Gabriel Martinelli starred as Arsenal moved five points clear at the top of the Premier League with a 4-0 defeat of struggling Everton on Wednesday.
Bukayo Saka broke Everton’s stubborn resistance late in the first half before Brazilian striker Martinelli doubled Arsenal’s lead at the Emirates Stadium.
Martin Odegaard won his third and Martinelli completed Arsenal’s biggest win since October on a night that could prove to be another key moment in their pursuit of the title.
It will be vital for Mikel Arteta’s side to win a game in hand at second-placed Manchester City as the title race draws to a close.
With 13 games remaining, the win keeps Arsenal in pole position to win their first title since Arsene Wenger’s ‘Invincibles’ in 2003-04.
After wobbling through a three-game league run without a win that culminated with City knocking them off top spot with a 3-1 win at the Emirates, Arsenal have bounced back nicely.
Three straight wins since City’s defeat have taken the Gunners to 60 points, their highest total after 25 Premier League games, alongside their famous 2003-04 and 2007-08 campaigns.
Sean Dyche began his Everton reign with a 1-0 win over Arsenal at Goodison Park on February 4.
But Everton have lost three times and won just once since then, leaving them sitting third at the bottom of the table.
Everton have played more games than all the teams in the bottom half and remain the lowest scorers in the league this season with just 17 goals.
If Dyche can’t overcome the pain, Everton are in grave danger of playing in the second tier for the first time since 1954.
Arteta was rewarded for naming the same team that won 1-0 at Leicester on Saturday, with Leandro Trossard again selected in attack instead of Eddie Nketiah.
Jorginho fired home from inside the Everton area after a short corner almost caught the visitors napping.
Under rare Everton pressure, Aaron Ramsdale had to save from Neal Maupay twice in quick succession, but both of the forward’s efforts lacked the power to test the keeper.
Cunning Saka
Arteta insists everything is “good” between Gabriel and William Saliba despite the Arsenal centre-back’s heated confrontation on the pitch after the Leicester game.
Gabriel definitely seemed unaffected by the fuss when he slid right with a perfectly timed block to stop Maupay from unloading the shot.
Everton’s rear guard action lasted until the 40th minute when Saka opened the floodgates.
Oleksandr Zinchenko’s pass found Saka in the Everton area and the 21-year-old held off Vitaliy Mykolenko before unleashing a fierce strike into the top corner for his 11th goal of the season.
Maupay almost mustered an immediate reply for Everton with a long-range blast that went just wide.
Despite that escape, Arsenal were firing on all cylinders and Martinelli extended their lead in the first half.
Saka was the provider this time as he snatched possession from a sleepy Idrissa Gueye and found Martinelli, who headed home from close range for a goal confirmed after a VAR review for a strict offside claim against the Brazilian.
Odegaard put the result beyond doubt in the 71st minute when the Arsenal captain beat Jordan Pickford with a deflected strike from Trossard’s cross.
There was still time for the heavily-armed Arsenal to score again in the 80th minute as Nketiah’s cut-back was held by Martinelli at the near post.