Sheffield United 0-6 Arsenal – Premier League: Live score, team news and updates as rampant Gunners score FIVE before half-time to close gap to rivals

After that last post, it feels like perfect timing to show you how Martin Odegaard got Arsenal off to a flyer.

It was a typical Odegaard finish, simply sumptuous football.

It got the Gunners well on their way.

While there were many, and I mean many, top performances within the Arsenal ranks tonight, there was one who stood above the rest – Martin Odegaard.

It was a real captain’s performance. He set the tone from the off with the opener after just five minutes, and the rest of his team followed his lead after that.

Just look at those stats!

Put perfectly by both Dominic King, Mail Sport, and Ian Ladyman, Mail Sport Football Editor, it really was embarrassing for Sheffield United.

Listen to what they both had to say in full by clicking the X, formerly Twitter, post below.

It was mentioned a lot before the match, and for good reason as Arsenal break a big goal-scoring record.

The Gunners have now won three consecutive away games by a margin of 5+ goals to become the first club to do so in England’s top four tiers.

Before the match, I questioned whether they could keep it up, but they did. I wonder how long they can keep going like this, it’s unprecedented.

One thing it is doing is making a huge difference to their goal difference, which is massive in a title race.

They are certainly enjoying themselves at the moment.

It doesn’t get much better than that if you’re Arsenal.

81% possession, 22 shots, 10 on target. You won’t see many better stats than that this season.

Now that is a lot of goals.

They have been adding to that number at an alarming rate in 2024, they have netted 17 goals without reply in their last three league away games.

I bet no one expected Ben White to be the player to score their 10,000th goal – I didn’t.

Ian Ladyman, Mail Sport Football Editor, at Bramall Lane:

The Sheffield United players are being clapped off by their remaining supporters as they walk around the field. Football fans really are incredible at times.

Only one goal for Arsenal in the second half, shocking from them…

Obviously, I’m joking, they were more than fantastic, they were extraordinary.

When in a title race such as Arsenal are, you can sometimes feel the pressure and come unstuck in matches like this – we saw it happen to them last season.

They didn’t come unstuck today. Six goals from six different scorers, they blew Sheffield United away, particularly in that first half – I have never seen anything like it.

Sheffield United are destined for the Championship, and that was as poor of a performance as I have seen in the Premier League era.

Sheffield United only have one more minute until this painful match is over.

Luckily for the fans, they aren’t playing, so could leave a lot earlier – and they have.

Time for any more goals? I think Arsenal are happy with just the six…

Ian Ladyman, Mail Sport Football Editor, at Bramall Lane:

It’s understandable that Mikel Arteta has made changes here. Arsenal have much work to do over the coming weeks. It has helped to save Sheffield United from much further punishment, though, as Arsenal have lost much of their earlier flow and rhythm.

In the press box people have been speculating whether Wilder will walk away after this humiliation. Equally, whether he would be sacked.

From what I know, I can’t imagine him walking. His brief when he came back to Bramall Lane was to plan for the long-term and that’s what he has been doing.

Having said that, nobody expected a run of catastrophic results like these. As such, it would be naïve to say anything was off the table…

Oooh Gabriel Jesus, that was a nifty bit of skill.

Although it came to nothing, Jesus has just done a bit of skill that will make you raise your eyebrows.

This was the perfect game for him to return in, he looks like he is back up and running.

Jayden Bogle has a go this time, bending an effort just over the bar.

There are not many positives for the Blades to take from this game, so they have to see the bright side somehow, and maybe these last few minutes may help with that.

It obviously worked, the chanting, as the Blades launch an attack.

However, it ends with William Osula firing miles over the bar before Gabriel Jesus goes up the other end and nearly makes it seven.

Thankfully for Sheffield United, Ivo Grbic makes the save.

The Sheffield United fans, or what remains of them, try to get behind their team.

You feel they really need the support, it must be a horrible feeling to be out on that pitch.

Maybe I spoke too soon, Arsenal go forward again.

Gabriel Jesus is slid in and he tried to pull it back for one of his Arsenal teammates to finish off – they were queueing up – but it is cleared for a corner.

My prediction is that they get one more goal before the end of the game.

Declan Rice won’t be getting a brace then…

Mikel Arteta is obviously keen to keep him fresh and brings him off for Leandro Trossard.

Not a bad person to bring on in this situation.

Maybe Arsenal are finally taking their foot off the gas.

