Gunners in cruise mode as goal blitz continues

Arteta’s men show they have learned from past failures as win keeps them right in hunt

- Simon Collings

WITH just 11 games left, this title race looks set to go to the wire — and so Arsenal should be grateful for nights like these.

This emphatic victory made it seven wins on the spin for the Gunners, as they continue to keep pace with Liverpool and Manchester City. Beat Brentford at home on Saturday, and Mikel Arteta’s side can take pole position before the league’s top two face each other the following day.

It has been a decade since three sides have fought for the title like this, and history suggests there will be plenty of twists and turns to come. There was never any danger of that happening last night, though, and this win was a cruise for Arsenal.

They were three goals to the good within the opening quarter of an hour and, such was the onslaught, the home fans booed the fact five minutes were added on at the end of the first half. At that point, Arsenal were 5-0 up and it felt like a question of what records they were going to break. In the end, they added just one, through Ben White, but they did claim a new record, becoming the first side in English league football to win three consecutive away games by a margin of five or more goals.

United were awful, and this was the fourth home game in a row that they had conceded at least five goals, but Arsenal deserve credit for tearing them apart.