LONDON: Eddie Nketiah ended his scoring drought in stunning fashion with a hat-trick in Arsenal’s 5-0 home thrashing of hapless Sheffield United in the Premier League. Sheffield have recorded the worst start of any Premier side.

Nketiah, 24, who made his full England debut this month, had not scored for the Gunners since August and had recently lost his place in the starting line-up.

But he found bottom club United’s over-worked defence much more to his liking as he grabbed his first Arsenal hat-trick.

Nketiah, in for the injured Gabriel Jesus, broke the deadlock in the 28th minute with a fine finish after a pass by Declan Rice and made it 2-0 shortly after halftime with an emphatic strike after United keeper Wes Foderingham failed to intercept Bukayo Saka’s corner.

The best was saved until last, though, with Nketiah smashing an unstoppable shot into the top corner before retrieving the ball and holding it aloft.

A Fabio Vieira penalty in the 88th minute, given after a VAR check following a foul on Vieira by Oliver Norwood, and substitute Takehiro Tomiyasu completed the rout from close range with his first Arsenal goal.

Victory pushed unbeaten Arsenal up to second place with 24 points from 10 games, two behind Tottenham Hotspur who won at Crystal Palace on Friday.

Chelsea lose again

Chelsea manager Mauricio Pochettino said he was not worried about his side’s latest setback – a 2-0 home defeat to London neighbours Brentford – and he said he took comfort from how the Blues have played against bigger sides this season.

Pochettino cut a frustrated figure on the touchline as his side failed to break down Brentford’s defence again and again, only for Bees’ defender Ethan Pinnock to score in the 58th minute. Winger Bryan Mbeumo the settled the result with another strike in stoppage time.

“We played Liverpool and we played Arsenal and the team did really, really well,” Pochettino said referring to home draws in August and last weekend in matches that his £1bn side should arguably have won. He added: “That is why we are not worried. We need to move on.”

Chelsea have won only one of their last 13 home league games, including matches last season, and they sit firmly in mid-table, hampered by their inability to turn possession into goals.

The loss to Brentford had echoes of a 1-0 home defeat by Nottingham Forest last month when they also struggled to break a resolute defence and were caught on the break for the only goal of the game.

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