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ARSENAL thrashed Sheffield United 6-0 at Bramall Lane to keep up their tilt for the Premier League title.In a truly dominant performance, the flying Gunners led 3-0 inside the first 25 minutes and 5-0 before half-time.Ben White then made it six with five different goalscorers in the books for Arsenal, who now know a win over Brentford on Saturday will see them top the league before Liverpool face Manchester City the following day.
Sheff Utd starting XI: Grbic; Ahmedhodzic, Trusty, Robinson; Bogle, Norwood, Vinicius Souza, Hamer, Davies; McAtee, McBurnie
Arsenal starting XI: Raya; White, Saliba, Gabriel, Kiwior; Jorgnho, Rice, Odegaard; Saka, Havertz, Martinelli.
PADDY POWER WELCOME OFFER – get £40 in free bet builder betsArsenal with chance to lay marker
With Brentford to come to The Emirates on the weekend, The Gunners can go top of the table.
With Liverpool and Man City playing each other on the weekend, psychologically, it could be a big advantage.
Arsenal have winnable fixtures coming up, along with a tricky trip to The Etihad to play Pep Guardiola’s side.

Copy linkCopiedBlades lacking that cutting edge in league
It was a fourth consecutive home game where Sheff Utd have conceded five or more goals.
They have looked well out of their depth in the Premier League and you cannot see that changing between now and the end of the season.
The season has been a harsh lesson for the club and even more testing for their passionate fans.
Copy linkCopiedSkipper leads the way to victory
Martin Odegaard was involved in everything Arsenal did well tonight.
Sheff Utd allowed the player the time and space to pull the strings for The Gunners all evening.
Confidence will be growing in North London, feeling they have what it takes in this season’s title race.

Copy linkCopiedFT: Sheff Utd 0-6 Arsenal
It was one-way traffic from start to finish at Bramall Lane.
Chris Wilder’s side offered no resistance whatsoever.
Arsenal move to within two points of leaders Liverpool.

Copy linkCopiedFT: Sheff Utd 0-6 Arsenal
The referee puts the hosts out of their misery.
Arsenal get all three points with a demolition job of Chris Wilder’s side.
Sheff Utd are heading back to the Championship if they keep getting beat like this.
Copy linkCopiedSheff Utd 0-6 Arsenal
90+4. Man of the match is awarded to Martin Odegaard.
The Arsenal skipper has put in a good shift this evening, getting a goal in the process.
He tries to scoop the ball over the defence for Partey but it is easily gathered by the Sheff Utd keeper.
Copy linkCopiedSheff Utd 0-6 Arsenal
90+2. Mikel Arteta will want his side to ensure a clean sheet now.
He seemed annoyed when they gifted Newcastle a consolation goal at The Emirates in their last game.
Raya has had very little to do this evening.
Copy linkCopiedSheff Utd 0-6 Arsenal
90. Credit where it’s due to the Sheff Utd fans who have stayed.
This must have been a tough watch from start to finish.
To rub salt into the wound we are going to have five additional minutes.
Credit: AFP
Copy linkCopiedSheff Utd 0-6 Arsenal
88. Partey plays a lofted ball to Jesus in the box.
He takes the ball down brilliantly but tries to beat one player too many instead of getting a shot away.
His blushes are spared as the flag goes up for offside.
Copy linkCopiedSheff Utd 0-6 Arsenal
86. The way it is looking this season, The Blades could be heading to beat Swindon Town’s unwanted record.
In the 1993/94 season they conceded 100 goals in the Premier League.
That was over 42 matches before the number of teams in the league was reduced.
Copy linkCopiedSheff Utd 0-6 Arsenal
84. Havertz plays the ball into Jesus in the box.
He drops his shoulder and cuts onto his right foot, looking to bend one in the far corner.
Grbic gets down well to turn the ball around the post.
Copy linkCopiedSheff Utd 0-6 Arsenal
82. Osula runs through towards the Arsenal goal.
He has no support and two Arsenal defenders in front of him.
The Sheff Utd attacker tries his luck from distance but it is high and into the stands.
