ARSENAL’S U23s side thumped London rivals Chelsea 6-1 at Kingsmeadow despite being reduced to 10 men after just 35 minutes.
Mika Biereth, 18, netted a hat-trick for the Gunners as they ran riot away from home to secure a fourth win in a row in the Premier League 2.
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Folarin Balogun opened the scoring for Arsenal after just six minutes before laying on Biereth for his first goal midway through the first half.
Just 60 seconds later Balogun had his second as the visitors raced into a 3-0 lead inside just 23 minutes.
But the tide looked set to turn before the break when Omar Rekik was shown a straight red card.
However, Arsenal re-focused and extended their lead in first half stoppage time as Biereth made it four.
The former Fulham youth team player then completed his hat-trick in the 76th minute as Chelsea were undone once more.
And it was 6-0 seven minutes from time when Blues defender Lewis Hall turned the ball into his own net.
Hall then netted at the right end in injury time but it was merely a consolation as Arsenal celebrated a dominant victory.
The win takes the Gunners to within one point of Manchester City at the top of the Premier League 2.
Meanwhile, Chelsea are struggling as they sit one place above the bottom of the table in 13th.
The Blues have picked up just two points from their opening five games of the season.
