Arsenal 5 Sheff Utd 0
The Gunners welcomed winless Sheff Utd to The Emirates, with Paul Heckingbottom’s side desperate to try and find their first win of the season. These are the kind of games regarded as a ‘free hit’ for the lower sides, their fans were hoping it would allow them to go out and play with freedom.
Arsenal were without Gabriel Jesus as he spends some time in the treatment room with a hamstring injury. Martin Odegaard was left out of the side as Mikel Arteta looked to rotate some of his key players. Eddie Nketiah filled in for Jesus up top.
Arteta’s side struggled to find their flow with their attacking play all too predictable for the best part of half an hour before Rice found Nketiah in the box who neatly turned his marker and slotted the ball past Foderingham in the visitor’s goal.
As the hosts looked to extend their lead before the break Saka found Martinelli, he created himself a shooting opportunity but his effort was well saved by the Sheff Utd keeper. Such is the form of The Blades, already Foderingham has seen more shots than most US schools this year.
Credit: @Arsenal
The second half began with Arsenal on the front foot and as a corner was whipped into the box, Foderingham spilled it straight into the path of Nketiah who rifled the ball into the top corner to double their lead.
Nketiah was soon to ensure that he was taking the match ball home when he scored his third, the pick of the bunch, as he pinged an effort into the top corner from outside of the box. Sheff Utd’s ship was sinking so fast, people were readying the lifeboats.
Martinelli then got to the byline and cut the ball back to the edge of the box where White struck a superb shot into the bottom corner but Foderingham made another good save. Sadly for The Blades’ keeper, their scorelines never seem to give the indication of the keeper having a good game of late.
Trossard then entered the fray and spotted the run of Nketiah as he fed it into his path in the box but with the slightest of touches from the defender, the Arsenal striker went down easier than their opponents may this season.
Fabio Viera looked to cut into the penalty area and immediately ended up in a heap on the floor. The referee was not interested at all and the game continued until VAR told him to stop the game and go and look at the monitor. The decision was reversed and a penalty was awarded.
Nketiah handed the ball to Viera, rather than looking to score his fourth, and the midfielder slotted the ball home with ease. It was a bold move by the striker who could have gone into Arsenal folklore as only a handful of players have bagged four in a game for The Gunners.
Credit: @Arsenal
Sheff Utd failed to clear another corner and Tomiyasu seized on the chance to poke the ball home, despite a long VAR review, the goal was given. It was a first goal for the defender on his 50th appearance in an Arsenal shirt.
The Blades are looking way out of their depth in the Premier League, aside from the 29 goals conceded in their first 10 games, they are not scoring or creating chances with any regularity. Even at this early stage in the season, if this were a boxing match, you would wonder why their corner are not throwing the towel into the ring.
Arsenal meanwhile, move to within two points of North London rivals Tottenham as they look to keep the pressure on at the top. Eddie Nketiah has made a claim for more first team football as Gabriel Jesus often looks far from prolific in front of goal.
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