I think six could be enough, don’t you?

Although, goal difference is huge in a title race, and they have now scored the most goals and conceded the least.

Sheffield United also made a change, captain Anel Ahmedhodzic’s night is over as Oliver Arblaster comes on for him.

Arblaster spent the first half of the season at Port Vale, where they adored him. This will be a hard situation for him to come into though.

Gabriel Martinelli has been struggling a little bit and now he is down receiving treatment.

He’s now limping off, that doesn’t look good for him, or for Arsenal. He goes straight down the tunnel.

Coming on in his place is Gabriel Jesus, while Thomas Partey makes his return to the side for Jorginho.

Mikel Arteta isn’t done there, Cedric Soares is even getting some game time, he comes on for Ben White.

Dominic King, Mail Sport, at Bramall Lane:

What odds on that? Ben White scores the 10,000th goal in Arsenal’s history. How fitting that his song is to the tune of ‘Ian Wright, Wright, Wright.’

Even the defenders are getting involved!

Ben White now gets in on the act, and he finishes expertly into the bottom right corner after being fed by Kai Havertz. It was a striker’s finish.

It seemed like maybe Arsenal were slowing down, but they certainly aren’t.

That’s now six different goalscorers for the Gunners today, will the whole team end up getting a goal?

Maybe even David Raya fancies his chances.

Ian Ladyman, Mail Sport Football Editor, at Bramall Lane:

Some insight here in the way Chris Wilder has been thinking for a while.

Survival has always been upper most in his thoughts but he has also had an eye on next season and how this squad would look in the Championship. In football, it pays to be realistic.

This, though, has been a whole new level of dreadful and will hurt him as much as anything he has ever been through in his years in the game.

Wilder is a Blades fan. He told me a couple of years ago that when his days in football are done he will take his season ticket and spend his retirement sitting behind the goal.

Right now he has to somehow find a way to get this broken set of players through to the end of the season with dignity in tact.

Unsurprisingly, it’s still all Arsenal.

Substitute Fabio Viera races behind the Sheffield United defence before lofting the ball into the path of Gabriel Martinelli in the box.

The ball is just a bit high for the Brazilian winger, and he can’t quite get a good connection to it.

Why are the hosts playing such a high line?

Declan Rice has a go from a free-kick, but it’s saved comfortably.

I wonder how many braces the English midfielder has scored in his career, if any?

He could most definitely get one tonight!

There are so many empty seats.

I wonder if that is the Sheffield United fans giving up and going home, or if they are still having their half-time pie?

My assumption is that it’s the former.

The Sheffield United players trudge back to their positions, you can tell they don’t want to be there.

They have made three changes at the break with William Osuala, Andre Brooks, and George Baldock all come on.

Mikel Arteta has also made a substitution, it seems he is protecting Bukayo Saka as he comes off for Fabio Viera.

Anyway, we are back underway at Bramall Lane.

Shall we watch the fifth and final goal of the half?

It was another brilliant goal by the Gunners, so Arsenal fans, enjoy!

There seems to be mutual admiration in the comments section for Arsenal’s brilliance.

Liverpool fan, James, has said:

Arsenal really hitting the heights. As a Liverpool fan I take my hat off to them. They are achieving great levels of consistency. Will be interesting when they play Man City in a few weeks time.

Where to start with Arsenal?

That was incredible. They seem untouchable at the moment, their attacking football is exceptional.

They had five different goalscorers in that first half, which goal was the best.

My favourite was actually the first by Martin Odegaard – a thing of beauty.

The first-half nightmare comes to an end for Sheffield United.

I am struggling to put into words what I have just witnessed, and it’s very rare that happens to me!

Five goals, five different scorers, and a record broken – it doesn’t get much better than that if you’re Arsenal.

They were simply sublime, cutting Sheffield United open with ease, they look like they could get double figures at Bramall Lane.

I’d love to be a fly on the wall in that United dressing room. The Blades were dreadful, and have broken an unwanted record in the process.

I would say it’s damage limitation for them, but I think we are a bit past that now!

They won’t want to come back out for the second 45.

Appeals for a penalty by Arsenal as the ball hits Ben Osborn.

The whistle does blow, but it’s for offside, not a penalty, as Gabriel Martinelli strayed a bit too far.

That appeal shows how relentless Arsenal are, they want as many goals as they can.

