- The former Liverpool defender heaped criticism on Sheffield United players
- Jamie Carragher labelled the Blades’ dreadful first half showing as a ‘disgrace’
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Jamie Carragher described Sheffield United‘s first half performance against Arsenal as a ‘disgrace’ and the ‘worst thing ever seen’ as the Gunners scored five goals in 45 minutes.
Some disappointed home supporters inside Bramall Lane left after Jayden Bogle’s 13th minute own goal gave Arsenal a two-goal cushion before further embarrassment followed as Chris Wilder’s side conceded three more times.
Martin Odegaard, Gabriel Martinelli, Kai Havertz, and Declan Rice all found themselves on the scoresheet heading down the tunnel at the interval and Carragher has lashed out at Sheffield’s torrid showing.
‘I think that was a disgrace. In terms of a half football, I think it’s one of the most one sided games I’ve ever seen,’ the former Liverpool defender fumed on Sky Sports.
‘I think it said that you’ve come into this game on the back of losing two home games five nil in the Premier League conceding five against Brighton.
Jamie Carragher described Sheffield United ‘s first half performance against Arsenal as a ‘disgrace’
Carragher fumed at Sheffield United’s first half performance against Arsenal on Monday
‘I mean, that’s shocking. I mean, it really is and as I said, I’ve never seen, it’s probably one of the worst performances I’ve ever seen.
‘I can’t think of anything worse I’ve ever seen in a half of football,’ he added.
The Blades have endured a nightmare return to the Premier League after winning promotion last season and are favourites to be relegated with just 13 points from 27 games.
Their mid-season re-hire of former manager Chris Wilder has done little to improve the club’s fortunes with Brighton also scoring five goals against them in the previous home fixture.
Meanwhile, Mikel Arteta’s Arsenal produced their best opening to a game this season as their squad blossoming with top talents ran riot in the first half on Monday evening.
Arsenal produced their best half of the season as four players scored against the Bramall Lane hosts
England midfielder Declan Rice scored Arsenal’s fifth goal with a pinpoint finish
Sheffield United goalkeeper Ivo Grbic lies on the ground after Rice scored Arsenal’s fifth
Arsenal legend Thierry Henry further commented on Sheffield’s meagre approach to dealing with his former side’s relentless attack and was critical of their decision to start with a back four defence.
Highlighting the tactical inefficiency, Henry said: ‘Playing Arsenal in a back four was extremely brave.
‘You have to play them in a back five. If Arsenal play like that and you don’t bite, without stepping up, it’s just not good enough.’
Ben White added a sixth goal shortly after the second half got underway to heap further misery on the hosts.
