Title-chasing Arsenal on monday night dismantled the rock-bottom Blades at Bramall Lane with a 6-0 victory, scoring five times inside the opening 39 minutes to equal the joint-largest leading margin at half-time in a Premier League match.
Arsenal were playing catch-up following weekend wins for rivals Liverpool and Manchester City, but any slim fears of a major shock were over inside 25 minutes as the visitors stormed into a four-goal lead.
Martin Odegaard set the ball rolling before a Jayden Bogle own goal was followed by strikes from Gabriel Martinelli and Kai Havertz.
Declan Rice then added a fifth four minutes before the break to ensure Arsenal equalled the record for the most goals scored by one team in the first half of a Premier League match.
Sheffield United had been abysmal, but did offer some resistance in the second half until Ben White got in on the act with a fizzing strike from the right side of the area just shy of the hour.
The result sees third-placed Arsenal move back to within two points of leaders Liverpool who meet second-placed Manchester City next weekend.
Arsenal will now aim to make it eight league wins on the bounce and move top – ahead of that Sunday clash between the Reds and the Blues – when they host Brentford on Saturday.
Sheffield United also became the first team in English football history to concede five goals in four consecutive home games across all competitions, leaving Carragher scathing of their approach.