After 58 minutes, the chants of ‘Eddie, Eddie, Eddie’ quickly echoed through the Emirates.
Gabriel Jesus, in the stands after an injury sustained against Sevilla on Tuesday, stood up in sync with the crowd.
As the ball left Eddie Nketiah’s foot from outside the penalty area, the top left corner of the goal beckoned. Goalkeeper Wes Foderingham knew that too.
The goal capped a hat-trick in a complete striker performance on a rare starting opportunity for Nketiah, who looked skyward and lifted the ball with one hand in celebration.
The 24-year-old has now scored four league goals in ten appearances this season. For Mikel Arteta, the signs are promising with forward depth, an area in doubt due to ties with Ivan Toney for January.
Arsenal beat Sheffield United 5-0 at the Emirates as they returned to winning ways
Eddie Nketiah was the hero for the Gunners as he scored his first hat-trick in the Premier League
Fabio Vieira made it 4-0 late on when he coolly slotted home a penalty for his first of the season
Takehiro Tomiyasu scored deep into stoppage time to make it five and cap off a fine performance
The technique and confidence, especially with the first and third goals, show that Nketiah can play an important role in the selection this season.
Sheffield United were despicable and are the only team in the league to have a win yet this season. Based on this afternoon’s evidence you could see why.
They had pulled away from the first minute and were counting on a lucky lead. After the first goal was scored, that strategy quickly changed to damage control.
However, one area that will be on Arteta’s mind again is Kai Havertz, who gave the ball away at times, especially in the first half.
It’s easy to forget against a team like the Blades, but not when there’s superior opposition. The home fans made their thoughts clear, the groans audible.
Arteta made five changes from Sevilla’s 2-1 midweek win, with captain Martin Odegaard’s drop the most surprising.
It is now generally accepted that Arsenal’s line-up from week to week is a lottery. No player aside from William Saliba is a guaranteed starter. But dropping the captain, who signed a five-year contract last month?
That’s ballsy and a reflection of the cutthroat environment Arteta has created.
For United, one of only two sides in the competition yet to record a win, they had not succeeded at the Emirates since August 1971.
As expected, the home side immediately took possession of the ball, leaving the opposition to retreat and take scarce opportunities forward.
It was a dominant performance from the Gunners, who closed the gap on Tottenham to two points
Nketiah’s return to form is huge for Arsenal after Gabriel Jesus picked up a hamstring injury
Jakub Kiwior was given a rare start by Mikel Arteta and the defender put in a solid performance
Emile Smith Rowe, making his first league start this season, got one of the biggest roars of the first half after a retreating tackle and pass on 10 minutes. He is much loved in this region and is certain that the left side of central midfield is there for the taking, while Havertz is otherwise unable to make a compelling case.
The opener arrived on 28 minutes, with Rice shaping his body towards Ben White on the right wing before turning to play the ball to Nketiah in the penalty area. He became former colleague Auston Trusty and passed Foderingham. A controlled finish, born from a sublime delivery.
Gabriel Martinelli almost scored a goal halfway through. He rolled the ball from his right foot to his left and his shot was parried.
That was after he provided Bukayo Saka on 20 minutes by weaving two defenders back and forth while his teammate was unable to get his feet properly into the penalty area.
Nketiah picked up where he left off after the restart and scored his second. Saka’s corner floated towards Foderingham. He waved it in a terrible way, causing the ball to fall on the striker. He shot it high into the goal, the VAR check indicated whether Ben White was hindering the keeper.
The England man knew there might not be a better chance of a hat-trick this campaign.
That turned out to be true, with a sublime goal after 58 minutes. At that point, United’s confidence was on the ground.
The prospects are bleak for Sheffield United, who are still winless and have just one point
Meanwhile, Mikel Arteta was able to rest Martin Odegaard and Gabriel Maghalaes for the match
White had a shot saved from distance by substitute Takehiro Tomiyasu, who is becoming a hero in north London. His spirited performances when called upon dragged a goal wide.
That was before he rifled home a volley from the top corner in the final minutes.
Substitute Fabio Vieira also got on the scoresheet before the end, after being awarded a penalty via a VAR check after Oliver Norwood had been felled.
He coolly converted the penalty. A smooth day’s work for the Gunners, despite a meek Blades display.