Credit: Reuters
Copy linkCopiedSheff Utd 0-6 Arsenal
80. Partey looks to lift a ball over the top of Jesus.
The Brazilian tries to pull it out of the air but cannot get anywhere near it.
It runs through to Grbic for an easy gather.
Copy linkCopiedSheff Utd 0-6 Arsenal
78. The ball is clipped into the box and Kiwior has a free header in the middle of the goal.
He gets it all wrong as he puts it well wide of the goal.
Should be really testing the keeper from there as a minimum.
Copy linkCopiedSheff Utd 0-6 Arsenal
76. Odegaard slides the ball into Jesus.
He looks to square the ball for a tap in but it is blocked by Robinson, at the expense of a corner.
Chance for The Gunners to get another goal from a set piece.
Copy linkCopiedSheff Utd 0-6 Arsenal
74. Rice comes off for Trossard as Arteta looks to rest his players.
The result was never in doubt here from about the fourteenth minute of this game.
Most of the Sheff Utd fans have gone home now.
Copy linkCopiedSheff Utd 0-6 Arsenal
72. Arsenal’s winter break to Dubai seems to have invigorated this team.
They have not looked back since the turn of the year, having their best run of form of the season.
It all remains to be seen how far they get in the Champions League also now as that will surely put pressure on the depth of their squad.
Credit: Getty
Copy linkCopiedSheff Utd 0-6 Arsenal
70. This was never going to be one of The Gunners’ tricky away fixtures in their remaining games.
Most people are wondering what records there are to be broken now.
Here are some of Arsenal’s biggest wins in the club’s history.
Copy linkCopiedSheff Utd 0-6 Arsenal
68. Let’s not forget that this Sheff Utd side lost 8-0 at home earlier in the season against Newcastle.
If there is any positive spin on the scoreline, at least it’s not their heaviest defeat of the season.
The Blades have now conceded 72 goals this season.
Copy linkCopiedSheff Utd 0-6 Arsenal
66. The way Martinelli was unable to put any weight on that injury did not look good for Arsenal.
Mikel Arteta will be hoping that Gabriel Jesus can get some much needed game time without aggravating the knee once again.
Another goal would mean The Gunners matching their biggest ever away scoreline in any competition.
Copy linkCopiedSheff Utd 0-6 Arsenal
64. Martinelli limps off with a foot injury.
Arteta replaces the winger with Jesus.
The manager also brings on Cedric and Partey for Jorginho and White.
Copy linkCopiedSheff Utd 0-6 Arsenal
62. Bogle passes the ball through two Arsenal players finding Baldock.
He looks to get to the byline and cross but Raya gathers with no Sheff Utd player making the run to the near post.
Martinelli is down injured again, he has spent more time on the grass than most lawnmowers in this second half.
Copy linkCopiedSheff Utd 0-6 Arsenal
60. Some of these Sheff Utd players will have PTSD after this.
There is still over half an hour remaining, this could be any scoreline at Bramall Lane.
The only thing you would not predict is a goal for the hosts the way this game is panning out.
Credit: Getty
Copy linkCopiedSheff Utd 0-6 Arsenal
58. Arsenal just continue to look play through The Blades.
As Havertz pulls the ball down, he lays it off into the path of White.
The defender strikes a left-footed shot into the far corner to make it six.
Copy linkCopiedGoal – Ben White (Arsenal)
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MANCHESTER UNITED are taking on bitter rivals Manchester City at the Etihad Stadium RIGHT NOW.And Erik ten Hag’s side have taken a shock lead after Marcus Rashford’s thunderbolt on eight minutes.Kevin De Bruyne returned to the City starting XI in the Premier League after making FOUR assists to Erling Haaland in the FA Cup midweek.
TV channel: Sky Sports Main Event and Premier League
Live stream: NOW
Man City team: Ederson, Walker, Dias, Ake, Stones, Rodri, Bernardo, Foden, De Bruyne, Doku, Haaland
Man Utd team: Onana, Dalot, Varane, Evans, Lindelof, Casemiro, Mainoo, McTominay, Fernandes, Rashford, Garnacho
PADDY POWER WELCOME OFFER – get £40 in free bet builder betsMan City 0-1 Man Utd
37. United are defending in big numbers.
As City push and pass their way forward, the visitors are often sat with ten men behind the ball, leaving only Marcus Rashford up top.