There is still time for more goals in this half then, maybe even two…

Ian Ladyman, Mail Sport Football Editor, at Bramall Lane:

Arsenal will score ten here if they really want to…

We mentioned the possibility of this unwanted record for Sheffield United, and with that Declan Rice goal, they now have it.

Are they potentially the worst team we have seen grace the English top flight?

That record is surely coming Arsenal’s way.

It’s another fantastic goal by the Gunners as Bukayo Saka pulls it back for Declan Rice to bend into the bottom lefthand corner.

It is just sensational, the football Arsenal are displaying is some of the best I have ever seen. Majestic.

Meanwhile Sheffield United’s is some of the worst.

Predictions on the sixth and when it will come?

This is simply staggering.

I am in shock. As Ian Ladyman has said, you rarely see anything like this.

I have certainly never seen an onslaught like it, and it is just carrying on in the same pattern.

Gabriel Martinelli has just had another strike deflected wide, they are attacking at will.

Ian Ladyman, Mail Sport Football Editor, at Bramall Lane:

When the third goal went in some of the home fans got up and left

Surely the pub has to be better than this?

And now the fourth has gone in even more have headed for the exits

I have been covering football for 25 years and have rarely if ever seen anything like this opening 25 minutes

Oooof, that’s a big challenge by Jayden Bogle on Martin Odegaard.

That is pure frustration, you can see it on all the United players’ faces, they are angry.

He will have to be careful now.

A shot by Sheffield United, I repeat, a shot by Sheffield United!

Either way, Gustavo Hamer races through and has an effort saved by David Raya, but then the flag goes up.

At least they got out of their half I guess.

That record is going to be broken very soon…

Kai Havertz finishes expertly to extend Arsenal’s lead. this is pure humiliation now for Sheffield United.

For Arsenal though, this is unbelievable, they never looked like missing. Their goal-scoring prowess is simply unmatched at the moment.

This is getting messy now, how many more will they get in this half.

The fourth will be arriving soon I feel.

It’s like a training match, Arsenal are just toying with Sheffield United now.

Declan Rice unleashes a piledriver from distance, but it never looked like going in.

At this rate though, he will probably get one.

A substitution already, that is a damning statement.

Oliver Norwood is hooked after 16 minutes, with Ben Osborn coming on for him.

That one will be hard to take, but Chris Wilder has simply had enough!

There was some brief hope amongst the home fans as the goal was being checked for offside.

However, it’s given, and the nightmare continues.

It’s three after 15 minutes!

This is becoming silly, it’s 3-0 Arsenal already, and they are cutting the hosts open at will.

Gabriel Martinelli gets this one with a beautiful curling effort after some nice interplay with Jakub Kiwior.

This could easily be double figures by the end of the night, do Sheffield United know they have to defend?

This is a catastrophic own goal, and it all happens because of Bukayo Saka’s brilliance.

The 22-year-old drifts past Sheffield United’s defence with ease and pulls it back from the byline, it then hits Jayden Bogle and rolls in.

Arsenal are in dreamland at Bramall Lane, it is what we expected though.

Arsenal are not messing around, they smell blood.

Martin Odegaard is once again involved, spraying a beautiful pass to Gabriel Martinelli, it was lovely!

The Brazilian winger then finds Bukayo Saka, but he can’t get the ball out of his feet. I thought he was going to grab their second.

Martin Odegaard is in the mood tonight.

He has his goal but is already after another, however, after trying to find space just outside the area he fires his strike over the bar.

I reckon I could count how many times Sheffield United have touched the ball on one hand.

The worst possible start for the Blades.

I did say I felt it was going to happen.

Sheffield United were warned early, but it didn’t make a difference, Martin Odegaard has put Arsenal ahead after just five minutes.

It’s a brilliant goal, a flowing move sees Declan Rice put it on a plate for Odegaard to finish home from close range.

It feels like a matter of how many will Arsenal score.

Arsenal nearly ahead after 70 seconds!

Bukayo Saka has been in marvellous form and he has just crashed a half-volley off the bar.

Arsenal showing their intentions straight away, that would have been an awful start for the hosts.

Sheffield United 11 points from safety, Arsenal five points off the top, both need to win, but only one can. Who will it be?

Well, Bramall Lane is in good voice, they will help there team as much as they can.

Who will come out on top? We will find out over the course of the next 90 minutes.

The heads pop out the tunnel, the music is blaring out, and both teams look raring to go.

