Arsenal secured a comfortable 5-0 triumph against the winless Sheffield United at the Emirates Stadium, maintaining their unbeaten record in the Premier League this season (7 wins, 3 draws).
With an undefeated streak of 36 home Premier League fixtures against newly-promoted teams (31 wins, 5 draws) before this match, Arsenal supporters had ample reasons for optimism. As expected, the Gunners initiated the game on the offensive, and in the 29th minute, they broke the deadlock with the first shot on target. A precise delivery from Declan Rice into the box found Eddie Nketiah, who, in the absence of the injured Gabriel Jesus, exhibited a delicate touch and finish, securing his third league goal of the campaign. Although Arsenal couldn’t double their lead before halftime, they maintained control, particularly considering Sheffield United’s record-equalling poor start to the Premier League season (1 draw, 8 losses).
Any lingering doubts for Arsenal were swiftly dispelled in the second half when Nketiah scored his second goal, capitalizing on a loose ball after Wes Foderingham failed to properly deal with a corner delivery. However, Nketiah reserved his best moment for last, smashing a long-range effort into the top corner for his first Premier League hat-trick, essentially putting the game beyond reach with over half an hour remaining. The rest of the match unfolded at a leisurely pace, with Fábio Vieira adding another goal from the spot, and substitute Takehiro Tomiyasu netting his first goal for Arsenal in his 50th Premier League appearance.
This comfortable victory propels Arsenal to second place in the Premier League standings, trailing North London rivals Tottenham Hotspur by two points. Meanwhile, Sheffield United’s challenging season continues to deteriorate, marking their ninth defeat in the Premier League campaign and contributing to a meager head-to-head record of just two wins in 20 league games.