Jamie Carragher branded Sheffield United’s first half against Arsenal as a “disgrace” and the worst he had ever seen.
Title-chasing Arsenal dismantled the rock-bottom Blades at Bramall Lane on Monday Night Football with a 6-0 victory, scoring five times inside the opening 39 minutes to equal the joint-largest leading margin at half-time in a Premier League match.
Sheffield United also became the first team in English football history to concede five goals in four consecutive home games across all competitions, leaving Carragher scathing of their approach.
“That first half from Sheffield United was a disgrace,” he said. “It’s one of the most one-sided games of football I’ve ever seen.
“To consider you come into this game on the back of losing two Premier League home games 5-0, that’s shocking – it really is. It’s probably one of the worst performances I’ve ever seen.
Arsenal smashed Sheffield United for six to move within two points of the top of the Premier League
“I can’t think of anything worse I’ve ever seen in a half of football than that.
“Whatever Chris Wilder decides to do [going forward] he’s going to be sat on the bench terrified that he’s going to have more games like that.
“You actually look at Sheffield United and, in some ways, they almost had a better team last season in the Championship.
“You can talk about Chris Wilder, the players but you can also look at the ownership as well with what happened in the summer losing two of their best players (Sander Berge, Iliman Ndiaye). They were just not equipped for the Premier League.
“I don’t think any team whether you’re in the Premier League, League Two or the Conference, would expect Arsenal to be 5-0 up at half-time. That’s not acceptable.”
Sheffield United are 11 points adrift of safety at the bottom of the Premier League.
How Arsenal destroyed Sheff Utd inside 39 minutes…
5 mins: Odegaard sweeps home
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Martin Odegaard gives the Gunners an early lead against Sheffield United
Bukayo Saka had already hit the crossbar before Arsenal grabbed the opener when Rice pulled the ball back from the byline and Martin Odegaard swept home from close range.
13 mins: Bogle scores own goal
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Jayden Bogle scores an own goal after some brilliant work from Bukayo Saka
Soon it was two as Saka skinned Auston Trusty on the right and squared the ball into the middle where Jayden Bogle turned into his own net.
15 mins: Martinelli strike prompts early exits
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Gabriel Martinelli makes it three, as the Gunners are in full control at Bramall Lane
Just two minutes later Gabriel Martinelli scored Arsenal’s third with a left-footed shot that took a deflection on its way in to send some Sheffield United fans heading for the exits.
17 mins: Wilder makes early change
Blades boss Chris Wilder made one of the earliest tactical changes in Premier League history by replacing Oliver Norwood with Ben Osborn.
25 mins: Havertz fires in the fourth
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Sheffield United fans can be seen leaving Bramall Lane, as Kai Havertz adds a fourth after just 25 minutes
Sheffield United lasted 10 minutes before conceding again, losing possession in their own half which allowed Havertz to finish clinically into the bottom corner and send more Blades fans home early.
39 mins: Rice adds a fifth
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Declan Rice adds a fifth for the Gunners against Sheffield United
The hosts held out for longer this time but couldn’t stop the inevitable when Saka reached the byline. He pulled the ball back for Rice to slot home and complete the first-half rout.
The stats that shame Sheff Utd…
- Arsenal went five goals ahead of Sheffield United by the 39th minute, which is the earliest an away side has had a five-goal margin in Premier League history.
- This is the fourth time this season that Sheffield United have lost a home league game by at least five goals, becoming the first side in a top-flight season to do so.
- Sheffield United are the first side in English league football to lose three consecutive home league games by at least a 5+ goal margin.
- Jayden Bogle’s own goal was the fifth time Sheffield United have put the ball through their own net in the Premier League this season, more than any other side in the competition in 2023-24.
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