Theo Walcott sends title message to Chelsea and City after Man Utd rout

Theo Walcott (right) celebrates with Alexis Sanchez as Arsenal thrash Man Utd

ARSENAL are contenders for the title, claims Theo Walcott.

 

The Gunners thumped Manchester United 3-0 at the Emirates Stadium today to move within two points of league leaders Manchester City.

Two goals from Alexis Sanchez and Mesut Ozil's finish - all within 19 minutes - secured the win.

 

And the result put to bed a run of three defeats in five games - including a midweek Champions League loss to Olympiakos - that has piled pressure on manager Arsene Wenger.

"After the Olympiakos disappointment we started this game completely differently," Walcott told Sky Sports. 

 

"We caught them on the break, we maybe eased off in the second half but the clean sheet was crucial for the whole team today.

"This game will send out a message to the Premier League that we are ready to have a go this season."

City's 6-1 demolition of Newcastle yesterday means they head into the international break two points clear of both Arsenal and United.

Defending champions Chelsea, meanwhile, languish in 16th place and are eight points adrift of their rivals.

The Blues lost 3-1 to Southampton yesterday, a result that led to manager Jose Mourinho insisting he would not quit his post.