That’s a long time left on the clock to be playing so deep.
Copy linkCopiedMan City 0-1 Man Utd
35. De Bruyne takes matters into his own hands (feet) by coming in off the right flank to open up space for a shot.
However, the midfielder rather rushes at the opportunity, pulling his effort uncharacteristically wide of the near post.
Copy linkCopiedMan City 0-1 Man Utd
33. Another fine stop from Onana!
City are turning the screw on their opponents now, and almost bag an equaliser.
Walker accelerates down the right, tees up De Bruyne for a cross that’s cleared by Varane, but only to Rodri, who executes an immediate sliced volley destined for the bottom corner.
That is until Onana gets down low to his left in order to push away.
Copy linkCopiedMan City 0-1 Man Utd
31. All the talk was of Kevin De Bruyne’s creativity before this match, but it’s been Bernardo Silva as the man most likely to make something happen so far.
The Spaniard has already been responsible for laying on five chances this afternoon.
Copy linkCopiedMan City 0-1 Man Utd
29. Decent play from City.
Dias sends a diagonal pass into the path of Doku on the left, the Belgian comes inside and exchanges passes with Silva before shooting well wide of the target.
Copy linkCopiedMan City 0-1 Man Utd
26. A foul is given against Lindelof up the left touchline, and – remarkably – the first free-kick of the contest is awarded.
Copy linkCopiedMan City 0-1 Man Utd
24. Hopeful shouts of handball from the home fans as a cross crashes into Dalot and goes behind for a corner.
In fact, Andy Madley delays the restart while VAR take a second look, but it takes barely a second to notice that Dalot’s arm was tucked into his body in a natural position.
Copy linkCopiedMan City 0-1 Man Utd
22. Perhaps I should have said 3-3?
A lifted cross into the City box from the left has the home defence nowhere to be seen.
The ball is just too high for the arriving McTominay, but sits perfectly for Rashford at the far post.
A wild miscue of a shot follows, making a mockery of the screamer he netted from three times the distance a quarter of an hour earlier.
Copy linkCopiedMan City 0-1 Man Utd
20. This is an incredibly open match full of non-stop attacking action.
It could easily be 2-2 already.
Copy linkCopiedMan City 0-1 Man Utd
18. Big chance for Foden! Must be! Saved!
Now it’s the turn of the United defence to open up and allow an opponent a free path to goal – a route that a forward fails to capitalise on.
Huge credit to Onana, who is quick off his line to narrow Foden’s angle, and then imposing enough to block the subsequent low shot.
Copy linkCopiedMan City 0-1 Man Utd
16. Another chance for Rashford! Oh, he miscontrols!
Dias’ slip on halfway presents the opportunity for Fernandes to poke a through ball into the path of the goalscorer, and all he has to do is head it forward to leave himself clear on goal.
However, Rashford makes a real mess of it, and City breathe a huge, collective sigh of relief.
Copy linkCopiedMan City 0-1 Man Utd
14. Foden goes for goal! Saved by Onana!
City move the ball from left to right across the United penalty area, presenting Foden with a chance from a wider angle than he would have liked.
The forward does well to get a strike away, but it’s one comfortably dealt with by the United goalkeeper.
Copy linkCopiedMan City 0-1 Man Utd
12. On co-commentary, Gary Neville ponders whether Ake’s decision to drop back as Onana launched forward for the goal came as a result of Garnacho beating him for pace on the flank just minutes earlier.
Copy linkCopiedMan City 0-1 Man Utd
10. Stunned by that opener, City go looking for an immediate response.
Foden attempts to feed Haaland, but Casemiro gets a foot in to carry the pass beyond the striker.
Copy linkCopiedMan City 0-1 Man Utd
8. What an extraordinary hit from Marcus Rashford!
A long clearance upfield from Andre Onana catches Manchester City out with Bruno Fernandes played onside by a dozing Nathan Ake on the near side.
The Manchester United captain then does brilliantly to hold the ball up, turn, and lay it back into the path of Rashford.
