A tough trip to fierce rivals Spurs will follow on Sunday for Arsenal, though Arteta will be hoping the Gunners make the visit to north London boosted by Liverpool or City dropping points.
And, if this strong performance against Chelsea, which included 27 shots, is anything to go by, the Arsenal manager will be confident his side – unlike last season – can push the title race all the way.Chelsea came into this contest unbeaten in eight Premier League games, winning four and drawing as many, but saw that streak come to an abrupt end here on a night when they managed just one attempt on target.
Pochettino will still harbour hopes of a late charge for European football, sitting just three points behind sixth-placed Newcastle United, but the early-season damage may prove too much to recover from.
This second-half collapse also marked more Emirates misery for Chelsea, who lost consecutive Premier League away games against Arsenal for the first time since a run of three between December 2001 and October 2003.Arsenal recorded their biggest ever victory against Chelsea across all competitions (5-0), while this was the Blues’ heaviest defeat in a London derby since losing 6-0 to Queens Park Rangers in March 1986.
Arsenal have won three London derbies in the Premier League this season by 5+ goals (5-0 v Crystal Palace, 6-0 v West Ham and 5-0 v Chelsea), the most such victories in a single campaign by a team in English league history.
Chelsea have conceded 57 goals in the Premier League this season; their most in a single campaign in the competition (overtaking their 55 from the 1994/95 and 1996/97 seasons).