Aaron Ramsey hat-trick, Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang on target as Arsenal maul Everton

Aaron Ramsey hit a hat-trick and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang netted on his debut as Arsenal thrashed Everton 5-1 in the Premier League.

The deadlock was broken in the opening minutes when debutant Aubameyang delivered a clever reverse-pass to his former Borussia Dortmund team-mate Henrikh Mkhitaryan. The Armenian's subsequent cross was met with a powerful sidefooted effort by Ramsey.

Laurent Koscielny doubled the advantage with a close-range header from a corner routine. Moments later, Ramsey converted his second of the night when a speculative 25-yard shot sailed into the top-left corner, via Jordan Pickford’s outstretched fingertips.

Arsenal scored with each of their first three shots on target and looked ravishing in the final third. Everton’s defensive set-up—which effectively saw five defenders tending to Arsenal’s lone striker—allowed the home side to dominate for much of the match.

Aubameyang combined with Mkhitrayan once again for the fourth goal, connecting with the Armenian’s superb through-ball before lifting it over Pickford. However, the Gabonese forward converted from a clear offside position, which went unnoticed by the linesman.

Everton created sporadic chances (most notably when Omar Niasse connected with a wonderful Theo Walcott cross to strike the woodwork) before substitute Dominic Calvert-Lewin scored their consolation. The 20-year-old jumped higher than Sead Kolasinac to connect with a Cuco Martina cross.

Ramsey completed his hat-trick with 15 minutes to spare, rifling a low Mkhitaryan cross into the back of the net from 15 yards, with a first-time strike. The Welshman has scored in his last three meetings with Everton, and his hat-trick also marked a trio of assists for home debutant Mkhitaryan.

The win brought Arsenal to within three points of Tottenham in fifth place. Everton remain four points clear of eleventh-placed Watford.

The Gunners are five points shy of the promised land of the top four, but their new signings will surely inspire hope of a plethora of positive results in the final third of the season. Can Wenger’s men get back into the Champions League qualification spots? Who will cede their spot to the north Londoners?

It’s rare for a hat-trick hero to be denied the MOTM accolade, but Mkhitrayan was simply sublime on his Emirates home debut. The Armenian was back to his Bundesliga best, offering three assists and an essential role in the majority of Arsenal’s attacking drives.

Arsenal: Cech 6, Bellerin 6, Koscielny 8, Mustafi 8, Monreal 7, Ramsey 9, Xhaka 7, Iwobi 8, Ozil 7, Mkhitaryan 9, Aubameyang 8... Subs: Ospina 6, Kolasinac 6, Wilshere 6.

Everton: Pickford 5, Kenny 6, Keane 5, Williams 5, Mangala 4, Martina 6, Walcott 7, Schneiderlin 6, Gueye 6, Bolasie 6, Niasse 6... Subs: Tosun 6, Davies 7, Calvert-Lewin 7.

6 - GOAL! Mkhitaryan cross the ball from the right edge of the box and Ramsey taps in from close range! A great start for the home side!

14 - GOAL! An out-swinging corner finds Mustafi, who flicks a header into Koscileny's path. Koscielny has plenty of space from a few yards out to head in from close range. It's a long way back for Everton now.

19 - GOAL! Ramsey gets his second of the night! The Welshman picks up an Ozil pass just outside the area and has a first-time shot, which sails into the top corner. Pickford gets his fingers to it, but he can't stop it.

38 - GOAL! Mkhitayran cuts the Everton defence in half with a flicked through-ball into the area for Aubameyang, who lifts the ball beautifully over Pickford!

53 - CHANCE! Walcott whips in a wonderful cross from the right and Niasse connects with a sliding left-footed shot on the edge of the six-yard box - his shot hits the post! He really should have buried that.

65 - GOAL! Everton have a consoltaion! Calvert-Lewin out-jumps Kolasinac and nods in a Martina cross from the edge of the six-yard box.

75 - GOAL! It's a hat-trick for Ramsey! Mkhitaryan delivers a cross along the floor from the right and the Welshman has a considerable amount of space in the middle of the area to hit a first-time shot past Pickford!

Sam Allardyce has lost his last nine games at Arsenal and is winless in 14.

Arsenal have never lost a league match at the Emirates in February (they’ve won 18 and drawn four).

Aubameyang’s debut makes Gabon the 50th nation to be represented by Arsenal in the Premier League.