Arsenal maintained their pace in the title race as they embarrassed Sheffield United 6-0 in an outstanding performance from the challengers at Bramall Lane.

Martin Odegaard's early goal was followed by strikes from Gabriel Martinelli, Kai Havertz and Declan Rice before the break, along with an own goal from Jayden Bogle.

Ben White added a sixth goal in the second half as Arsenal move back to within two points of league leaders Liverpool, who face second-place Manchester City on Sunday. The north London side could move into first before that match as they face Brentford on Saturday while they will know one of their rivals will drop points the following day.

How the match unfolded

Arsenal made a fast start at Bramall Lane as Bukayo Saka hit the woodwork inside two minutes and Martinelli's rebound was cleared off the line.

But it did not take long for Arsenal to take the lead as Odegaard opened the scoring in the fifth minute when he slotted the ball into the bottom-right corner from Rice's cutback. It was the Arsenal captain's fifth direct goal contribution in his last four matches.

The Gunners continued their dominance and doubled their lead in the 13th minute. Saka skipped past Auston Trusty and his cross was put into the net by Bogle. Through this goal, Arsenal became the first team in the Premier League to score at least twice in eight consecutive halves of football.

Two minutes later Martinelli's deflected strike wrongfooted Sheff Utd goalkeeper Ivo Grbic at the near post to make it 3-0 before the Brazillian was involved again in the 25th minute when he won the ball off Anel Ahmedhodzic and allowed Havertz to go through on goal and score a fourth.

Rice added a fifth goal before the break as he side-footed the ball past Grbic following good wing play from Saka.

And that goal means Mikel Arteta's side are now just the second team in English top-flight history to score five or more goals in three consecutive away matches after Burnley did so in September 1961.

And it is the first time in the Premier League that Arsenal have been five goals ahead in a first half.

The goals continued in the second half as White scored with a brilliant left-footed finish inside the box just before the hour mark. It was another landmark goal for the club, with White scoring the 10,000th goal in their history.

The only blemish to the victory was a potential injury blow as Martinelli was forced off with an ankle injury after a collision with Ahmedhodzic.

Sheff Utd finished the match with only four shots, with none of them being on target as they remain in bottom on 13 points, 11 off safety.

Club reports

Sheff Utd report | Arsenal report

Match officials

Referee: Sam Barrott. Assistants: Simon Bennett, Dan Robathan. Fourth official: Anthony Taylor. VAR: John Brooks. Assistant VAR: Marc Perry.