Blades gutted and hit for six by Gunners
Arsenal delivered another statement win in their English Premier League football title challenge by thrashing last-placed Sheffield United 6-0 to stay in touch with Liverpool and Manchester City yesterday.
Some home fans were seen heading to the exits inside Bramall Lane after 25 minutes when Kai Havertz made it 4-0, adding to strikes from Martin Odegaard and Gabriel Martinelli either side of an own goal by Jayden Bogle.
With supporters in the away end singing “We’re gonna score in a minute”, Declan Rice slotted home a fifth in the 39th minute.
It meant Arsenal scored at least five goals in three straight away league games — after winning 6-0 at West Ham and 5-0 at Burnley — and tied the record for most goals scored in the first half of a league game.
The visitors weren’t finished there, with right back Ben White becoming the sixth different scorer when lashing a left-foot shot into the far corner in the 58th minute.
At that stage, Arsenal looked a good bet to threaten the records for most goals scored by a team in a Premier League game and biggest margin of victory, with three clubs — Liverpool, Leicester and Manchester United (twice) — having won 9-0 down the years.
However, Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta’s decision to make a raft of substitutions — including removing Bukayo Saka at halftime and others such as Rice and Jorginho later on — broke his team’s rhythm.
Still, it was a good night for Arsenal’s goal difference, which is now far superior to that of Liverpool and Manchester City. Arsenal stayed third, two points behind Liverpool and a point adrift of City, and have won seven straight league games.
“A great performance and a big result for us again with the amount of goals we scored and the clean sheet,” Arteta said. “The team shows signs of wanting more. That’s very positive.”
The only negative on the night was the sight of Martinelli being helped off with a right ankle injury in the 64th minute.
Arteta said Martinelli sustained a cut, while Saka was removed because he was feeling sick.
Arsenal could climb to first — if only briefly — by beating Brentford on Sunday, ahead of Liverpool hosting Manchester City on Monday.
“The energy is really good at the moment,” Arteta said. “When you are winning, everything is easier. We have to maintain momentum now.”
Sheffield United, who have already lost 8-0 to Newcastle and 5-0 to Brighton at home this season, stayed last, 11 points adrift of safety with 11 games remaining in their first season back in the top flight.
“It’s a painful season — the boys are a damaged group of players,” said Sheffield United manager Chris Wilder, whose team have conceded 72 goals in 27 games. “It’s a long season and we’ve taken some big hits.”
Wilder said he might start giving some of his squad’s younger players a chance, with the team’s survival prospects looking bleak.