On Monday night, Arsenal easily defeated Sheffield United on the road to demonstrate the class difference between the top and bottom of the Premier League.
In an attempt to avenge the weekend’s victories by championship rivals Liverpool and Manchester City, the Gunners dominated offensively and were helped by terrible home defence to take a 5-0 lead into halftime at Bramall Lane.
After Jayden Bogle’s own goal and goals from Martin Odegaard, Gabriel Martinelli, Kai Havertz, and Declan Rice in the first forty-five minutes, Ben White’s goal in the 58th minute put an end to the scoring.
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Although the early indications suggested a long evening for the hosts, the boisterous Bramall Lane crowd suggested a more challenging night’s work for Arsenal. Minutes after Bukayo Saka’s early warning, which saw his attempt cannon back off the crossbar, the visitors took the lead that their play deserved.
Following a deft play, Odegaard scored his sixth Premier League goal of the year after Rice cut back.
The clamour at home soon subsided into a dejected silence, but Blades fans’ mood would worsen as a result of a humiliating first-half performance by Chris Wilder’s team.
In the thirteenth minute, Bogle diverted Saka’s cross into his own net, setting the tone for a nasty match. A few minutes later, Arsenal easily defeated United 3-0. Jogging forward, Jakub Kiwior found Martinelli, whose shot went over custodian Ivo Grbic’s head.
The Gunners have dominated teams like Burnley, West Ham, and Newcastle as of late thanks to their devastating and clinical performances; yet, while the home team continues to crumble miserably under the constant onslaught from the away team, there was an opportunity to create some all-time records.
In just the 25th minute, Havertz scored the game’s fourth goal. Anel Ahmedhodzic received halfhearted claims for a foul, but Martinelli found the Germany international, who finished convincingly in the far corner.
Before the half, Rice’s team scored their fifth goal, giving him the opportunity to join in on the fun. Saka again assisted with a pull-back as Rice scored from the byline.
With that goal, Arsenal became just the second side in Premier League history to score five goals or more in three straight away games; Burnley had done it earlier in September 1961. Additionally, it meant that this season, the Gunners, Brighton, and Aston Villa had all scored more goals at Bramall Lane than Sheffield United.
The opening goal of the second half was not scored until 13 minutes had passed, as Arteta substituted Saka at halftime in an attempt to shield him.
In the sixth, it was White a less familiar goal source who faltered. Grbic was getting more and more redundant as Havertz controlled a long ball over the top and laid it back to the right-back, whose pile-driver was unstoppable.
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After White’s goal, Arsenal’s rhythm was slightly disrupted by changes in the last 30 minutes, but the humiliated hosts were not much helped.
Arsenal will resume their title challenge this Saturday against Brentford, while United is firmly entrenched in the bottom three with little chance of climbing out.
