Despite their positive results so far this season, Arsenal have made hard work of games where they would have expected to win relatively comfortably. But there was no signs of complacency Vs Sheffield United as they thrashed The Blades 5-0.
Mikel Arteta made 5 changes from the side that took three points away at Sevilla, with Kai Havertz, Eddie Nketiah, Jakub Kiwior, Oleksandr Zinchenko and Emile Smith Rowe coming into the starting XI. Captain Martin Odegaard was rested to the bench and Bukayo Saka captained the side for the first time.
The Gunners started well but struggled to properly break down a Sheffield Utd team that clearly had little intention of scoring. That was until the half hour mark when Declan Rice whipped a pass into the penalty area and Eddie Nketiah touched the ball down and finished calmly to give Arsenal the lead in what was mostly a fairly uneventful first half. Although in the final minutes before the interval Gabriel Martinelli forced a save from the Sheffield goalkeeper.
Arsenal started the second half quickly and got their reward in the open minutes as a corner was swung into the Sheffield Utd penalty box and Nketiah was there again to finish confidently into the far top corner to double the lead and give Arsenal a strong cushion. And it got even better for Arsenal and Nketiah just a couple of minutes later when he picked up the ball from a Smith Rowe pass 25 yards from goal, the striker then quickly turned and smashed his effort into the top corner to claim his first ever Premier League hat-trick.
The goals gave Arsenal a boost and they continued to attack their opposition, with Ben White coming close with an excellent half-volley effort which was well saved.
The Gunners weren’t done there though as substitute Fabio Vieira won a penalty after being taken out in the box by Sheffield Utd captain Ollie Norwood. The Portuguese stepped up and slotted home his spot kick to make it 4-0 to Arsenal.
There was still time for one more though, ten minutes added time were added and as the clock ticked down, Takehiro Tomiyasu prodded home from close range to net Arsenal’s fifth of the afternoon and the Japanese international’s first goal for the club in what was a well deserved moment for the defender.
Arsenal turn their attention to the Carabao Cup as they make the short trip to West Ham on Wednesday night.
Player Ratings:
David Raya: 7 – Had nothing to do bar claiming some crosses.
Ben White: 7 – Quietly solid
William Saliba: 8 – Just oozes class in everything he did. Never looked fazed of the opposing attack
Jakub Kiwior: 7 – Came in and did well. Made a couple of good passes out the back
Oleksandr Zinchenko: 7 – A much needed performance for the Ukanrian who kept things ticking well for Arsenal
Declan Rice: 8 – Just brilliant once again
Emile Smith Rowe: 7 – Had a number of nice passes and touches and got his first assist of the season
Kai Havertz: 7 – Quiet in the first half but more involved in the second. Played well
Bukayo Saka: 7 – Captiands the team and created problems for the Sheffield backline
Eddie Nketiah: 10 – Not often a player gets a 10/10 but you have to give it to Nketiah who scored an excellent hat-trick
Gabriel Martinelli: 8 – Was causing so many issues for the opposing defenders. Deserved a goal