It will be interesting to see how both sides come out of the traps here. I feel an early Arsenal goal inbound.

Dominic King, Mail Sport, at Bramall Lane:

Music from Rocky is blaring out in the moments before kick-off but you don’t get the sense a knockout punch is coming from the hosts.

Sheffield United fans seem to be wearily accepting their fate now and it is going to be a question of ‘when’ rather than ‘if’ they get relegated.

There are plenty of empty seats (will that change in the next 10 minutes?) but it’s difficult to see anything other than Arsenal winning here by more than three goals.

Ian Ladyman, Mail Sport Football Editor, at Bramall Lane:

I was talking to Mail Sport’s Danny Murphy in the press room beforehand and he was saying how big the Bramall Lane pitch always felt to him when he played here. These things can sometimes be a trick of the mind – there is not a huge discrepancy between any of the pitches in the Premier League – but Murphy’s point was that the top clubs would always rather come and play at a place like this than they would at somewhere like Luton’s Kenilworth Road.

The rain that started about an hour ago is just settling down and this great old stadium is starting to fill up.

I can’t help but feel that Sheffield United will need a fast start here if they are to stay with Mikel Arteta’s in-form Arsenal side.

So, what are we all thinking?

Will Arsenal blow Sheffield United away, or is there going to be a shock on the cards?

Ian Ladyman, Mail Sport Football Editor, has gone for 2-1 to Arsenal. Ian smashed his prediction yesterday at the Manchester Derby, so it’s a good omen for Arsenal fans!

The big team news for Arsenal is that Thomas Partey has returned to the squad.

Partey was a key member of the team that finished second last season but hasn’t featured for the Gunners since October because of injury.

How important is it that he gets some minutes in those legs?

Sheffield United fans will be happy to see Ben Brereton-Diaz return to the squad tonight, and it looks like he is happy to be there.

The Villarreal loanee has scored two goals in three Premier League appearances but has missed the Blades’ last four matches through injury.

Well, he’s back now, will he make a difference off the bench?

I have mentioned a lot in this blog about Arsenal’s recent form and goal-scoring prowess, and well, it’s been so good that they could break a record tonight.

In Arsenal’s last two Premier League away games they netted 11 goals without response, beating West Ham 6-0 and winning 5-0 at Burnley.

No club has ever won three consecutive away games by a margin of 5+ goals in England’s top four tiers, but Arsenal will be looking to change that tonight.

There is a distinct possibility that they could.

Chris Wilder, Sheffield United manager, speaking to Sky Sports:

We will go to the final whistle on the final day. We need to give our fans something to shout about.

On Mikel Arteta’s kind comments towards him:

Has he (Mikel Arteta) been on the red wine? They are an outstanding team, we know what we are up against. We have to enjoy it, enjoy the challenge.

I know on nights like this, this place can get going. We understand the task ahead.

Arsenal love scoring goals.

They have been netting them for fun this season and put five past the Blades last time they faced off.

Eddie Nketiah had a field day at the Emirates, netting his first Premier League hat-trick that day.

Can they replicate this scoreline today?

Ian Ladyman, Mail Sport Football Editor, at Bramall Lane:

The teams are in here at a cold Bramall Lane and Arsenal midfielder Thomas Partey is back in the squad – and on the bench – for the first time since last October. That’s a huge boost for Mikel Arteta as we approach the final furlong of a three-horse title race.

In the programme tonight, meanwhile, Sheffield United manager Chris Wilder has called on his players to be almost perfect between now and the end of the season as they try to plot a miracle escape from last place.

Wilder’s team have not won at home since beating Brentford here early in Wilder’s second stint at the club at the start of December.

One of the key reasons for Arsenal’s success this season has been the form of Bukayo Saka.

During the Gunners’ bad spell at the back end of 2023, Saka was one of the players who was under scrutiny. Question marks arose over his goal-scoring record, was it enough to drive them to a title.

He obviously listened, as he has been on a tear ever since. The 22-year-old has 20 goal involvements in the Premier League this campaign, with 13 of those goals. He is just one away from matching his goal tally from the whole of the 2022-23 league season.

A lot of those goals have come since the turn of the year, seven to be precise, and he has scored in each of his last five league games.

That is some form, will he notch up some more tonight?

Mikel Arteta, Arsenal boss, speaking to Sky Sports:

I was tempted [to make changes], but we believe it was the right thing to do [to not].

