Arsenal powered into second place in the Premier League with a blistering 5-2 win against West Ham that breathed fresh life into their title challenge.
Mikel Arteta’s side ran riot in the first half at the London Stadium, scoring five times to move six points behind leaders Liverpool, who host spluttering champions Manchester City on Sunday.
Gabriel Magalhaes opened the floodgates with an early goal before Leandro Trossard doubled Arsenal’s lead.
Martin Odegaard’s penalty was followed by Kai Havertz’s ninth goal this season.
Aaron Wan-Bissaka and Emerson struck in quick succession for West Ham, but Bukayo Saka’s penalty capped a virtuoso performance from the Arsenal forward.
The Gunners’ title hopes were badly damaged by a run of four league games without a win prior to beating Nottingham Forest last weekend.
Arteta admitted this week that Arsenal must be almost perfect to catch Liverpool.
And, following their 5-1 thrashing of Sporting Lisbon in the Champions League on Tuesday, this was further evidence that, while Arteta’s team might not be perfect yet, they are undoubtedly back on track.
Arsenal’s first top-flight away win since September was a timely reminder that the team who pushed City to the brink in the title race last term should not be written off with over half the season left.
Chasing a first title since 2004, Arsenal have been revitalised by the return of captain Martin Odegaard, who was sidelined for 12 matches in all competitions with an ankle injury.
Since the Norway midfielder was restored to the starting line-up, Arsenal have gone unbeaten in four successive games, with Manchester United due to visit the Emirates Stadium on Wednesday.
West Ham boss Julen Lopetegui had lifted some of the mounting pressure on him with Monday’s win at Newcastle.
But Arteta, who hails from the same Basque region as his close friend Lopetegui, showed no mercy as Arsenal seized control in an astonishing first half.
