Chris Wilder praised ‘outstanding’ Arsenal and admits Bukayo Saka ‘took Sheffield United to pieces’ in their 6-0 victory at Bramall Lane on Monday evening.
Mikel Arteta’s side registered their seventh consecutive victory in the Premier League in impressive fashion as Martin Odegaard, Gabriel Martinelli and an own goal from Jayden Bogle put them three goals ahead against Sheffield United after just 15 minutes.
Kai Havertz and Declan Rice also found the net to make it 5-0 to Arsenal by half time, while Ben White struck after the break to seal a dominant display from Arteta’s title challengers.
Saka, meanwhile, was replaced at half time due to illness, but Wilder was impressed with his impact, as well as Arsenal’s attacking prowess, in the opening 45 minutes.
‘I didn’t think we were very good, I think we, not gifted goals away, but certain situations we could do a lot better from it from a defensive point of view,’ Wilder said after full time.
‘I thought they were outstanding, especially when they got around the edge of the box, their quick play was incredible.
‘When you have to do that you have to defend right, you have to track runners right, we didn’t do that and made it pretty easy for them to open us up.
‘As I said, their speed of their passing and movement around the edge of the box, we get tentative a little bit and we don’t do what we need to do to prevent that.
‘Saying that, they cut us wide open and that’s the reason they’re doing that to a lot of teams. I’m not saying that makes it feel any better at all because that was another long night for everyone connected to the football club.
‘Four-five, five-four [defensive formation], I’m checking my head, scratching my head to see what we do. We’re struggling a little bit from a personal point of view, but I think we understand that. But that’s not an excuse, that’s a fact.
‘Saka took us to pieces down that side, whatever you need to do, whether it’s five-four or four-five, you’ve got to try to stem the tide and especially when they’re in full flow.
‘I’ve got to say, a really disappointing night for us, but they’re such an outstanding side with threats all over the pitch. When they get five at the top of the pitch they find that pass, they find that movement and when they find that rhythm it’s difficult to stop.’
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