Eddie Nketiah scored his first goal since August then added two more, as his hat trick drove Arsenal’s dominant 5-0 win over Sheffield United at the Emirates Stadium on Saturday.
The Gunners stay unbeaten while the Blades are still seeking a first win in the Premier League under Paul Heckingbottom. Blades are bottom of the table with one point from 10 matches, 23 behind second-place Arsenal.
WATCH ARSENAL v SHEFFIELD UNITED FULL MATCH REPLAY
Fabio Vieira scored a late penalty and Takehiro Tomiyasu added one in stoppage time to complete the scoring to join Nketiah’s hat trick on the score sheet, as Arsenal builds on a midweek win at Sevilla and now turns its attention to a brutal run of fixtures.
Sheffield United will face extreme scrutiny, as the club evaluates whether its undermanned squad should be doing any better. Heckingbottom’s been given very little after selling Sander Berge and Iliman Ndiaye but one point from 10 is an awful return and matches with Burnley and Bournemouth come next month.
Ultimately, this game was a formality
Possibly the worst team in the Premier League visited one of the unquestionable best, and shame on any of us who tried to envision it going any other way. Arsenal looked like a team that faced Lens, Chelsea, Man City, and Sevilla and was finally getting a break.
The Gunners held nearly 70% possession and kept the Blades to an ungodly 0.03 expected goals total, taking 10 of the game’s 12 shot attempts.
Arsenal’s midfield was terrific, as Declan Rice ran the show but Emile Smith-Rowe and Kai Havertz were lively in and out of possession.
The Gunners pressure was too much for Sheffield United to handle, and few players will be happy with their days, but American back Auston Trusty was among the top performers and Vini Souza and Gustavo Hamer were scrappy on the left.
What’s next?
Arsenal has a League Cup match at West Ham on Wednesday before a visit to Newcastle on Saturday and a second match with Sevilla on Nov. 8.
Blades get a week off before hosting Wolves on Saturday, Nov. 4.
Arsenal vs Sheffield United final score: 5-0
Goal: Nketiah (28', 50', 58'), Vieira (pen 88'), Tomiyasu (90+6')
Arsenal vs Sheffield United player ratings
Arsenal vs Sheffield United player ratings (fotmob.com)
Arsenal vs Sheffield United player ratings (fotmob.com)
Arsenal lead 3-0 as Nketiah completes hat trick in absolute style
We had very little time to discuss Nketiah doubling Arsenal’s lead when the striker completed his first Premier League hat trick.
Blades’ generous defending didn’t help much, as Nketiah is able to take the ball on the half-turn and hit it about as hard as he can, which he does.
Goodnight, Blades.
Arsenal vs Sheffield United halftime analysis: 1-0 to the Gunners
Arsenal’s press has made sure that almost no Blades touch comes with the potential for calm, and this could easily be a three- or four-goal lead for the unbeaten Gunners.
Wes Foderingham has an excellent save on Gabriel Martinelli and Auston Trusty made a terrific sliding intervention to keep the visitors within one and boss Paul Heckingbottom will like the message he can send to his charges at halftime.
Yet so will his Arsenal counterpart. Mikel Arteta’s seen his men hold 66% possession and limit the Blades to 0.03 xG. Declan Rice is the maestro and fittingly has an assist on the day, but much more could be coming to the North Londoners.
Eddie Nketiah goal: English striker stays calm with fine finish
Declan Rice sweeps a pretty pass into the box, airborne and between the legs of a leaping Sheffield United defender.
It takes the slightest of redirections and Eddie Nketiah cuts it out of the air, taking a quick side step before burying his chance for 1-0 to Arsenal.
How to watch Arsenal vs Sheffield United live, stream link, start time
Kick off: 10am ET, Saturday (October 28)
TV Channel: USA Network
Online: Stream via NBCSports.com
Arsenal lineup
🔴 𝗧𝗘𝗔𝗠𝙉𝙀𝙒𝙎 ⚪️
— Arsenal (@Arsenal) October 28, 2023
🧱 Kiwior at the back
⚡️ Smith Rowe starts
🌶 Saka skippers the side
Let’s go, Gunners 🙌 pic.twitter.com/FPDHnqcHAi
Sheffield United lineup
Two changes vs @Arsenal! 🔴#ARSSHU || @premierleague pic.twitter.com/KcHuIUlyJC
— Sheffield United (@SheffieldUnited) October 28, 2023
Gabriel Jesus injury
Mikel Arteta has confirmed that Gabriel Jesus is out with a hamstring problem he picked up in the big win away at Sevilla in midweek. Jesus scored a beauty and had a wonderful assist on Martinelli’s goal and was absolutely clutch in the Champions League once again. Speaking about his injury, Arteta told reporters it could be a few weeks before we see the Brazilian forward again.
“The scan shows that there is a muscle injury and we might lose him for a few weeks again. With Gabby I cannot give you any timeframe because he always surprises us, but there is something there.
“He felt it in a really awkward action and it’s true he’s had quite a lot of load in the last few weeks with the national team and then playing those games, which he hasn’t done in a long, long time. That’s really bad news for us.”
Focus on Arsenal
Arteta has been rotating his team around and Takehiro Tomiyasu did extremely well in midweek as he came in for Oleksandr Zinchenko at left back. Martinelli and Saka are set to start out wide but Eddie Nketiah could start with Jesus out, while Declan Rice has been in exceptional form in midfield as he’s added a whole new dimension to Arsenal’s play. David Raya struggled in goal away at Sevilla in midweek again but he remains Arteta’s first-choice goalkeeper ahead of Aaron Ramsdale. Injury-wise, Jurrien Timber continues to recover from his knee injury. Thomas Partey is out after suffering a setback in his recovery from a groin injury.
Focus on Sheffield United
The Blades are battling away but it has been a really rough start to life back in the big time. They are hanging in games but just haven’t been able to create enough chances and the expected relegation battle has already begun. That said, they are only four points from safety and a more favorable run of games will be coming up after this game with Wolves, Brighton, Bournemouth and Burnley to come in their next four. Injuries have also piled up with Anel Ahmedhodzic, John Egan, Tom Davies, Daniel Jebbison, Max Lowe, Rhys Norrington-Davies and Chris Basham ruled out, while George Baldock, Oli McBurnie and William Osula are all doubts.
