Arsenal stepped up their renewed challenge for a top four place in the Premier League with a ruthless 5-0 demolition of struggling

Aston Villa on Sunday.

Arsene Wenger's side moved above Tottenham into fifth place and within touching distance of fourth-placed Southampton in the race to qualify for the Champions League thanks to their biggest win of the season.

Olivier Giroud opened the scoring early in the first half at the Emirates Stadium and Mesut Ozil, Theo Walcott, Santi Cazorla and Hector Bellerin struck after the interval to seal Arsenal's fifth successive win in all competitions.

After their impressive victory at champions Manchester City last month, this was more evidence that Arsenal, who were able to leave new Brazilian defender Gabriel Paulista as an unused substitute, are finally hitting their stride after a spluttering first half of the season.

In contrast, woeful Villa are hovering three points above the relegation zone after a third successive league defeat and the pressure will increase on boss Paul Lambert, whose side have now gone 10 hours and six matches since their last league goal in December.

That offensive futility piled unbearable pressure on Villa's defence and they were unable to withstand a blistering start from the Gunners, who showed no signs of being hamstrung by the absence of injured Chile winger Alexis Sanchez.