Summary

  • Arsenal thrash Sheff Utd to move within two points of Premier League leaders Liverpool

  • Gunners were 5-0 up at half-time - prompting some Blades fans to walk out early

  • Six different goalscorers for Arsenal during devastating attacking display

  • Saka substituted at interval before Martinelli limped off injured in second half

  • Sheff Utd remain bottom of table and 11 points from safety

  1. 'Arsenal are aggressive'published at 21:00 Greenwich Mean Time 4 March

    HT: Sheffield United 0-5 Arsenal

    Thierry Henry
    Former France international on Sky Sports

    It's easy to be sitting here, but it's just not good enough - for Chris Wilder it is going to be a long night.

    Even when Sheffield United try to play Arsenal are aggressive. What I like about Arsenal is they are still playing the same way, they are respecting what Mikel Arteta wants to do.

  2. Postpublished at 20:58 Greenwich Mean Time 4 March

    Sheffield United 0-5 Arsenal

    Trying to think of a more one-sided half of football. Brazil v Germany at the 2014 World Cup? When Germany also led 5-0 at half-time before winning 7-1.

  3. Postpublished at 20:56 Greenwich Mean Time 4 March

    HT: Sheffield United 0-5 Arsenal

    Arsenal fans celebrate after their sides second goalImage source, Getty Images

    Arsenal have a record of W10, D0, L0 when leading at half-time in the Premier League this season.

    Fairly certain that will be W11 in 45 minutes.

  4. get involved

    Get Involvedpublished at 20:53 Greenwich Mean Time 4 March

    #bbcfootball, via WhatsApp on 03301 231826 or text 81111 (UK only, standard message rates apply)

    Convinced Wilder lost the dressing room a while back. Wonder how Heckingbottom feels about all this. Yes he found it tough but performed miracles to get this bunch up.

    Tony

  5. HALF-TIMEpublished at 20:50 Greenwich Mean Time 4 March

    Sheffield United 0-5 Arsenal

    Gabriel Martinelli of Arsenal celebrates with teammatesImage source, Getty Images

    Sheffield United get to the break with just the five goals conceded.

    Worryingly for the Blades, it could easily have been more.

  6. Postpublished at 45+3 mins

    Sheffield United 0-5 Arsenal

    Kai Havertz is flagged offside as he volleys a ball over the top back towards the middle of the box.

  7. Postpublished at 20:46 Greenwich Mean Time 4 March

    Sheffield United 0-5 Arsenal

    Emma Smith
    BBC Sport at Bramall Lane

    Oli McBurnie looks dejectedImage source, Reuters

    One of the biggest boos of the night is reserved for the fourth official as they indicate five minutes of first half added time.

    Sheffield United want to see as little football as possible, and understandably so right now.

  8. get involved

    Get Involvedpublished at 20:46 Greenwich Mean Time 4 March

    #bbcfootball, via WhatsApp on 03301 231826 or text 81111 (UK only, standard message rates apply)

    The fact they put Chris Wilder in charge shows you the belief, vision and expectations the club has. I’d be so disappointed if I supported Sheffield United.

    Steve

    Excellent from Arsenal but Sheffield United are a shambles. No structure at all. Even with the Championship in mind, Wilder has to go. Get someone in who can bring some order to the team.

    Mark

    When Wilder brought Osborn on, did he think they were going to turn this around?

    Pixie

  9. Postpublished at 45+1 min

    Sheffield United 0-5 Arsenal

    We're into the first of five minutes added on as Auston Trusty does well to cut out a ball by Martin Odegaard, which was meant for Kai Havertz.

  10. Postpublished at 43 mins

    Sheffield United 0-5 Arsenal

    Scoreboard shows 5-0 score before half-timeImage source, Getty Images

    Still no sign of Arsenal easing up and the beleaguered Sheffield United fans amuse themselves with some ironic cheers as Bukayo Saka sends a shot way over.

  11. Postpublished at 20:42 Greenwich Mean Time 4 March

    Sheffield United 0-5 Arsenal

    Arsenal are the second team to net at least five goals in three successive top flight away matches, after Burnley in September 1961 (6-2 at Birmingham City, 6-2 at Leicester City, 5-3 at Fulham).

  12. 'Top quality'published at 20:41 Greenwich Mean Time 4 March

    Sheffield United 0-5 Arsenal

    Alan Smith
    Former Arsenal forward on Sky Sports

    Sheffield United's players look on dejectedImage source, Getty Images

    This is ruthless, it's brutal.

    A knife through butter, Bukayo Saka is having the time of his life and he picks out Declan Rice - it is top quality.

    I have rarely seen a match where a team has so many players behind the ball, but Arsenal are still able to knock the ball around with ease.

  13. Postpublished at 41 mins

    Sheffield United 0-5 Arsenal

    Not team has led 6-0 before half-time away from home in a Premier League game.

    There's still four minutes of the half remaining, so you can't bet against that happening tonight.

  14. goal

    GOAL - Sheffield United 0-5 Arsenalpublished at 39 mins

    Declan Rice

    Declan Rice celebratesImage source, Getty Images

    And there's the fifth!

    Even the Arsenal players look surprised at how easy this has been.

    Once again, Bukayo Saka is right in the thick of things, getting into space on the right side of the box, cutting the ball back for Declan Rice to sweep in a first-time finish.

  15. Postpublished at 39 mins

    Sheffield United 0-4 Arsenal

    Arsenal keep up the pressure as now Martin Odegaard sees an effort blocked by Vinicius Souza.

  16. Postpublished at 38 mins

    Sheffield United 0-4 Arsenal

    Martin Odegaard is left completely unmarked on the edge of the box for the Arsenal corner, but his shot is blocked.

  17. Postpublished at 37 mins

    Sheffield United 0-4 Arsenal

    Jorginho plays a quick ball into the box and Gabriel Martinelli avoids a couple of half-hearted tackles before his shot is deflected behind by Jack Robinson.

  18. Postpublished at 35 mins

    Sheffield United 0-4 Arsenal

    Some respite for Sheffield United as a long spell of pressure ends with Martin Odegaard being unable to keep the ball in play by the corner flag and it goes out for a goal kick.

  19. get involved

    Get Involvedpublished at 20:34 Greenwich Mean Time 4 March

    #bbcfootball, via WhatsApp on 03301 231826 or text 81111 (UK only, standard message rates apply)

    Ben Osborn and Yasser Larouci look dejectedImage source, Reuters

    Sheffield United are looking to try and break Swindon's goals conceded record at this rate. What a woeful side.

    Dennis

    In the 1993/94 season Swindon Town conceded 100 Premier League goals, the most by one team in a singular campaign.

    Sheffield United have currently conceded 70 goals this season.

  20. Postpublished at 33 mins

    Sheffield United 0-4 Arsenal

    Sheffield United are very much in damage limitation mode, but even that's not working for them. It is all Arsenal as they hunt a fifth before half time.