Arsenal strengthened their position in the Premier League top four as they made light work of Huddersfield to maintain their healthy home form.

The Gunners have now won their last 12 games at the Emirates Stadium and they eased to a 5-0 victory as Mesut Ozil once again starred in front of the home fans.

Alexandre Lacazette gave the hosts the perfect start with his seventh of the season and, although the Terriers rallied, they were blown away in the second half as Olivier Giroud, Alexis Sanchez and Ozil all struck in a four-minute blitz, with Giroud adding another late on.

Arsene Wenger's side won with a last-gasp penalty at Burnley on Sunday for just their second league win on the road this season and, with Manchester United the visitors on Saturday, their home form is likely to go a long way in determining what they can achieve.

Sanchez celebrates his goal (
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Giroud scored twice (
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Huddersfield held firm against Manchester City for so long at the weekend but they were undone within three minutes.

Granit Xhaka played in Aaron Ramsey whose deft flick found Lacazette and Arsenal's record signing made no mistake with a smart finish past Jonas Lossl.

The hosts were calm in possession from that point on but did not create a second chance until after the half-hour mark as Lacazette came so close to adding to his tally.

Xhaka fed the forward who collected the ball almost on the touchline, lofting a superb chip over Lossl only to see Martin Cranie clear with Sead Kolasinac somehow blazing the rebound high over the crossbar.

Ozil was also on the scoresheet (
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The German finds the net (
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Huddersfield wanted a penalty soon after as Steve Mounie went down under pressure from Shkodran Mustafi but referee Graham Scott was unmoved.

Laurent Koscielny was then on hand to make a last-ditch block to prevent Collin Quaner equalising from Mounie's pass as Arsenal became more wasteful in possession.

Lacazette came off at the interval to be replaced by compatriot Giroud as it was Huddersfield who had the best chance at the start of the second half, Petr Cech saving superbly to keep out Quaner.

Cech was again brought into action as he awkwardly palmed the ball against his own crossbar and behind for a corner after Mounie's shot took a huge deflection off Nacho Monreal.

Lacazette celebrates his opener (
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Giroud was guilty of missing a great opportunity to double Arsenal's advantage as he picked up Ramsey's pass and rounded Lossl only to hit the post and skew the rebound wide.

He made up for that miss by tucking away his next chance, turning home from close-range after a neat exchange between Ozil and Sanchez.

Ozil would again turn provider 76 seconds later as he crossed for Sanchez to secure the points as he buried his effort past a helpless Lossl.

The Germany international then registered his own strike, collecting another smart pass from Ramsey before dinking the ball into the corner. Giroud's second, three minutes from time sealed a comfortable win for the Gunners.

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Emirates far from full yet as Huddersfield go through their pre-match routine (
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Cazorla's staggering outlay revealed

Arsenal’s Santi Cazorla has now missed a staggering 100 Gunners games through injury.

The popular Spanish midfielder - who was part of his country’s squads that won both Euro 2008 and Euro 2012 - has now clocked up a century of matches on the sidelines since signing for the Gunners in 2012.

On Wednesday, Cazorla revealed that he has suffered a further setback in his bid to recover from a long-standing Achilles injury , revealing that he was set to go under the knife again.

He tweeted: “Due to some discomfort in the tendon that I had been dragging the last few days, I had to go through the operating room again.

“It is time to delay the return date to the playing fields, I maintain the enthusiasm and motivation to return to enjoy my great passion, football.”

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Alex Lacazette is leading the line again (
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Stuart MacFarlane)
An Arsenal fan ready for the match (
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PA)
Ozil is back in time for Christmas at the Emirates (
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Arsenal FC)

Huddersfield Team news - Six changes

Six changes for Town with plenty returning for David Wagner.

Arsenal team news - Ozil returns

Ozil back for the Gunners tonight against Huddersfield.

Wenger: I'm till in charge at Arsenal

Arsene Wenger is adamant he retains complete control on transfers despite the arrival of Barcelona director of football Raul Sanllehi.

Sanllehi quit Barca to oversee transfer and contract negotiations at Arsenal and will have a similar role to the one he filled at the Nou Camp, but a different job title.

The 48-year-old Spaniard was not a traditional director of football for the Catalan giants, but joins the Gunners because of his extensive contacts book.

It is the latest part of a backroom reshuffle initiated by chief executive Ivan Gazidis, who has also appointed Borussia Dortmund scout Sven Mislintat as head of recruitment.

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But when asked who the final decision rests with on transfers, Wenger said: “With me. Ivan has nothing to do with buying players.”

Wenger will still identify the players he needs in this new structure.

Mislintat is charged with scouting targets and then Sanhelli will be expected to oversee and complete transfer negotiations.

Sanhelli will also sit with Gazidis on UEFA committees and has boardroom connections across Europe.

Arsenal’s long-serving Steve Rowley and Dick Law will remain at the club for the immediate future.