Premier League

CHELSEA’S dismal defeat to Arsenal was summed up by a young fan in the away end at The Emirates.The Blues were thrashed 5-0 in what was Mauricio Pochettino’s heaviest defeat of his Stamford Bridge reign.A young fan summed up the feeling at ChelseaCredit: ReutersRio Ferdinand slammed the Blues performance against ArsenalMauricio Pochettino suffered his heaviest defeat as Chelsea bossCredit: AlamyArsenal ran rampant with four goals in 18 second-half minutes as Chelsea’s unbeaten run went flying out of the window.And the latest catastrophe in what has been a horrid season was summed up by a child watching their beloved Blues.They held up a sign that read: “I don’t want your shirt!”I want you to want to fight for ours.”READ MORE IN FOOTBALLChelsea captain Conor Gallagher was asked about the sign during his post-match press interference.Responding to a question about the sign suggesting that Chelsea players don’t work hard enough, he said: ‘“Well we are definitely putting the effort in. “I know how much it means to all the boys, I know it’s been said many times, it’s a very young squad with not much experience as a team in the Premier League.Most read in FootballBEST FREE BET SIGN UP OFFERS FOR UK BOOKMAKER“We have had a lots of ups and downs and we are still improving and working together as a team to get to the next level.“Today was one of those days that we were nowhere near it. “We need to dust ourselves off and also look at the performance and where we can improve and all the mistakes where we can put it right and move onto the next one.”Rio Ferdinand slammed the Chelsea display after the game, claiming they were second best all over the pitch.He said on BT Sport: “They [Chelsea] were second best all over the pitch today. This was men against boys.”They have been good in recent weeks and this season but today I thought they were way off it.Chelsea legend’s daughter shows off stunning figure in backless leopard-print swimsuit”No Palmer, they were men against boys and they got absolutely destroyed today.”Chelsea have suffered a few days to forget after losing the FA Cup semi-final to Manchester City in agonising fashion.They have now lost 11 Premier League games this season and are 30 points off table toppers Arsenal. More

THIAGO SILVA’S wife Belle rubbed salt into Chelsea wounds after they were hammered by Arsenal.The Blues’ underwhelming season got even worse as they suffered a 5-0 defeat to their London rivals.Thiago Silva’s wife Belle hit out at Chelsea againCredit: Instagram @bellesilvaShe has previously called for the club to axe Mauricio PochettinoCredit: AlamyBelle tweeted these emojis after Chelsea’s 5-0 lossCredit: XSilva, 39, came off the bench after 78 minutes to provide experience to a youthful Chelsea starting XI.And after the game, the centre-back’s wife appeared to take aim at the poor performance.Belle, 37, simply tweeted three emojis – which mean see no evil, speak no evil, hear no evil – which suggest she is not allowed to speak her mind honestly.This is not the first time the outspoken Wag has made a dig at Chelsea.READ MORE IN FOOTBALLAfter a 4-2 loss to Wolves in February, she appeared to call for Mauricio Pochettino to be sacked.Belle tweeted: “It’s time to change. If you wait any longer it will be too late.”She later apologised, saying: “I’m sorry that my personal outburst as a passionate Chelsea fan has caused such an impact.“I’m passionate about the team, I thrive on victories and I’m saddened by defeats.Most read in FootballBEST FREE BET SIGN UP OFFERS FOR UK BOOKMAKER“We all want the same thing, a winning team, come on Chelsea.”Belle, who married Silva in 2005, has a history of outbursts.Thiago Silva breaks down in tears on Wembley pitch after Blues crumble against Man CityShe once hit out at Timo Werner, saying: “This is karma, guys. Every team I go to there is a striker who keeps missing goals… this Werner, what is his name?”In another video she added: “We need a goal, we need to win this match but my attackers don’t want to score, I don’t know why they don’t score.”Belle was also unhappy after seeing a mural changed in West London, ranting: “Today I went to Stamford Bridge, and I noticed that the photos changed around the stadium. But I don’t see a photo of @tsilva3 anywhere. Why @ChelseaFC?”Even Liverpool’s Andy Robertson has been on the receiving end of one of her attacks after she responded to the Scot’s post on social media with: “Chilwell is better than u dude you even lost to Southampton.”Silva’s contract is set to expire at the end of this season and he looks set to leave the club.He has been linked with a move back to his homeland of Brazil with Fluminense. Belle often vents her frustrations after heavy defeatsCredit: Instagram @bellesilva More

