Arsenal: Raya, White, Saliba, Kiwior, Zinchenko, Rice, Havertz, Smith-Rowe, Saka, Marttinelli, Nketiah
Subs: Ramsdale, Tomiyasu, Gabriel, Jorginho, Elneny, Vieira, Ødegaard, Nelson, Trossard
Arsenal ran out 5-0 winners against Sheffield United at the Emirates Stadium on Saturday afternoon. A hat-trick for Eddie Nketiah, a Vieira penalty, and a Tomiyasu goal sealed the 3 points and sent Arsenal second, within arms reach of Tottenham.
PRE-MATCH
Last time out in the Premier League, a dramatic, late comeback salvaged a point for Arsenal at Stamford Bridge – where they’ve not lost to Chelsea in 5 years. The result ensured the Gunners remain unbeaten in the league, despite allowing Manchester City to draw level on points once again.
Gabriel Jesus was sublime in midweek’s win in Seville, but he picked up a hamstring issue that ruled him out against Sheffield Utd, with Eddie Nketiah coming in. Martin Ødegaard and Gabriel were also dropped to the bench as Arteta shuffled the pack. Emile Smith-Rowe started a league match for the first time since May 2022.
FIRST HALF
Arsenal dominated the opening stages, looking comfortable in possession. However, they lacked the movement and cutting edge needed to really create any meaningful early chances.
First proper breakaway came from a brilliant claim and then weighted, long through ball from Raya, which found Martinelli deep in Sheffield territory. The Brazilian drove into the box and laid off Saka, but the latter couldnt get the shot off.
It took 25 minutes for the first ‘that probably should’ve been a booking’ moment as the Sheffield defender kicked Martinelli’s ankle after the ball had gone. Gabi received treatment as a result. Just a free-kick.
Then on 28 minutes, arsenal kicked into gear. Rice played a fantastic ball into Nkletiah, who then turned the former Arsenal man Aaron Trusty with the most sublime of touches before finishing strongly past the keeper. 1-0 to The Arsenal.
Arsenal grew oin confidence after the opener and Saliba created a brilliant chance for Zinchenko, finding him with a beautifully clipped through ball. Zinchenko chested the ball down, but Trusty recovered to turn behind.
Saka and Martinelli then combined well on 40 minutes. After some great work by Saka on the left, he found Martinelli in the box, who created the space for a devastating left-footed strike which was well saved.
SECOND HALF
Arsenal started how they left off and doubled their lead 5 minutes into the second period. A Saka corner was tipped away by the goalkeeper, but Nketiah was there in the right place tp rifle home intop the tippidy-toppest of bins. 2-0 Arsenal.
Before long, Arsenal added a third and Nketiah completed his hat-trick with a simply stunning strike from the edge of the box. 3-0 Arsenal.
White nearly made it 4 for the Gunners just after the hour mark. The right back hit the sweetest of strikes that was well saved.
Arteta made two changes on 65 minutes, bringing on Tomiyasu and Trossard for White and Martinelli, giving two key players a well-earned rest.
7 minutes later and another double change for Arsenal, with Nelson replacing Saka and Vieira replacing Smith-Rowe. Hat-tick hero Nketiah was given the armband off Saka.
Arsenal continued to dominate possession but in contrast to the first half, they looked sharp, incisive and fluid. Tomiyasu had a sighter from range with 78 minutes played.
Arsenal had a late penalty shout in the last 10 minutes after Vieira’s achilles was kicked, and it felt like it took an eternity for VAR to send the ref to the monitor and then for the ref to actually award it. But a penalty it was and Vieira himself was given the ball by Nkletiah, and duly despatched. 4-0 Arsenal.
Deep into added time, the brilliant Tomiyasu did ever so well to spin and finish after ball fell to him from a Vieira corner. 5-0 Arsenal.
Eat your hats Eddie doubters! (me included)
How bout you eat a hat trick
Yep. Told you guys!!! 🙂
You absolutely did. You stuck by him as even my confidence wavered, and I felt like I had been one of the last Eddie defenders up until a week or two ago. Kudos to you 👏
Cheers!
The first goal was the pick of the bunch for me. Every aspect of it was intended. The control. The placement.
Eddie just seems to feed off the doubters. Not scoring in 9 games had people questioning his fitness to play for Arsenal. He responds with a hat trick
Oh how the fickle are swayed so easily. Well done on hatrick. It was Sheffield United. His level.
Pure numbskullery!
fickle is you and your short memory, Eddie carried us in parts when GJ was out last season until Saliba went down and everything fell apart with it Eddie’s form too. He has been great so far, far better than a lot of strikers in the EPL right now. A striker should score and for him to score the team should provide chances for him, how many chances has Eddie been presented and missed? How many goals does he have or been involved in even if he’s not the one assisting, I get you are spoilt by GJ but Eddie… Read more »
He clearly needs to start a game (rather than come on as a late sub) to be effective.
Stoked for him but a treble against a team at the bottom of the league with massive injuries and no wins doesn’t make the doubts disappear.
Eating it! As the leader of the long line of Eddie doubters, I need to start asking myself: What does Eddie have to do for me to stop doubting him?
