Chelsea's hopes of forcing themselves into European competition suffered a blow as they struggled without star man Cole Palmer at Arsenal, with the Gunners running out 5-0 winners on Tuesday as they continue to pursue the Premier League title.

Palmer was ruled out through illness, and Mauricio Pochettino's side made a dreadful start as Leandro Trossard fired an angled shot through Djordje Petrovic to open the scoring just four minutes in. The hosts continued to dominate proceedings thereafter, though Axel Disasi and Nicolas Jackson perhaps should have done better when chances presented themselves to Chelsea.

The Blues capitulated after the break, however, as Ben White doubled Arsenal's lead after the visitors failed to clear a corner, before ex-Chelsea forward Kai Havertz lifted an effort into the roof of the net having been played in behind Pochettino's disastrous defence.

Havertz then grabbed his second as he cut inside onto his left foot before firing a low shot in off the post midway through the second period, and he was joined by White in scoring twice as the full-back's lobbed cross floated over Petrovic for the home side's fifth.

GOAL rates Chelsea's players from the Emirates Stadium...

Goalkeeper & Defence

Djordje Petrovic (4/10):

Woeful for Trossard's opener as he let the ball squeeze through him at the near post. Made a couple of decent stops from Havertz and to keep out a potential Disasi own goal, but couldn't get near any of Arsenal's second-half strikes.

Alfie Gilchrist (5/10):

Turned inside out by Rice in the build-up to the first goal, and struggled one-on-one against Trossard at times. Never gave up and put in some crunching challenges on his first Premier League start.

Axel Disasi (4/10):

Failed to connect with the goal at his mercy from a first-half corner, and laboured plenty as Arsenal played the ball around with pace in the final third.

Benoit Badiashile (2/10):

Absolutely abysmal at times in possession, with his errant passing regularly putting Chelsea's defence under pressure. Allowed Havertz time and space to add Arsenal's fourth to sum up a shoddy showing.

Marc Cucurella (4/10):

Spent as much time arguing with Arsenal players and officials as he did chasing shadows as Saka and White combined brilliantly down his flank.

Midfield

Moises Caicedo (3/10):

Barely got out of a jog at any point as Arsenal's midfield passed it around him as if he were a training cone at times. What has happened to the player the Gunners coveted so much just over a year ago?!

Enzo Fernandez (3/10):

Awful both in and out of possession in what was one of his worst performances of the season. Hauled off midway through the second half, which suggested he might not be fully fit.

Conor Gallagher (2/10):

Routinely gave possession away in midfield in what was far from a captain's performance. Clearly missed having Palmer to link up with.

Attack

Noni Madueke (6/10):

Chelsea's most dangerous attacker, but that is hardly saying much. Troubled Tomiyasu with his pace at times, but lacked support.

Nicolas Jackson (5/10):

Got the better of Saliba a couple of times early on, but his finishing ability left plenty to be desired as he shirked a free header in the first half before firing wide when clean through in the second.

Mykhailo Mudryk (3/10):

Anonymous aside from a couple of dangerous set-piece deliveries.

Subs & Manager

Raheem Sterling (5/10):

A weak free-kick shortly after coming on was about all he mustered of note.

Trevoh Chalobah (5/10):

Chucked on to shore up the leaky Chelsea defence as they went to a five-man backline to stem the flow.

Thiago Silva (6/10):

Perhaps unsurprisingly, the Blues didn't concede any more goals once the veteran came on.

Cesare Casedei (5/10):

Offered little of note.

Mauricio Pochettino (3/10):

Not his fault that he couldn't call upon Palmer, but forward's absence highlighted how much heavy-lifting he has been doing to keep this team competitive. Maybe not the best night to change his centre-back pairing, either.