FA PREMIER LEAGUE 

ARSENAL 4 (Saka 40, Martinelli 45, 80, Odegaard 71).  

EVERTON  0

ARSENAL fans were left walking in a dreamy wonderland after watching the Gunners race into a five point league lead – just as Spurs were dumped out of the FA Cup by the Championship’s Sheffield United.

The Gunners are firing on all cylinders with 13 games to go and confidence is sky high after a total thrashing of woeful Everton at the Emirates.

Once again it was Mikel Arteta’s three amigos – Gabriel Martinelli, Bukayo Saka and Martin Odegaard – who proved the difference, although there were strong performances all over the park.

“When you look at the players every single day you feel how much they want it,” Arteta said after the thumping.

“You see how much they want to please our people.

When asked about the pressure of the title race, he said: “What I like best is everyone has the enthusiasm to do it.

“We have to promote that. But we can play better and make sure we prepare really well for every game.”

He spoke about an emerging chemistry between Leandro Trossard and Martinelli, and how Oleksandr Zinchenko”s “unpredictable” style was bringing something unique to the side.

Saka broke the deadlock after a typically stubborn 40 minutes of defending from Sean Dyche’s Everton side.

Arsenal’s tried and tested attacks out play were being blocked with ease and it was no surprise that the opener came from a more central and direct pass from midfield.

After controlling a through ball from Zinchenko with a graceful 180 degree swivel that left the defender for dead, Saka smashed into the top corner at Pickford’s near post. Arteta said after the game that it was a “magical moment”.

The Gunners went 2-0 just before the break after a massive bungle from Idrissa Gueye left Martinelli one and one and with time to pick his spot.

With the Gunners in full command fans would have been wary of injuries with Everton looking angry and some crunching tackles flying in on Saka and Odegaard.

The pass master Thomas Partey came on at half time for an out of sorts Jorginho, whose calmness and control seemed to have deserted him.

And the party had already begun in Gunners minds with the Saliba chant booming out and long spells of passing ‘oles!’

With tragic Everton forced to at least try to attack, more and more space opened up all over the pitch.

Odegaard could not miss after Trossard cut it back across the face.

Martinelli – who has got his mojo back – got his second, tucking in at the near post from a Eddie Nketiah pass.

The second half saw good chances for Trossard and Nketiah on a night when Arsenal could have easily scored seven or eight.

The attackers were queuing with 15 mins to go and there was a welcome return for the long absent Arsenal Number 10, Emile Smith Rowe.

There was even time for a comedy goal line clearance by Aaron Ramsdale in injury time before the final whistle blew on a perfect night in Islington.

Arsenal: Ramsdale, White, Saliba, Gabriel, Zinchenko (Tierney 80), Xhaka (Vieira 72), Jorginho (Partey 45), Saka, Martinelli, Odegaard (Rowe 82), Trossard (Nketiah 72)
Subs not used: Turner, Kiwior, Holding, Tomiyasu

Everton: Pickford, Tarkowski, Keane, McNeill, Onana, Doucoure (Davies 72), Iwobi, Mykolenko, Maupay (Gray 61), Coleman (Godfrey 61), Gueye (Holgate 45).
Subs not used: Begovic, Mina, Vinagre, Coady, Simms

Attendance: 60213