Be better 😜
Just goes to show what we know as supporters/fans.
Now that is my Arsenal! Credit where it is due, Eddie was on fire today and so pleased for Tomi to get his first Arsenal goal, he is such a great player. How many defenders are equally as good across the whole back four!
Oh and how nice is it to see us with such a strong bench now!
I didn’t see the game but fuck yes!!
And the Chavs lost to Brentford too!!!
Great day!!!
Eddie is not perfect and not beyond criticism but some of the talk about him recently has been really silly. Hope this puts an end to some of it.
Great to see some of the second string get some game time today.
It’s possible to appreciate him and still acknowledge that criticisms of his unwillingness to press properly of late have been founded.
He played a great game today. Kudos to him.
It’s important for later in the season that we keep the “second string” playing and contributing all the way through – our best players have time to recover and hopefully be fresh in the run in. and the big games. These others players will also be ready to step in when needed. COYG
Come on!! It was only Sheffield United!!
Even I could score a hat trick against them!!!
😂😂😂
There’s a number of very fickle fans on here fats 😂 don’t take much to think someone is the answer. With Jesus so injury prone we need better up top if we are win the league this season.
Agreed. A £65M backup works have been nice but we got Havertz who the manager must shoehorn in from time to time but he just doesn’t afford the same courtesy or cuddles (that Havertz needs) to Ramsdale
Agreed, BGM.
Eddie should be allowed to bask in the glory tonight: a Premier League hat trick is something to be very proud of. But he’s still not the answer to our problems.
Hopefully, Ivan Toney will be signed in January to provide us with the top-quality striker that we’re desperate for.
What would it matter, you would find a way to be annoyed with him as well?
Why have you put a question mark at the end of your sentence? It didn’t require one. And you should have used a colon instead of a comma.
See how finicky I am?
Semi colon; if you’re going to be finicky
Nonsense! It should have been a colon.
While the comma is a clear and obvious error, both proposed punctuation marks are grammatically correct; however, each implies a different relationship between the two clauses. A semicolon coordinates the clauses, but a colon implies that the second clause is an illustration of the first (more or less).
I can’t agree. If the first clause coordinates then it should really be a separate sentence with a question mark on the end. Only a colon works to separate the two clauses, the second being illustrative.
This is turning into a full colonoscopy
Did spurs needed 100mnts to beat Sheffield while they marginally lost to man Utd last week 2-1
I totally agree, the man did exceptionally well, despite the criticism I thought he wasn’t as bad as some here have made him out to be in recent weeks including those who were praying Arteta doesn’t pick him in the 11, claiming they don’t see why Arteta has faith in Eddie. His pressing needs a little bit of work at times (like that Sevilla game), I recall hearing Arteta calling his name a few times arguing for him to press harder today and He did, he’s fast and if he puts his heart to it can be very effective. As… Read more »
Great day for squad belief for both us and the players.
So Eddie shut us the F up huh
It’s was Sheffield utd. Hell shut us up if he scores 3 against the Geordies.
The problem with the “it was Sheffield” argument is that, despite being dire, they don’t ship hat tricks every game. If it were as easy as you imply, they would.
Edu Nketinha
Seems like a lot of complaining. Arterta has dealt with injuries, not the best form from players, and juggling Champions League. Were 2 points from the top, have some real squad depth, and haven’t even hit top gear. Things seem to be shaping up nicely if the glass is half full
Kai goal was all that was missing for a perfect afternoon. One Jesus-less game down, how many to go? Hope Eddie saved another rocket like that for Newcastle next week. Bring’em on!
Arteta upping his subs game. Rotating out important players who have played too much & substituting in fringe players to keep them sharp. This is one area he jas improved over last season.
Until this game I wouldn’t have said that he has, but at least he did it this time finally. And the players who came in rewarded his confidence with a great performance, so hopefully he’ll be encouraged to do so again even against less crappy competition
I don’t think Martinelli was happy to be taken off. It tends to always be him before Saka. I think he would have liked a goal involvement today.
I’d rather him healthy than happy
Saka was replaced midweek against Sevilla and Martinelli was not. Seems like normal rotation to me
After the past month or few weeks of missing Saka, Martinelli, and Jesus he’s learning. there’s no need to keep your stars when the game is won.
From the Last Chance Saloon to the VIP Lounge……Eddie! Eddie! Eddie!
Really pleased for him. Hopefully this will absolutely smash any nerves, doubts, fears or concerns he may have been experiencing and lead to a 25+ goal season for him.
bro gives {better} due respect to Eddie
Eddie Eddie Eddie!!!
20 min of champagne, 70 min of boring, slow backwards play. praise to eddie, he heard de bell ringing…
I love my club.
I love our manager.
I’m stoked for Eddie getting 3.
COYG!!!
I’m also allowed to think that not giving Ramsdale a start in this game is a massive slap in the face. Yes we know Raya is his favourite child but after all the rotation for this game to not include Ramsdale in that was a disgrace.
Nah, first choice in the most important position my friend.
Positions I meant 👍
Stoked eh, we’re you a surfer? Or has that word jumped into the mainstream, not digging anyone out, just interested?
Loving Tommi getting one.