Arsenal needed victory away to table giants Sheffield United to overtake Liverpool and Manchester City in the battle for gold.
After 15 minutes, it was clear that “The Gunners” knew exactly what was going on. At that time they were leading 3-0.
Martin Ødegaard scored the first, Gabriel Martinelli the third and in between the home team’s Jayden Bogle answered for an own goal.
Sheffield acted after the third and replaced Oliver Norwood with Ben Osborn. At the same time, several home supporters left the arena.
– Hopeless defense. They are in shambles, said Henry Winter of The Times.
– This could be 10-0 at half-time, said Tyron Marshall on the Manchester Evening News.
– Men against boys, former Arsenal striker Alan Smith said on Sky Sports.
With 25 minutes played, the next blow came for the home team. After carelessness in the defense, Kai Havertz sent in 4-0 at the far post and even more fans turned home.
Frustration was total in the Sheffield camp. Before Havertz raked in the fourth, Anel Ahmedhodzic tore down Martinelli, but the visitors had the ball, play continued and Havertz was able to net.
– This is about to be a complete humiliation for Sheffield United. Masterful by Arsenal, said Smith.
Declan Rice made it 5-0 just minutes before the break, set up by Bukayo Saka.
– I don’t think I’ve seen worse 35-40 minutes from any team in the Premier League. I might have, but this is on another level of bad from Sheffield United,” said James Ducker of The Telegraph.
– This is merciless. Brutal. A knife through butter. Rarely have I seen a team have so many players behind the ball, yet Arsenal manage to play through easily, says Smith on Sky Sports.
When the fourth official added five minutes of added time in the first half, it was met with boos from the Sheffield fans, who probably just wanted the half and the game to end.
At the same time, Arsenal became the first in PL history to score at least five goals in three consecutive away games (5-0 against Burnley, 6-0 against West Ham).
In the 58th minute, Ben White beautifully made it 6-0 and the visiting fans cheered their fifth goal of the night.
– Ben White doesn’t get many (chances), but he managed that well. How many different goalscorers will we see tonight? Smith said on Sky Sports.
The visitors broke the tempo enough to prevent the home team from conceding any more. The humiliation stopped at 6-0. Arsenal have won all their games in 2024, seven of them, scoring 31 goals in them. In total, they have scored the most goals and conceded the least number of all PL teams.
“The Gunners” are now two points behind league leaders Liverpool and one behind second-placed City. Sheffield United. Sheffield United are last with eleven points to the right side of the line.
Startelvor:
Sheffield United (3-5-2): Grbic; Ahmedhodzic, Trusty, Robinson; Bogle, Norwood, Vinícius Souza, Hamer, Davies; McAtee, McBurnie
Arsenal (4-3-3): Wire; White, Salba, Gabriel, Kiwior; Odegaard, Jorginho, Rice; Foot, Havertz, Martinelli
