Arsenal 5-0 Huddersfield Town: Talking Points

Final scoreline: Arsenal 5-0 Huddersfield Town

Goals: Alexander Lacazette 4', Olivier Giroud 68' 87', Alexis Sanchez 69', Mesut Ozil 72'

Ruthless. That's the perfect word to describe Arsenal's second-half performance against Huddersfield Town, at the Emirates. After going 1-0 up in the fourth minute through Alexander Lacazette's opener, the Gunners allowed Huddersfield to maintain the pressure on them with some sloppy defending.

But a period of four minutes after the hour mark saw Arsenal score as many as three goals, with the Terriers having no clue as to what hit them. Mesut Ozil was the catalyst for a brilliant second-half display which saw himself, Olivier Giroud and Alexis Sanchez get on the score sheet.

On that note, let's take a look at the 5 talking points from a highly impressive Arsenal performance against the struggling Terriers:

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#5 Five-star Gunners

Arsenal's performance, and not the margin of this win, is what has caught the attention this time around. Sure, the 5-0 margin looks brilliant on paper and for the goal difference but Arsene Wenger will be content with the desire and the fight shown by his players in the second half. Despite a lopsided scoreline, Huddersfield Town had chances of their own in the first half.

The Gunners were not quick in their passing and committed far too many mistakes after taking the lead. But, the second goal changed the complexion of the game completely as Arsenal found urgency, their scoring boots and more importantly, a ruthless streak necessary to sustain a title challenge.

This was Arsenal's 12th successive home win, and they have now gone on 14 league games streak without a defeat at the Emirates. More importantly, this display can prove to be a perfect dress rehearsal for Saturday's huge clash against their familiar foes - Manchester United.

#4 Olivier Giroud - Arsenal's impact sub

A striker coming off the bench to score two crucial goals to take the game completely away from the reach of the opposition. What more do you need from your substitution? Olivier Giroud provided exactly that against the Terriers.

First, he finished a brilliant team move to slot home from a Mesut Ozil cross, and then scored another one from close range, this time, thanks to all the good work done by Sead Kolasinac.

A double against Huddersfield means that the Frenchman has now scored 16 league goals from the bench in his Arsenal career - fourth highest in Premier League's history. Giroud has managed 9 of those since 2016 itself.

Giroud has proved to be a useful member of this Arsenal side despite losing his first-team place to Alexander Lacazette. But the striker has shown that he is up for the fight and has maintained his goal scoring form. On current form, Giroud is the best possible impact sub available in England.

#3 Huddersfield Town's away troubles continue

After a solid start to the campaign, questions have begun to arise whether Huddersfield have what it takes to stay up in the first division. The 5-0 loss to Arsenal was their sixth consecutive away loss in the Premier League, losing all their matches away from home since their opening day win over Crystal Palace at Selhurst Park.

A loss has dropped the Terriers to 14th place in the table - just five points off the drop zone and not so far away from the relegation scrap. The visitors had chances to change the game against Arsenal but a calm head in front of goal and composure in possession was what was lacking for David Wagner's men.

Many would feel that Huddersfield should have had a penalty for Shkodran Mustafi's challenge but a second-half collapse meant that it wouldn't have been that useful.

Huddersfield's next three away matches include a trip to face Everton, Watford and Southampton - three games where David Wagner can surely stop this rut of form away from the Kirklees stadium.

#2 A big blow in the form of Alexander Lacazette's injury

Halftime at the Emirates saw Alexander Lacazette being taken off for Olivier Giroud. At first, it was seen as a precautionary move to keep the striker fit for the Saturday game but Arsene Wenger later revealed, in his press conference, that Lacazette suffered a groin injury and is now out of contention for United's visit on the weekend.

This comes as a big blow to the Gunners who will now miss their first choice striker in arguably their most important game of the season until now.

The fact which makes this loss even harder to fathom for the Arsenal supporters is that the striker looked imperious in the first 45 minutes against Huddersfield - scoring his fifth league goal at the Emirates, most for any player in the league, at his respective home ground.

Lacazette took his goal brilliantly and looked sharp as ever before. The Frenchman played on the shoulders of the last defender at times, held up the ball well and also showed physical strength when required.

He also stretched the Terriers' defence and was one of Arsenal's best performers in the first half. This is what makes his absence a huge loss for the Gunners as the former Lyon man was slowly finding his feet in the Premier League with some consistent displays.

#1 Was this Mesut Ozil's best game in an Arsenal shirt?

Yes, this was arguably one of Mesut Ozil's best performances in a red and white shirt since his move from Real Madrid. Those who may have missed Arsenal's second-half display against Huddersfield have truly missed something special from the German playmaker.

3 minutes and 58 minutes. That's all it took for Ozil to register one goal and two assists to his name. This was also the first time where Ozil had a hand in three goals in a Premier League game. Ozil was in complete control of the game from the 60th minute as if he solely decided when to score a goal and when to keep Huddersfield running behind the ball.

His flicks, his feints, his passing and also his finishing was completely on point against Huddersfield. Arsenal needed the inspiration to improve their lead and take control of the proceedings. Ozil managed to do that as brilliantly as humanly possible - beautiful for the Gunners and the neutrals, horrific for David Wagner and his side.

There have been only a few occasions this season where a player has completely dominated the opposition, single-handedly. Mesut Ozil vs Huddersfield in the second half surely tops that list!

Though Arsenal's resistance to not pay over the top for their rebel stars (such as Ozil) is commendable, performances like this make you think how on earth are the Gunners letting a player like Mesut Ozil leave on a free transfer?!