CHELSEA refused to inform their fans Kai Havertz scored against them as he haunted his former side.Arsenal ran rampant as they thrashed the Blues 5-0 at The Emirates.Chelsea refused to name Kai Havertz on X as he scored twice against themCredit: AFPThe former Chelsea man was terrific in the 5-0 winIt is Mauricio Pochettino’s heaviest defeat as Chelsea manager and to make matters worse Havertz scored twice.The German joined Arsenal from Stamford Bridge last summer and now has 11 Premier League goals this season.And such was the pettiness of Chelsea’s social media team they could not even bring themselves to name Havertz when he fired in two second-half goals.Instead, on their official X account Chelsea simply informed their fans of Havertz’s first goal by tweeting: “Goal to the Gunners.”READ MORE ON ARSENALMinutes later they offered another update on Havertz’s second strike saying: “Goal to Arsenal.”Chelsea were happy to name the Gunners’ other goalscorers Ben White and Leandro Trossard.Fans found the pettiness amusing with one saying: “They’re ashamed to say his name.”Another added: “Sore losers.”Most read in FootballCASINO SPECIAL – BEST CASINO WELCOME OFFERSA third wrote: “Harvertz cooking them is the best thing that could happen 😂”And another commented: “He owns them.”Chelsea influencer Astrid Wett leaves nasty ‘surprise’ for Mikel Arteta at Emirates before huge clash with ArsenalHavertz joined the Gunners from London rivals Chelsea in the summer following a £65million deal.German international Havertz, 24, was regarded as a flop at Chelsea having failed to look comfortable as a No9.It was assumed Mikel Arteta had planned to play Havertz in midfield to add physicality and attacking quality.In recent weeks, though, we have seen the German come into his own for Arsenal leading the line.In fact, Havertz is developing as the perfect No9 for the way Arsenal want to play.Arteta seems to have found a way to use Havertz to not only play to his strengths but to unlock aspects of his game that made him one of the most highly rated young players in Germany.Mikel Arteta’s striker shopping listBy Jordan Davies
ARSENAL are stepping up plans to sign a world-class striker in the summer after their Champions League heartbreak.
Mikel Arteta splashed out £204.5m last summer on Declan Rice, Kai Havertz and Jurrien Timber.
But the Spanish manager accepts he needs a proven goalscorer to take the club to the next level.
And here are the players he is looking at to get the Gunners firing:
BENJAMIN SESKO (RB Leipzig, value £40m-£45m)
One for the future at 20 years old. Scored 16 goals for RB Salzburg in the Austrian Bundesliga last season and the Slovenian has carried on that good form in Germany with Leipzig this campaign.
VIKTOR GYOKERES (Sporting Lisbon, value £60m-£80m)
Been scouted several times this season. The Swedish striker, 25, is more of a traditional No 9 so may not suit Arsenal’s demand for flexibility but would bring a physicality that boss Mikel Arteta craves.
ALEXANDER ISAK (Newcastle, value £75m-£85m)
Impressed in his first two seasons in English football. The Swede, 24, has the pace and finesse to match his finishing ability, and Eddie Howe’s Toon may need to sell to balance the books this summer.
JOSHUA ZIRKZEE (Bologna, value £45m-£50m)
Dutch wonder  is attracting the attentions of clubs across Europe. At 6ft 4in the 22-year-old forward would have no trouble adapting to the Premier League and already has an eye for goal.
XAVI SIMONS (RB Leipzig, value £70m-£80m)
An incredible talent in the Bukayo Saka mould, currently on loan from Paris Saint-Germain. The future of the Dutch attacker, 20, depends on how much money his parent club want to make from him. More

MARTIN ODEGAARD was at his illustrious best as he showed what it takes to be a world-class midfielder as Arsenal bossed the Blues in North London.It took Mikel Arteta’s men just three minutes to open the scoring through Leandro Trossard’s left footed drive after a neat pass from Declan Rice. Martin Odegaard bossed the midfield in a brilliant displayCredit: GettyBen White scored an unlikely doubleCredit: GettyIt wasn’t a perfect Gunners’ performance by any means, as Nicolas Jackson missed a few customary chances and Gabriel turned the ball onto his own post in the first half.After half-time though, things went from bad to dramatically worse…It was Rice causing problems again, as his strike deflected off Conor Gallagher and the chance was laid bare for Ben White to stroke home with his left peg. Before long it was three, and then four with the most crushing blows coming from Chelsea’s Champions League winner Kai Havertz, the German forward was played in by Martin Odegaard and then Bukayo Saka before easing it past Petrovic both times. READ MORE IN FOOTBALLChelsea subbed on an extra defender, which only made things worse as Ben White got his brace with 20 minutes still to go, after a dinked ball from Odegaard again made it FIVE. Excellent for Arteta and embarrassing for Pochettino on the night as Arsenal went top of the Premier League and piled the pressure on their title rivals. Here’s how SunSport’s Lloyd Canfield rated the Arsenal players…DAVID RAYA – 6/10Most read in FootballCommanded his area well when needed, but it was ultimately a quiet night for the Spanish stopper.CASINO SPECIAL – BEST CASINO WELCOME OFFERSTAKEHIRO TOMIYASU – 5Struggled with the pace of Noni Madueke at times as he continued to return from injury, but managed to keep a clean sheet before being subbed in the 72nd minute.Forgotten Arsenal star Jurrien Timber scores screamer just 8 minutes into return from serious injuryWILLIAM SALIBA – 7Real Madrid are you watching?  