Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta held a dressing-room team meeting after after a three-game losing streak to spark an emphatic 4-2 win over Chelsea at Stamford Bridge.
Arsenal had lost three consecutive matches against Crystal Palace, Brighton Hove and Albion, and Southampton before facing Chelsea.
Defeats against Brighton and Southampton, combined with injuries to key players such as Thomas Partey and Kieran Tierney, threatened to deflate the squad and undermine their Champions League ambitions.
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But Eddie Nketiah, Bukayo Saka and Emile Smith Rowe all scored late goals, propelling the Gunners to a 4-1 victory and keeping their faint Europa League hopes alive.
César Azpilicueta and Timo Werner each scored consolation goals, but they were unable to prevent Arsenal from earning a 4-2 away win at Chelsea due to their efficiency in the attack.
The Gunners boss said: “Well I said to them that’s the game that we had in hand, and if you want to be playing Champions League football you have to come to these big stages and beat the top teams.
“Tonight we’ve done it and I’m really proud of them tonight, but I’m more proud of how they’ve reacted to every defeat over the past few weeks.
“Not only the players but as a staff and a club, and that’s what reinforces me and gives me a reminder of how lucky I am to be here.”
The Gunners now will have little time to celebrate their victory as they have to continue winning games when Manchester United come to the Emirates this weekend.
United are struggling and will face Arsenal having been battered by Liverpool, losing 4-0 at Anfield and in desperate need of a response.
A defeat for Ralf Rangnick at the Emirates will ultimately end their slim hopes of making it into the top four.