What follows is sensational; the England forward takes the shot on first time from 25 yards, it flies past Ederson, and crashes into the net off the crossbar.
The strike silences the Etihad! It silences the haters! And it has United in front!
An absolute stunner – in more ways that one.
Copy linkCopiedWhat a goal!!

Copy linkCopiedMan City 0-0 Man Utd
6. Now it’s Doku’s turn to test the United defence with some unpredictable skill and pace.
Dalot stands up to the challenge, and then we have a first glimpse of the threat that United carry on the counter.
Garnacho gets away from Ake on the right, and looks to have the legs to go all the way.
Somehow the winger gets held up on route, and his eventual deflected cross is an easy grab for Ederson.
Copy linkCopiedMan City 0-0 Man Utd
4. The barrage continues.
The game has been played exclusively in United’s half so far, indeed it’s mostly in their 18-yard box.
Silva is just about crowded our as he lines up a shot inside the area, and then Stones goes to crowd following a challenge from Casemiro.
The referee and video officials say no penalty, and they’re absolutely right. The Brazilian got a foot on the ball with Stones kicking the back of his opponent’s leg.
Copy linkCopiedMan City 0-0 Man Utd
2. The home side force a corner with less than a minute on the clock, and immediately to pull their red rivals apart.
Clever passing and movement from the dead ball draws United’s defence out, allowing Foden to strike a goal from 22 yards out.
Deflected and behind for another corner.
Copy linkCopiedKick-off – Man City v Man Utd
1. Here we go! Bernardo Silva gets this Manchester City underway with a one-man kick-off all the way back to Ederson, and sets the tone of the hosts in possession.
Andy Madley is the man in charge, and the champions are already on the charge…
Copy linkCopiedHere come the two teams!
The rain has been falling in Manchester – no surprise there – but it seems to have paused to allow the players to make their entrance at the Etihad.
Ahead of kick-off, the atmosphere is more anxious than raucous. Perhaps both supporters fear a slip-up, one that could leave the blue half playing catch-up in the title race, or one would leave the red half red-faced.
Kick-off comes next.
Copy linkCopiedPep hails incredible partnership
Erling Haaland and Kevin De Bruyne will play together in the Premier League for just the fourth time this season, and for Pep Guardiola, the return of that partnership could not have been better timed.
The Manchester City boss believes his squad have done brilliantly to stay in the title race without their star duo, and now hope the pair can fire them to the top.
At the end we are here and many times we have been without them and still we are there. We won’t be at the top tonight, but we are here because everyone is making contributions. When they [Haaland and De Bruyne] perform at the highest level, it is incredible for us.”Pep GuardiolaSky Sports

Copy linkCopiedCity shooting for club record
Stop Erling Haaland and stop Manchester City, right? Of course not.
Even when they were without the Norwegian striker this season, the Citizens were unstoppable in front of goal, especially at home.
In fact, City have scored in each of their last 54 games at the Etihad in all competitions.
And now Haaland is back from injury, back in red-hot form, and back paired with his creator supreme in Kevin De Bruyne.
So it seems a case of when City will score, rather than if – and once they do, they will equal their club record of scoring in 55 consecutive home games, which they first set between January 2012 and January 2014.
Copy linkCopiedMore back four roulette for Erik
Injuries, form and suspensions have caused chaos for Manchester United’s defence this season.
And any hope that Erik ten Hag may have had for a settled back line for the remainder of the campaign has been blown apart by recent injuries to Lisandro Martinez and Harry Maguire.
The Dutchman goes for a quartet of Diogo Dalot, Jonny Evans, Raphael Varane and Victor Lindelof this afternoon, a selection that Kelly Cates tells us is the 21st different back four that United have opted for in 27 Premier League games this season.
Copy linkCopiedDerby brings away day joy
No fixture in Premier League history has resulted in more away wins than Manchester City against Manchester United.
The derby has served up 22 successes for the side making the short trip across the city, the same number of away victories given to us by games between Aston Villa and Liverpool.
Indeed, of the 54 fixtures to be played 40+ times in the Premier League, the Manchester derby has the highest proportion of away triumphs at 42% (22/53).
