Nketiah bags first PL hat trick as Arsenal cruise to 5-0 win

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Why Arsenal's win vs. Sheffield United was so impressive

Luis Miguel Echegaray reacts to Arsenal's 5-0 thrashing of Sheffield United.

Updated: Oct 28, 2023, 07:37 pm

Arsenal striker Eddie Nketiah ended his scoring drought in stunning fashion with a hat trick in his side's 5-0 thrashing of hapless Sheffield United in the Premier League on Saturday.

The 24-year-old, who made his full England debut this month, had not scored for Arsenal since August but found bottom club Sheffield United's defence much to his liking.

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Nketiah, back in the starting line-up because of Gabriel Jesus's injury, broke the deadlock in the 28th minute with a fine finish after a pass by Declan Rice and made it 2-0 shortly after half time with an emphatic goal after United keeper Wes Foderingham failed to intercept Bukayo Saka's corner.

The best was saved until last though with Nketiah smashing an unstoppable shot into the top corner just before the hour.

Nketiah's hat-trick is his second for Arsenal and first in the Premier League.
Photo by Marc Atkins/Getty Images

Nketiah later dedicated his hat-trick to his aunt who recently died.

"It's amazing," he said. "It's not been easy. Her family were here watching so it is a really special moment."

A Fabio Vieira penalty in the 88th minute and an added time goal by Takehiro Tomiyasu completed the rout.

Victory pushed Arsenal up to second place with 24 points from 10 games, two behind Tottenham Hotspur.

It was a familiar story for Sheffield United who have managed only one point from their opening 10 games.

Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta was full of praise for the way Nketiah responded to his return to the starting line-up.

"For me he is top level. He's started nine out of our 10 Premier League games. That shows how much we trust him," the Spaniard said.

While it was a stroll for Arsenal, it was a familiar story for promoted Sheffield United who have collected only one point from their opening 10 games and face a long, hard winter ahead in their bid to stay up.

They failed to have a single effort on target and the spotlight will fall inevitably on under-pressure manager Paul Heckingbottom.

"They out-fought us as well as out-played us in the second half. That's what good teams do, they have the physicality as well," he said.

"But it is fair to say Arsenal away won't define our season."