ARSENAL smashed six goals past a hopeless Sheffield United to remain firmly in the title race and could be top of the table next weekend, reports the Voice of Sport from Brammall Lane.

With Manchester City beating their rivals Manchester United 3-1 and Liverpool winning in the dying seconds against Nottingham Forest, this was a must-win game for Arsenal to keep up with leaders – and they responded in imperious fashion.

Arsenal have been in scintillating form of late and were aiming for a seventh league win in a row, after scoring a staggering 25 goals in their last six league games. They almost scored from their first attack when Bukayo Saka hit the crossbar and Gabriel Martinelli’s strike was cleared off the line. Moments later Kai Havertz could have put the visitors ahead but the ball across the box was just out of reach.

Arsenal were playing high up the pitch and attacking at every opportunity. After some intricate play on the edge of the box, Declan Rice’s cut back took a slight deflection into the path of captain Martin Odegaard who easily slotted home to open the scoring after just five minutes.

Sheffield United barely had time to settle when they were undone by another trademark burst on the right by Saka who sailed past defender Auston Trusty. He fired across the box and deflected in off Jayden Bogle. Arsenal were two nil up after just thirteen minutes.

And then, almost from kick off Arsenal scored once more. They again sliced through the Blades with consummate ease when Martinelli drove forward and lashed a left footed shot home courtesy of another small deflection.

Scoring three inside fifteen minutes silenced the home crowd and the game as a contest was already over. United manager Chris Wilder, who has just two wins in twelve matches since December, quickly made his first substitution with Ben Osborn coming on for Oliver Norwood and switching to a back five.

The jubilant Arsenal fans were singing since before kick-off and were now chanting “we’re gonna score in a minute.” And, although it wasn’t quite sixty seconds Arsenal had the ball in the back of the net again when Havertz ran on to Martinelli’s pass and finished with a powerful low drive into the far corner. Four nil after 25 mins – this was simply men against boys.

And yet the Gunners weren’t done. Dominating possession, passes and controlling all parts of the pitch, Saka beat his defender once more and cut back into the box where Declan Rice arrived to smash home the fifth.

The home crowd, who were already piling out after the third goal, were actually booing not at half time, but when the fourth official indicated an additional five minutes. They could not bear anymore. The Gunners had 80% possession and 16 shots compare to just one from the Blades.

Wilder made a triple change at the start of the second half as he looked to shake things up, but it made no tangible difference as the Gunners continued where they left off by dominating proceedings and Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta brought on Fabio Vieira for Saka. The next goal was inevitable and this time it was Havertz providing the assist for Ben White – who’s blistering strike almost brought down the side netting.

Arsenal’s perfect night was spoiled when Martinelli limped off midway through the second half. Arteta made his own triple substitution bringing on Cedric Soares, Gabriel Jesus and Thomas Partey – who finally made his first appearance since October.

Sheffield United have had a terrible run lately having lost four of their last five league games and prior to kick off had a pitiful goal difference of -44 after 26 games – the most since Ipswich Town in the 1963-64 season. They hardly had any serious threat this evening and even in the second half they could not even get a shot on target in their fleeting moments whilst on the attack.

The statistics for Arsenal continue to pile up. They now have 11 clean sheets this season, the first team in Premier League history to score two or more goals in eight consecutive halves of football, and the first team to win three consecutive away games by a margin of five or more goals.

Sheffield United, who face the almost certain fate of relegation at the end of the season became the first English league side to lose four consecutive home games in all competitions by a margin of five or more goals. Time is running out for them to survive the drop and they play Bournemouth next.

Meanwhile the Gunners face Brentford this Saturday at the Emirates, before their crunch match against Porto in the second leg of Champions League last 16 encounter next Tuesday.