortable 3-1 victory over Chelsea at the Emirates Stadium.
Martin Odegaard scored twice and Gabriel Jesus added the other goal, all in a one-sided first half, as the Gunners outclassed their struggling visitors.
England youth international with Nigerian heritage Noni Madueke scored a consolation goal for Chelsea as they lost their six straight game under Frank Lampard.
It is Chelsea’s worst sequence of results since 1993.
Arsenal had gone four league games without a win and were thrashed 4-1 by their title rivals Manchester City last week, but they took control tonight and the game was essentially over within the first 35 minutes.
Odegaard began the scoring in the 18th minute, meeting Granit Xhaka’s pass with a clean strike from close range.
The Arsenal captain and Xhaka repeated the routine for Arsenal’s second in the 31st minute and Jesus wrapped it up three minutes later.
Arsenal eased off in the second half and Chelsea pulled one back in the 65th minute but hardly looked like staging a stirring comeback.
Mikel Arteta’s league leaders are now two points clear of Manchester City, who have two games in hand, while Chelsea are stuck in 12th spot.