Composure personified tonight, his physicality and speed were exceptional as per usual, and he was there every time he was called upon.GABRIEL – 6Stepped into tackles nicely on a few occasions, and it was a solid performance from the Brazilian centre-half, but was fortunate not to put the ball in the back of his own net in the first half. Struggled to cope with the pace of Jackson at times in the first half, with little to do in the second.BEN WHITE – 8Linked up brilliantly with Bukayo Saka on the right hand side, and looked unphased defensively against the pace of Mykhailo Mudryk.Finished with on his left foot following a rebound to double Arsenal’s lead, before securing his brace with a tidy volley into the top left corner. DECLAN RICE – 8Was superb in midfield against the club he played for as a boy. Claimed his sixth assist of the season setting up Leandro Trossard’s opener with an early assist, before nearly scoring himself. It was his deflected effort that allowed Ben White to roll home the second, almost added a goal to his tally too. MARTIN ODEGAARD – 9Dazzled with build up play, and caused problems with his passing as he always does. Two more assists, which takes him to eight goals and eight assists this season.Maestro Martin Odegaard; creative, incisive, decisive.THOMAS PARTEY – 7Set the tempo early on in midfield for the Gunners alongside Declan Rice, intercepted well on a few occasions and was great in transition for Arteta’s men.LEANDRO TROSSARD – 7Opened the scoring early on with a left-footed finish slotted into the corner, his tenth goal of the season and second in as many games.BUKAYO SAKA – 6Not his finest night, gave the ball away loosely in the first quarter of the game and was kept quiet early on by Marc Cucurella, tired perhaps…Grew into the game in a big way and ended up with an assist for his troubles. KAI HAVERTZ – 8Impotent for the entirety of the first half, but clinical in the second.Two classy left-footed finishes saw him bag a brace against his former club, but it could’ve easily been three or four. Kai Havertz ran riot against his former clubCredit: ReutersSUBS:GABRIEL MARTINELLI (TROSSARD, 72) – 5Brought on to replace Trossard, hoping to build himself some confidence and maybe grab a goal – it didn’t materialise, missed a 1v1 at the death to make it six. OLEKSANDR ZINCHENKO  (TOMIYASU, 72) – 5More minutes under his belt as he returns to full fitness. Provided a lovely nutmeg for the fans to enjoy towards the end. GABRIEL JESUS (HAVERTZ, 72) – 5Almost added an assist to his tally when he backheeled the ball to Declan Rice who hit the post, ultimately not ending his goal scoring drought since returning from injury. Looked like he was lacking confidence. JORGINHO  (PARTEY, 72) – 5Watched the clock tick down against his passive former side. READ MORE SUN STORIESFABIO VIEIRA  (SAKA, 80) – 5A few minutes in the tank for the diminutive Portuguese man, almost scored a rocket in the dying moments, but hit the side netting. More

ARSENAL wiped away the April blues with a centurion display to keep their title charge at full throttle.Leandro Trossard netted the Gunners’ 100th goal of the season, followed by a Ben White and Kai Havertz double in a rampant second-half blitz to get them back on track after a few bumps in the road this month.Kai Havertz scored twice against his former teamCredit: AFPMartin Odegaard was the architect as Arsenal ran rampantCredit: PABen White had a night to remember as he found the net twiceCredit: PAThe league loss here to Aston Villa 10 days ago and a Champions League quarter-final exit to Bayern Munich have been forgotten. All roads now lead to an epic three-way title race.Meanwhile, Mauricio Pochettino was left feeling blue yet again – perhaps regretting suggesting in the build-up that his Chelsea side are NOT Cole Palmer FC.Without their clinical 20-goal Premier League superstar Palmer to produce moments of magic, the West Londoners were torn apart by an Arsenal outfit smelling blood at the Prem summit.Four points clear of Manchester City in third. Three points clear of Liverpool in second. A goal difference of +55 that is 11 better than City and 12 better than Liverpool.READ MORE ON ARSENALMikel Arteta can sit at home with his feet up for a few days and hope for top-flight madness to ensue.Chelsea were in this at half-time but it is custom for Poch’s men right now to blow up and go missing just when the going is looking half decent.Four goals in 18 second half minutes embarrassingly ended this as a contest, and ended a run of eight Prem games without defeat.How different it could have been had Palmer been well enough to take the field, with Malo Gusto also missing through injury, replaced by academy boy Alfie Gilchrist.Most read in FootballIn the nitty-gritty stages of a title run-in, Arteta has honed his inner ‘Tinkerman’, in particular at left-back, rotating between Oleksandr Zinchenko, Jakub Kiwior and Takehiro Tomiyasu.Arsenal