ARSENAL erased the April blues with a heroic showing to maintain their title pursuit at full throttle.

Leandro Trossard scored the Gunners’ 100th goal of the season, followed by a flurry of second-half goals from Ben White and Kai Havertz to get them back on track after a couple setbacks this month.

9Kai Havertz scored twice against his former teamCredit: AFP9Martin Odegaard was the architect as Arsenal ran rampantCredit: PA9Ben White had a night to remember, finding the net twice.Credit: PA.

The league loss to Aston Villa ten days ago, as well as the Champions League quarterfinal exit to Bayern Munich, have been forgotten. All roads now lead to a thrilling three-way title contest.

Meanwhile, Mauricio Pochettino was left feeling blue yet again, possibly regretting implying in the build-up that his Chelsea team is NOT Cole Palmer FC.

Without their clinical 20-goal Premier League great Palmer to provide moments of magic, the West Londoners were ripped apart by an Arsenal side tasting blood at the Premier League summit.

Manchester City is four points down in third place. Liverpool is in second place, three points behind. A +55 goal differential puts them 11 points ahead of City and 12 ahead of Liverpool.

Mikel Arteta may sit at home with his feet up for a few days and hope for top-flight chaos to follow.

Chelsea were in this at halftime, but Poch’s men have a habit of blowing up and disappearing just when things appear to be going well.

Four goals in 18 second-half minutes terminated the game, snapping an eight-game Premier League winning streak.

What a different game it may have been if Palmer had been fit to play, with Malo Gusto also missing due to injury and being replaced by academy lad Alfie Gilchrist.

In the final phases of a title race, Arteta has refined his inner ‘Tinkerman’, particularly at left-back, where he alternates between Oleksandr Zinchenko, Jakub Kiwior, and Takehiro Tomiyasu.

9Arsenal outplayed Chelsea in every department9The Blues were barely in the game

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Tomiyasu was given the nod this time, while Thomas Partey partnered Declan Rice in midfield for the first time since the Community Shield in August.

Gabriel Jesus dropped out for Kai Havertz, who returned to his obviously favoured No.9 position, and he fell behind after only 30 seconds, with Benoit Badiashile scrambling backwards.

Play video.Jurrien Timber, a forgotten Arsenal legend, hits a screamer barely 8 minutes after returning from a terrible injury.

A sign of things to come, Trossard drove low and hard through the legs of Djordje Petrovic just minutes later, finishing off Declan Rice’s drive from deep with Chelsea’s backline backing off in fear.

How Pochettino wishes. Prior to Rice’s arrival, Chelsea had completed a deal to sign the lifelong Blues supporter. Instead, Emirates’ £105 million offer proved too much last summer.

Ironically, Arsenal made desperate attempts to sign Mykhailo Mudryk and Moises Caicedo in the previous 18 months before they arrived at Stamford Bridge for a combined £182 million.

You have to question what Chelsea paid for with that combination, particularly Ukrainian winger Mudryk, who stated last night that tracking back is not for him.

Bukayo Saka was racing wild down the right, with Ben White on the overlap, leaving Marc Cucurella chasing shadows. Mudryk did not appear worried.

VAR then, shockingly, elected not to check Nicolas Jackson’s horrible studs-up challenge into Tomiyasu’s shin. Ref Simon Hooper also declined to act.

With Chelsea’s hotheads losing their calm, Arsenal had an easier time creating opportunities than at an Emirates box buffet.

Havertz capitalized on a defensive blunder but chose to pass rather than shoot. Moments later, he made the right decision only for Petrovic to come to the rescue again with a tremendous double save, also stopping Axel Disasi from prodding into his own net.

9Odegaard cut Chelsea open repeatedly.9Havertz delivered a great performance9Declan Rice moved into advanced positions on the left

Wasteful Arsenal had given Chelsea a lifeline, and they should have been punished. Badiashile’s flicked header from a corner was begging to be converted at the far post.

Jackson was giving William Saliba a good fight, forcing him back down the left only for his tightly-laced finishing boots to enter the equation once more before heading wide from Conor Gallagher’s pick-out.

Noni Madueke beat Tomiyasu on the other side, and his cross found Cucurella and Enzo Fernandez, who both failed to test David Raya.

Arsenal went into the interval nervous, but came out defiant and dangerous. After missing a few early chances, White opened the scoring in the 52nd minute, curling in from close range off a poorly defended corner.

Martin Odegaard’s defence-splitting pass brought Havertz in five minutes later, and the German did not disappoint. He scored his second in the 67th minute, shooting off the post after drifting into the box with ease.

To cap it all off, White, who had two Premier League goals this season before tonight, scored a fantastic second in the 70th minute by volleying a chipped Odegaard pass into the top corner.

The Englishman gave a sly grin, embarrassed, and managed to go in.

Just minutes later, Trossard drove low and hard through Djordje Petrovic’s knees, completing Declan Rice’s effort from deep as Chelsea’s backline fled in terror.

How Pochettino wishes. Prior to Rice’s arrival, Chelsea had completed a deal to sign the lifelong Blues supporter. Instead, Emirates’ £105 million offer proved too much last summer.

Ironically, Arsenal made desperate attempts to sign Mykhailo Mudryk and Moises Caicedo in the previous 18 months before they arrived at Stamford Bridge for a combined £182 million.

You have to question what Chelsea paid for with that combination, particularly Ukrainian winger Mudryk, who stated last night that tracking back is not for him.

Bukayo Saka was racing wild down the right, with Ben White on the overlap, leaving Marc Cucurella chasing shadows. Mudryk did not appear worried.

VAR then, shockingly, elected not to check Nicolas Jackson’s horrible studs-up challenge into Tomiyasu’s shin. Ref Simon Hooper also declined to act.

With Chelsea’s hotheads losing their calm, Arsenal had an easier time creating opportunities than at an Emirates box buffet.

Havertz capitalized on a defensive blunder but chose to pass rather than shoot. Moments later, he made the correct decision, only for Petrovic to come to his rescue again with a fantastic double save that also prevented Axel Disasi from prodding into his own goal.

9Odegaard cut Chelsea open time and time again9Havertz put in a masterful performance9Declan Rice got into advanced positions on the left

Wasteful Arsenal threw Chelsea a lifeline, and they should have been punished. Badiashile’s flicked header from a corner deserved to be converted at the far post.

Jackson was putting up a strong fight against William Saliba, forcing him back down the left only for his neatly laced finishing boots to enter the equation again before heading wide from Conor Gallagher’s pick-out.

Noni Madueke defeated Tomiyasu on the other side, and his cross found Cucurella and Enzo Fernandez, who both failed to test David Raya.

Arsenal went into the break anxious, but emerged determined and threatening. After a couple early chances, White broke the deadlock in the 52nd minute, curling in from close range from a poorly defended corner.

Martin Odegaard’s defensive-splitting ball brought Havertz in five minutes later, and the German did not disappoint. He scored his second goal in the 67th minute, firing off the post after drifting into the box with ease.

To cap it all off, White, who had two Premier League goals this season prior to tonight, added a beautiful second in the 70th minute by volleying a chipped Odegaard pass into the top corner.

The Englishman offered a sly grin, ashamed, and managed to enter.

Ben, don’t worry, you weren’t the only one embarrassed at the Emirates last night.

Pochettino will hang his head, humiliated and disbelieving.