Arsenal cruised to a 5-0 win at hapless bottom side Norwich City on Sunday, with Bukayo Saka’s double helping them to secure the victory as they consolidated fourth place in the Premier League.

Saka opened the scoring early on before Kieran Tierney added another goal just before the break. The England forward got his brace midway through the second half, while Alexandre Lacazette, with a penalty, and Emile Smith Rowe wrapped up the victory.

The win takes Arsenal to 35 points from 19 games following their fourth straight league victory, just over two years since manager Mikel Arteta’s first match in charge of the Gunners.

“It’s a very satisfying result because in this festive period we have to keep performances to a high level,” said Arteta. “We looked really sharp and committed.

“It’s a big win for us. The amount of chances we create is pleasing. We go to every ground to try and impose our game. Today (Sunday) was a really good example.”

The visitors took the lead after six minutes through Saka, who stroked the ball past goalkeeper Angus Gunn, who was making his Premier League debut, following a neat passing move that led to Martin Odegaard laying the ball into the forward’s path.

Arsenal continued to test the Norwich defence with Saka the danger man thanks to his jinking runs down the wing and Gabriel Martinelli also posing a threat as the Gunners dominated.

Easy for Spurs

Brazilian Lucas Moura inspired Tottenham Hotspur to a 3-0 victory over Crystal Palace that stretched their unbeaten league run under new manager Antonio Conte to six games in murky north London.

Moura created goals for Harry Kane and Son Heung-min and bagged one for himself as Tottenham comfortably beat a Palace side for whom manager Patrick Vieira missed the game because of a positive Covid-19 test.

It was a dispiriting day for Palace who faded after a decent start and were reduced to 10 men in the 37th minute when Wilfried Zaha was stupidly sent off.

By that time Tottenham were well in control after Kane swept in from Moura’s pass before Moura headed the second. Son wrapped up the Boxing Day win with his side’s third from close range in the 74th minute.

Conte has changed the vibe at Tottenham since replacing Nuno Espirito Santo and this latest victory provided further proof that his methods are paying off as his side avenged a 3-0 defeat at Palace in September.