Arsenal made history in the Premier League as Mikel Arteta's side destroyed a hapless Sheffield United side 6-0 at Bramall Lane to keep their title challenge on track.

Having scored 11 goals without reply in their last two away games, the Gunners were hoping to increase their goal difference against a team that had already conceded 66 goals in 26 games.

The warning signs were there when in the very first minute, Declan Rice saw his effort charged down and, pouncing on the loose ball, Bukayo Saka fired against the upright and Gabriel Martinelli's effort was cleared off the line.

But it didn't take long for Arsenal to make amends with a well-worked move down the left, with Martinelli pulling the ball back for Martin Odegaard and he swept home with consummate ease.

It was a prelude for what was to come, as Saka beat Austen Trusty far too easily down the right and his dangerous cross was bundled home into his own net by Jayden Bogle at the far post.

By the time the clock struck 15 minutes, it was 3-0 and the sinking feeling began to creep into Bramall Lane. Martinelli again combined down the left with Jakub Kiwior and his slightly deflected effort beat Ivo Grbic in the Blades' goal.

Chris Wilder reacted to the impending doom by making an embarrassingly early tactical change, hooking Oliver Norwood and bringing on a sixth defender, Ben Osborn.

Both Rice and Kai Havertz tested Grbic's reflexes as Arsenal continued to drive forward, and Havertz did eventually get in on the act, with the German striking home from a tight angle after some relentless work from Martinelli.

A Blade in a Gun fight...

Arsenal showcased their dominance with a sequence of passing, almost with an air of mockery, before Saka got past Osborn and crossed for Rice to pass home into the net to make it 5-0. It means Arsenal are the first team in Premier League history to score five or more goals in three consecutive games.

Mikel Arteta rested Saka by bringing on Fabio Vieira at halftime, but the Gunners were far from done. Another wonderful move involving Jorginho and Havertz saw the ball fall to Ben White, who impressively struck home with a left-footed effort.

Martinelli hobbled off after picking up a foot injury as Arteta shuffled the pack, with Gabriel Jesus and Thomas Partey among those to enter the fray.

The remaining half an hour was something of a training exercise with jeers and boos ringing out from the home crowd, as Arsenal laid down the gauntlet in the title race with 11 games to go.