Premier League games played in 2024: Seven. Games won: Seven. Goals scored: 31
Arsenal’s start to this year has been nothing short of sensational, with their 6-0 thrashing of Sheffield United the latest example of their ability to brutally swat aside opponents.
There were goals for Martin Odegaard, Gabriel Martinelli, Kai Havertz, Declan Rice and Benjamin White, while Jayden Bogle put into his own net on an utterly miserable night for Chris Wilder’s team. Arsenal became the first ever team in the top four tiers to win three consecutive away games by five goals or more.
Arsenal remain third but, with Liverpool and Manchester City meeting at the weekend, it puts Mikel Arteta’s team within two points of top spot and knowing they could be back in first position come Sunday night.
Were Arsenal brilliant or were Sheffield United terrible?
As is bound to be the case in a match as ludicrously one-sided as this, it was a bit of both. Sheffield United manager Wilder made an ill-advised decision to start with a back four, deploying former Arsenal centre-back Auston Trusty as left-back up against Bukayo Saka. It was a disastrous move, and forced Wilder into a substitution after just 17 minutes. Three more followed at half-time.
The game, however, was effectively already over by the time Oliver Norwood suffered the ignominy of that early exit. That owed plenty to Arsenal’s ruthlessness. This devastating display was no fluke: that’s now three consecutive away league games in which Arsenal have scored at least five goals.
This was a complete mismatch: a perfect storm that pitted a dismal Sheffield United side against an Arsenal team at their free-scoring best.
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On a night when the entire Arsenal team were afforded an opportunity to shine, Odegaard was Sheffield United’s tormentor-in-chief. After opening the scoring with a typically composed finish from a cutback, he set about dismantling the home side’s feeble defence.
Arteta, though, will be just as pleased that his team retained their concentration to see out a third consecutive clean sheet away from home. David Raya currently leads the race for the Golden Glove with nine clean sheets.
Arsenal will have to do without the Spanish goalkeeper for the weekend’s game against Brentford as he is on loan.
How long might Arsenal’s winning run go on?
This was Arsenal’s seventh victory on the bounce — the joint-longest winning run of Arteta’s Arsenal reign. It means that beating Brentford on Saturday night would take Arsenal top of the league ahead of the match between Liverpool and Manchester City on Sunday, while also making this the best sequence of results in his five years as manager.
Arteta will know all too well this kind of run has propelled Manchester City to many titles before. If Arsenal can make it to nine wins on the spin, then perhaps their fans will really start to believe this could be their year — a gap in the schedule means their next league fixture after Brentford is against City at the Etihad Stadium on March 31.
Arteta will be mindful of the importance of keeping the momentum going, though, and he does not have to look back too far for motivation. Arsenal were on a run of seven consecutive wins in April 2023, before being pegged back for a 2-2 draw at Anfield — the result that arguably marked the start of their title collapse.
How important might the easing of injury issues prove to be?
This was a good day for Arsenal’s squad depth. Fabio Vieira came on for Saka at half-time, making his first Premier League appearance since the game against Burnley in November. Gabriel Jesus returned from his knee issue, and midfielder Thomas Partey played his first Arsenal minutes since October.
Thomas Partey’s return after five months out gives Mikel Arteta greater depth in midfield (Stuart MacFarlane/Arsenal FC via Getty Images)
With Takehiro Tomiyasu and Jurrien Timber also edging closer to a return, Arsenal’s squad is shaping up well ahead of the crucial run-in period. The loss of Tomiyasu and William Saliba in a single game almost exactly a year ago precipitated the end of Arsenal’s challenge for silverware. Right now, they look significantly stronger than this time 12 months ago.
There was a moment of concern when Martinelli went off injured, the Brazilian helped from the field nursing a sore foot during the second half. But Arteta said afterwards the injury was no more than a cut. His direct dribbling style is relatively unique within the Arsenal squad and a protracted spell on the sidelines for the 22-year-old would have been a real hindrance to their title charge.
What did Arteta say?
“I loved the way the team played, the aggression with and without the ball,” Arteta told Sky Sports. “We have to continue doing what we are doing and I’m really happy to get some players back. We have to maintain this momentum.
“I don’t know (whether goal difference will be important). What will be crucial is winning the remainder of our games.
“We love our players and our job is to improve them and to exploit their qualities. The fact so many are scoring creates a sense of confidence and threat around your team that anyone can score a goal.”
What next for Arsenal?
Saturday, March 9: Brentford (A), Premier League, 5.30pm GMT, 12.30pm ET
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(Top photo: Marc Atkins/Getty Images)
