ARSENAL'S ODE TO PEP

Poetry in motion as Gunners blow Blues away in a superb first half to send a message to City and return to top

- JOHN CROSS

ARSENAL stormed back to the top of the Premier League after shaking themselves back into life.

But, in stark contrast, Chelsea slumped to a sixth straight defeat under caretaker boss Frank Lampard and their woeful first-half capitulation felt like a new low even in the most turbulent of seasons.

It is hard to remember a Chelsea team showing so little fight in a London derby and their defending was more Sunday League than Champions League. Arsenal simply blew them away with a first half full of passion, pace and determination to get their campaign back on track. Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola will have watched with apprehension.

Martin Odegaard scored twice, with Gabriel Jesus adding a close-range third.

After a run of four games without a win, Arsenal blitzed Chelsea and, while they may only be back on top until City's game with West Ham tonight, they are not ready to give up yet.

But that is exactly what Chelsea did. Their first-half showing was pathetic and will be an embarrassment to caretaker boss Lampard, a club legend who only knew success and glory.