ISAAN KHAN: Thomas Partey’s return to the starting XI is a timely boost for Arsenal’s title challenge… while Kai Havertz shows his resilience in 5-0 thrashing of his former side Chelsea

Arsenal went three points clear at the top of the Premier League with a dominant 5-0 victory over Chelsea on Tuesday night.

There were a number of interesting stories to come from the match, including Kai Havertz, who impressed against his former side despite a slow start to the game.

Meanwhile, Thomas Partey also played a big part in the victory from midfield, after what has been a difficult season for him due to injuries.

His return to the starting fold could provide a boost for Declan Rice, but most importantly, the Gunners as a whole going into the final four games of the season.  

Mail Sport’s Isaan Khan takes a look at how Partey and Havertz fared on Tuesday night.

Partey’s return to starting XI a timely boost 

Aside from the thumping manner of the scoreline, it was the Arsenal midfield which demanded as much attention.

For the first time this season, since the Community Shield victory over Manchester City, both Declan Rice and Thomas Partey had started together in midfield.

Along with Martin Odegaard, it’s arguably Mikel Arteta’s most potent triumvirate — and one which will centre the core of Arsenal’s blistering title run-in.

Partey had been out with a hamstring injury from November 9 to February 29, returning to the squad for the 6-0 trashing on March 4. A gradual reintegration period followed.

He has been missed, and it showed. Partey flew into tackles, both sliding and on his feet, to put a pause on Chelsea forays forward, particularly when Conor Gallagher was in possession.

The Ghanaian’s spatial awareness is a key asset to his game, alert to being in the right place at the right time.

Thomas Partey impressed in the heart of Arsenal’s midfield against Chelsea on Tuesday

It was the first time since the Community Shield that Partey started alongside Declan Rice

He also affords Rice the protection to roam forward. The England man provided Leandro Trossard with an assist after five minutes and struck a few shots at goal.

On 22 minutes, Rice’s long-range strike flew just over the bar, and he had a shot parried away four minutes after the interval.

Martin Odegaard was on song, too, as per, but Partey’s display was a real sign of promise for Mikel Arteta.

The midfielder adds a certain balance and is a weapon ready for these final four matches. It’s a timely boost, and one that could well have a deciding say.

Partey’s spacial awareness is a key asset and his return to the starting fold is a boost for Mikel Arteta’s side going into the final games of the season as they push to win the league title

Havertz shows his resilience

After the first half Kai Havertz endured, a number of players would have shrunk.

Chance after chance fell his away. The German either fluffed his lines or failed with attempted assists for team-mates.

He tried to lay-off Leandro Trossard after 10 minutes, only to have that intercepted. And early in the second half, he succumbed under pressure in an one-on-one scenario against goalkeeper Dorde Petrovic, the ball going behind for a corner.

Yet, instead of feeling sorry for himself or accepting that it might not be he his night, the forward stepped up to be counted by scoring not once, but twice.

Kai Havertz endured a frustrating start to the game against his former side Chelsea

He kept digging in however and was rewarded with a brace as his excellent form continues

The second goal in particular, shifting the ball onto his left foot in a crowded area to finish into a corner, was sublime.

It was a further representation of why Arteta keeps on sticking with him. No matter how off tune he looks, a turning of the corner is often not away.

Without a signature striker, Havertz’s 11 league thus far have been crucial for his side on a number of occasions.

Yes, there was the misses, as there often are but if Havertz can keep finding the goal, the Gunners will keep on breathing down the neck of Manchester City.

From there, who knows how the league table could read come May 19.