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OLLIE WATKINS scored twice to seal his best ever Premier League scoring season but Unai Emery was bailed out by two of his substitutes.Villa striker Watkins grabbed goals no 15 and 16 in this impressive to leapfrog Mo Salah and move within one-goal of 17-goal Erling Haaland.Lucas Digne’s late goal spared Villa’s blushes after a stunning Luton comebackCredit: GettyThe Hatters had managed to fight back from 2-0 down but couldn’t hold outCredit: ReutersYet remarkably, showing they will not go down this season without a bloody huge fight, Luton pulled themselves back into the match by capitalising on some poor Villa defending with Tahith Chong and Carlton Morris both scoring inside six minutes.Yet Emery, knowing his team appeared to be on a suicide mission to lose this game, made FOUR subs in the 79th minute.These included Moussa Diaby and Lucas Digne and in the 89th minute, Villa grabbed the winner which sees them remain in a strong position in the top four.Digne had not scored in the Premier League since November 2022 yet he met Diaby’s cross at the far post and it could prove to be a huge moment in what is turning out to be a terrific season for Villa.As for Luton, this was gut-wrenching and a fifth successive loss in all competitions. At the end, the team was applauded off the pitch but Rob Edwards’ team, who have been so impressive this season, need to start picking up results again.In contrast, Villa go into Thursday’s Europa League visit to Ajax on the back of three successive League wins but they cannot afford lapses in concentration like displayed midway inside the second half.But with Watkins in terrific form, and he has beaten last season’s record of 15 Premier League goals, they have a chance.With Harry Kane moving to Bayern Munich and Ivan Toney serving his betting ban, you would not have put much money on an Englishman appearing at the top of the scoring charts.The stats show just how close the match was in the end – despite Villa cruising at half-timeCredit: The SunOllie Watkins’s double will have done his hopes of a spot in the Euro 2024 squad no harm at allCredit: PABEST FREE BET SIGN UP OFFERS FOR UK BOOKMAKERSWatkins couldn’t actually beat Haaland, could he? Well, probably not. Yet the fact he is playing with such freedom and confidence – he has also delivered 10 assists – is not only good news for Emery but for Gareth Southgate.When Watkins put Villa in command in the first half, the only question was whether he would leave with the match ball.The momentum tells the story of a topsy turvy gameCredit: The SunLuton keeper Thomas Kaminski will have been mightily relieved to have been given the night off on Tuesday when his no 2, Tim Krul, had six goals stuck past him by Manchester City in the FA Cup fifth round.Kaminski made a couple of decent saves to keep out efforts from Jacob Ramsey and Watkins but Luton’s third clean sheet never seemed a possibility.And Watkins was left completely unmarked to score with a near-post header from Leon Bailey’s corner.Watkins fired a shot against the post and then and then thought he had been denied a second by the linesman’s flag.Full marks to Douglas Luiz for having the intelligence to catch out Luton by floating a quickly-taken free-kick over the top of the home side’s square defence.Watkins took a touch before burying the ball into the bottom right corner and while he initially looked up to the sky in disappointment, his mood soon changed when, after a quick VAR check, it was obvious that he was being played onside on the other side of the pitch by sub Chiedozie Ogbene.The striker hit a double, taking his tally in the Premier League to 15 this seasonCredit: RexTahith Chong spurred on Luton’s comebackCredit: RexBefore Morris equalised, but the hope of a point against fourth placed Villa proved to be short-livedCredit: RexYet Luton once again proved they have some cajones and they were rewarded for their persistence by scoring twice to put themselves in a position to win the game.After Matty Cash blocked a header by Reece Burke on the line, Chong scrambled the ball over the line.And while Emery will have been disappointed with the fact his side failed to clear Alfie Doughty’s corner, he will have been livid with the second.Villa’s players seemed to just stand and admire Doughty’s free-kick over to the far post and Morris delivered that great finish by sweeping the ball past Emi Martinez.Emery made those four changes in the 79th minute and with Luton on their knees, Digne ended up the unlikely hero with just a minute left.Watkins’ stats have been so impressive this seasonCredit: The SunRelive how it all happened at Kenilworth Road… More