Sheffield United 0-6 Arsenal: Gunners hit dismal hosts for six to keep pace with league leaders
Arsenal matched their biggest Premier League away win with a 6-0 thrashing of Sheffield United on Monday, scoring five times in the first half as they tore the home side apart and moved within two points of leaders Liverpool.
Mikel Arteta's team are third with 61 points after 27 games, one point behind Manchester City but with a significantly higher goal difference than their title rivals. The Blades remain at the bottom of the standings with 13 points, 11 from safety.
The Gunners are the first Premier League team to win seven consecutive games this season, and they appear to be gaining momentum at the right time to keep the pressure on the top two.
"A great performance and a big result for us again with the amount of goals we scored and the clean sheet," said delighted Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta.
"The team shows signs of wanting more, very positive. The energy is really good at the moment. When you are winning everything is easier, we have to maintain momentum now."
Arsenal were ruthless, cutting through United's defence with ease from the start. Captain Martin Odegaard opened the scoring in the fifth minute, firing home from the center of the box after a nice cutback from Declan Rice.
On a night when six different players scored, United goalkeeper Ivo Grbic was in for more misery.
Jayden Bogle scored an own goal in the 13th minute, followed by Gabriel Martinelli's goal two minutes later, sending scores of tired United fans home, while Kai Havertz (25th minute), Rice (39th), and Ben White (58th) also scored.
"We won 6-0 today and recently we've won a lot, but the work we do without the ball from the front to the goalkeeper is really good and it's a pleasure to be a part of," said Odegaard.
Arsenal's early fireworks threatened the 9-0 Premier League scoring record, but Blades fans were spared further misery thanks to Arteta's substitutions, which included forward Bukayo Saka being sent to the bench after an excellent 45 minutes.
Grbic made an excellent save to deny Arsenal a seventh goal, diverting a curling shot from substitute Gabriel Jesus that appeared to be heading for the far corner.
They matched their best Premier League away win, a 6-0 defeat of West Ham United on February 11, and their record six-goal away victory margin, a 7-1 victory over Aston Villa in 1935.
On Monday, however, the Gunners made history by becoming the first English team to win three consecutive away games by five or more goals.
They were also only the second English team to score at least five goals in three consecutive top flight away games, following Burnley in September 1961.
United have lost their last four games at Bramall Lane in all competitions, conceding 21 goals while scoring two.
Coach Chris Wilder said it was a difficult season for his "damaged group of players." They've had to take some major hits.
"(Arsenal) cut us wide open, they are doing that to a lot of teams, I'm not saying that makes us feel better because that is another long night for this club."
"Saka took us to pieces down that (right) side, whatever you need to do you have to try and stem the tide, especially when they are in full flow."
"We didn't have an answer to anything they had. The result is what the result is and we have to live with it."
SportsLigue