Review

Nketiah hits first hat-trick as Arsenal close gap at the top

28 Oct 2023

Academy graduate dedicates treble in 5-0 home win over Sheffield United to aunt who passed away

Eddie Nketiah hit his first Premier League hat-trick as unbeaten Arsenal beat bottom side Sheffield United 5-0, moving two points behind north London rivals Tottenham Hotspur at the top of the table.

Position Pos	Club	Played Pl	GD	Points Pts
1	Man City MCI	38	+62	91
2	Arsenal ARS	38	+62	89
3	Liverpool LIV	38	+45	82
4	Aston Villa AVL	38	+15	68
5	Spurs TOT	38	+13	66

See the full table

The 24-year-old academy graduate started up front in the absence of the injured Gabriel Jesus and stole the show, scoring clinically with his first three shots of the match.

It was the first Arsenal hat-trick in the Premier League since February 2021, when Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang hit a treble in a 4-2 win over Leeds United.

See: Nketiah dedicates first hat-trick to aunt who passed away

How it unfolded

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Nketiah was one of four players to come into the side after last weekend’s 2-2 draw with Chelsea, with Jakub Kiwior, Emile Smith Rowe and Kai Havertz also getting the nod as Gabriel, Martin Odegaard and Jorginho were rested. Arteta later revealed Odegaard has been carrying a small injury.

While Sheff Utd kept Arsenal at arm’s length for almost half an hour, the Gunners took the lead with their first shot on target in the 28th minute as Declan Rice fizzed the ball into the feet of Nketiah, who beat former Arsenal defender Auston Trusty with an exquisite first touch before finishing with aplomb.

Gabriel Martinelli stung the palms of Wes Foderingham with a fierce drive before half-time, and the hosts doubled their lead in the 50th minute. Foderingham flailed at a corner and palmed the ball down to Nketiah, who lashed a half-volley into the roof of the net at close range.

Eight minutes later Nketiah completed his hat-trick in sensational style, receiving the ball from Smith Rowe and lashing a 25-yard drive into the top-left corner. It was a moment that earned a standing ovation from Gabriel Jesus, who was watching from the stands.

Two substitutes added further gloss to the scoreline in the closing stages.

Fabio Vieira became the fourth different Arsenal player to convert a Premier League penalty this season with his 88th-minute spot-kick, awarded after a VAR review when Vieira himself was fouled by Oliver Norwood.

Takehiro Tomiyasu then scored his first Premier League goal in stoppage time, pouncing when a corner dropped on the edge of the six-yard box.

Sheff Utd remain at the foot of the table, three points behind Burnley, who lost 2-1 in a relegation six-pointer at AFC Bournemouth.