Arsenal matched their biggest Premier League away win with a 6-0 pummelling of Sheffield United on Monday after scoring five times in the first half when they tore the home side apart and have closed within two points of leaders Liverpool.

Mikel Arteta’s team are third with 61 points after 27 games, a point behind Manchester City but with a much better goal difference than their title rivals. The Blades remain rooted to the bottom on 13 points, 11 adrift of the safety zone.

The Gunners are the first Premier League team with seven wins in a row this season.

Arsenal were ruthless as they sliced through Sheffield’s defence with ease from the start. Arsenal captain Martin Odegaard opened the floodgates with his fifth-minute goal, firing home from the middle of the box after a cute cutback from Declan Rice.

Jayden Bogle put through his own goal in the 13th before Gabriel Martinelli struck two minutes later, sending scores of weary Sheffield fans to the Bramall Lane exits, while Kai Havertz (25th minute), Rice (39), and Ben White (58) also netted.

They matched their best Premier League away win set in the 6-0 rout of West Ham United on February 11 and their record six-goal victory margin in a 7-1 top flight win over Aston Villa in 1935.

The Gunners did make history on Monday by becoming the first English side to win three consecutive away matches by a margin of five or more goals. They also became only the second English team to score at least five goals in three successive top flight away matches after Burnley in September 1961.

Asked if the players signed in the summer had helped Arsenal hit top gear at the right time, manager Mikel Arteta told reporters: “Yes for sure.

“Obviously picking the right players that could bring something that we didn’t have to the squad, and they’re certainly doing that and improving every single player, and the mechanisms and culture around the team.”