Odegaard urges Gunners to focus on top spot after Blades thrashing

Martin Odegaard is eager for Arsenal to maintain their winning run following a 6-0 thumping of Sheffield United.

Mikel Arteta's men made it seven Premier League victories in a row at Bramall Lane, becoming the first side in English league football to win three successive away games by five or more goals. 

Odegaard, Gabriel Martinelli, Kai Havertz and Declan Rice were all on target before half-time — with Jayden Bogle also putting through his own net — before Ben White completed the rout after the interval.

Gunners captain Odegaard told Sky Sports: "Every game is crucial. The top is a good fight and every game is important. Another three points is what we want to get, so hopefully we can do that.

"We have done really well and controlled the game. We knew what their game was like and when we had the ball we were in a good mood and created a lot — a solid performance.

"We wanted to keep the momentum going and wanted to start strong. Places like this can be tricky if you don't start well and we didn't stop from there."

Arsenal stay third in the table but cut the gap to leaders Liverpool to two points before they return to North London to entertain Brentford on Saturday.

Jurgen Klopp's Reds host second-placed Manchester City the following day, meaning Arteta's side could end the weekend top if results go their way.

The Basque coach said: "We have to continue to do well. It is about maintaining the momentum.

"I loved the way the team played. The quality we showed and the aggression with and without the ball.

"We enjoy that [performance] today but tomorrow it is Brentford."

For the woeful Blades, they became the first side in English league football to lose three consecutive home league games by at least a five-goal margin.

Boss Chris Wilder told the BBC: "I think we could have done better in certain situations. We didn't track runners and made it pretty easy for them to open us up.

"Arsenal were outstanding. They cut us wide open. We have to live with it."

The South Yorkshire outfit remain bottom, 11 points from safety.