Arsenal have closed the gap on Premier League leaders Leicester City to eight points courtesy of a comfortable 4-0 victory over Watford at the Emirates Stadium this afternoon.

Goals from Alex Iwobi, Alexis Sanchez, Hector Bellerin and Theo Walcott saw the Gunners keep their slim title hopes alive as they picked up just their fourth win in their last 11 league games.

It took the hosts less than five minutes to break the deadlock as Iwobi was gifted the ball inside the Watford half before floating a cross to Sanchez, who saw his initial header saved by Heurelho Gomes before sweeping home the rebound.

Sanchez turned provider for another chance moments later when he turned Nathan Ake inside out before standing a cross into the middle that Nacho Monreal nodded over the top.

A lethargic Watford were struggling to contain their lively hosts in the opening stages, and another loose pass allowed Iwobi to come forward and draw a fingertip save from Gomes in the 14th minute.

The Gunners came forward again moments later with a slick team move that resulted in a low pass to Danny Welbeck, who saw his shot deflected inches wide.

Watford finally had their first half-chance of the game when Troy Deeney sent a header into the arms of David Ospina, but it was Gomes who was by far the busier of the two keepers and he was called upon again shortly afterwards to push a Sanchez free kick past the post.

Arsenal were enjoying particular success down their right flank, and that is where their second goal came from as a quick passing move released Sanchez, who in turn picked out Iwobi to score his second goal in his second Premier League start.

That was the final straw for Watford boss Quique Flores, who took off Etienne Capoue for Ikechi Anya before half time in an effort to jolt his side into life.

There was another sub during the interval too, but it didn't do the visitors any good as Arsenal added a third within three minutes of the restart when Bellerin's first-time effort deflected off Ben Watson and over a helpless Gomes.

It almost got worse for them moments later too as Iwobi was given far too much room inside the area, only to see his shot come back off the crossbar before Mesut Ozil failed to convert the rebound.

The Gunners weren't happy with just the three goals, and Watford needed Gomes to deny both Sanchez and Welbeck in quick succession to keep the score down.

Watford did begin to show a little more going forward as the match wore on, with Sebastian Prodl seeing a header cleared off the line by Monreal following a well-worked free kick and Deeney only being denied by a full-stretch Ospina stop.

Arsenal had taken their foot off the pedal by that stage, but they turned on the style once more in the final minute of normal time when Ozil's long pass found Joel Campbell, who beat Nyom before picking out fellow sub Walcott for a simple finish.

It was no more than the Gunners deserved as they put the pressure on Leicester and Tottenham Hotspur above them in the table, while Watford were left to contemplate their fourth consecutive defeat and their heaviest loss of the season.