outplayed Chelsea in every departmentThe Blues were barely in the gameBEST FREE BET SIGN UP OFFERS FOR UK BOOKMAKERTomiyasu got the nod this time, while a surprise in midfield saw Thomas Partey pair up with Declan Rice for the first time since August’s Community Shield.Gabriel Jesus dropped out for Kai Havertz, back in his seemingly favoured No.9 position, and he was in behind after just 30 seconds with Benoit Badiashile scrambling backwards.Forgotten Arsenal star Jurrien Timber scores screamer just 8 minutes into return from serious injuryA 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 Chelsea had managed to get a deal for boyhood Blues fan Rice over the line before his arrival. Instead, the £105m Emirates lure proved too much last summer.Ironically, Arsenal made desperate attempts to sign Mykhailo Mudryk and Moises Caicedo in the past 18 months before they ended up at Stamford Bridge for a combined £182m.You wonder what Chelsea actually paid for with that duo, especially Ukrainian winger Mudryk, who made it clear last night that tracking back simply is not for him.Bukayo Saka was running rampant down the right with Ben White on the overlap, leaving Marc Cucurella chasing shadows. Mudryk did not look overly bothered.VAR then incredibly chose not to check a horrific studs-up challenge from Nicolas Jackson into the shin of Tomiyasu. Ref Simon Hooper also chose not to act.With Chelsea’s hot-heads losing their cool, Arsenal were picking up chances easier than at an Emirates box buffet.Havertz latched onto a defensive mistake but opted to pass instead of 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.Odegaard cut Chelsea open time and time againHavertz put in a masterful performanceDeclan Rice got into advanced positions on the leftWasteful Arsenal were giving Chelsea a lifeline and they should have been punished. Badiashile’s flicked header from a corner was begging to be tapped in at the far post.Jackson was giving William Saliba a good battle, forcing him back down the left only for his tightly-laced finishing boots to come into the equation yet again 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, both failing to properly test David Raya.Arsenal went into the break looking nervy, but emerged defiant and lethal. Having wasted a few early chances, White begun the hammering in the 52nd minute, curling in from close range from a badly defended corner.Martin Odegaard’s defence-splitting pass put Havertz in five minutes later and this time the German did not disappoint. He got his second in the 67th minute, in off the post having drifted into the box with complete ease.To top it all off, White – who had two Prem goals this season before tonight – grabbed a spectacular second in the 70th minute, volleying a chipped Odegaard pass into the top corner.The Englishman produced a cheeky grin, embarrassed it managed to go in.READ MORE SUN STORIESDon’t worry Ben, you weren’t the only one embarrassed at the Emirates last night.Pochettino will be hanging his head in shame and disbelief.Chelsea suffered their heaviest defeat under Mauricio PochettinoCredit: EPA More

NICOLAS JACKSON avoided punishment for a dangerous challenge on Takehiro Tomiyasu during Chelsea’s Premier League clash with Arsenal.The forward collided with Tomiyasu just nine minutes into the match, catching his lower leg studs-up.Nicolas Jackson avoided punishment for a bad challenge on Takehiro TomiyasuCredit: TNT SportsThe forward went studs-up into Tomiyasu’s ankleArsenal full-back Tomiyasu immediately went to ground after rolling his ankle as a result of the challenge.The Gunners were subsequently awarded a free-kick, but Jackson escaped a yellow card.Many fans believed he should have been sent off following the challenge.One person took to X to write: “How is this not a red card for Nicolas Jackson? Not even a yellow!!! Shocking from the officials again.”Read More on FootballAnother added: “That should be a red card for Nicolas Jackson. That’s an awful challenge on Takehiro Tomiyasu.”A third said: “Nicolas Jackson should be sent off. Goodness me that was a bad challenge.”While a fourth commented: “Wow, that Nicolas Jackson challenge was horrendous. Clear red all day long.”TNT Sports revealed at half-time that the incident was looked at and cleared by VAR.Most read in FootballCASINO SPECIAL – BEST CASINO WELCOME OFFERSRio Ferdinand was left in disbelief when he found out the challenge went unpunished.He said: “Someone explain that to me please!”Forgotten Arsenal star Jurrien Timber scores screamer just 8 minutes into return from serious injuryArsenal took an early lead in the match through Leandro Trossard in the fourth minute.Chelsea came close to equalising before half-time, but the Gunners doubled the advantage after the break.Ben White netted from close range after a clever short corner from Bukayo Saka and Martin Odegaard.And Kai Havertz scored twice against his former club to extend Arsenal’s lead.White scored again with a fantastic volley to claim the Gunners’ fifth.Mikel Arteta’s side went on to win the match 5-0, extending their lead at the top of the table to three points. More