That’s the way we approach the game [thinking you can’t lose], you have to win every single game.

I raised the question, and now we have our answer, Arsenal remain unchanged.

You can understand why Mike Arteta has decided to keep it the same, the Gunners have been on a roll.

Thomas Partey returns to the bench for the first time since October at Chelsea.

So, Chris Wilder rolls the dice a little, he makes two changes to the side that lost 1-0 away at Wolves.

Tom Davies is one of those changes, and he comes in to make his first start for United.

Can he make a big impact?

The atmosphere at Bramall Lane is starting to build.

The Sheffield United players will need all the support they can get if they are to cause an upset tonight.

Blades fans can get that place rocking, I imagine they will again tonight.

We are just over ten minutes away from the team news.

Will Arsenal stay unchanged? What changes will Chris Wilder make?

Let us know your thoughts in the comments.

This graphic is not good reading for Sheffield United.

In the last six meetings between these two sides, Arsenal have won four to the Blades’ one, while there has been one draw.

The Gunners’ wins have come in the last four matches, including a 5-0 win, something they have a habit of doing this season.

However, Sheffield United’s win was a memorable one back in 2019. Lys Mousset, what a strike it was from the former Blade to win it. A special moment in United’s top-flight history.

As 2023 came to a close, Arsenal started to falter.

With losses to both West Ham and Fulham in the league before losing in the FA Cup to Liverpool just after the new year, questions were asked about their Premier League title credentials.

Oh boy, have they answered them…

Since that loss to Jurgen Klopp’s side in January, they have won six league matches on the trot, with one coming against the Reds.

They haven’t just been winning either, they have been doing it in style. They have netted five or more goals in three of those wins.

They are the form side in the league at the moment and could extend their winning run to seven in the league this evening.

Sheffield United’s return to the top flight could not have gone much worse, so far.

They are destined for relegation, sitting rock bottom of the table, 11 points from safety. It seems only a matter of time until there is an ‘R’ next to their name.

Nevertheless, every game they still have in the top flight is one of paramount importance, and the Blades players can’t give up hope yet.

They have 12 matches to save their season, and starting with tonight they simply need to consistently pick up three points.

We have seen great escapes in the past from the likes of West Brom and Leicester City, but it seems inconceivable that the Blades will replicate those. You never know though…

You just can’t take your eyes off this title race for a second.

Three teams are going hammer and tong in their relentless pursuit of English football’s greatest prize – it is magnificent to watch.

Tonight comes the turn of Arsenal, who currently sit in third position five points off league leaders Liverpool and four off Manchester City.

Over the weekend they had to watch the Reds seal a dramatic win right at the death against Nottingham Forest and City come from behind in emphatic style in the Manchester Derby.

During both matches, the Gunners and their fans will have undoubtedly got their hopes up that their rivals were about to drop points before they came crashing down at the final whistle.

However, they must focus on themselves tonight. The Gunners will be keen to secure another statement win, showing both Liverpool and City that they will fight to the very end.

I said yesterday that none of the three teams can afford to drop points, and that stands for tonight.

Both Arsenal and Sheffield United are in polar opposite positions at the moment.

While Arsenal are fighting for a first Premier League title in 20 years, the Blades are propping up the table and look destined for the drop.

With both of their records this season, we could see a lot of goals fly in this evening, but it is most likely they will come from the boots of the Gunners players.

Arsenal have been scoring goals for fun, netting 18 goals in their last four league games, as their incredible attack rips up Premier League defences.

Well, that should surely frighten the Blades as their defence has been getting torn apart all season. Chris Wilder’s side have conceded five goals in each of their last three matches at Bramall Lane. Simply abysmal.

They are en route to an unwanted record. No team in the history of English football’s top four divisions has lost three successive home games by five or more goals.

It feels like the perfect time to face Sheffield United.

With the amount of football being played at the moment, we are never away for long. Tonight we bring you a match that could have huge ramifications at the top and bottom of the Premier League.

It’s Sheffield United vs Arsenal. On paper, this looks like it could be a walk in the park for Arsenal against a side bottom of the league with only 13 points.

However, the Blades have reached the desperation stage and would do anything for a win. That can sometimes change how a game goes.

When you get to this part of the season, every point dropped or gained has such a huge impact on the teams involved.

Will Arsenal keep pace with Liverpool and Manchester City in the title race, or will the Blades keep their slender survival hopes alive with victory?

Let’s get this show on the road!