No fewer than five players who’ve been linked to Rangers in recent transfer windows were on the pitch as Arsenal dismantled Sheffield United.
The Gunners are locked in a three-way fight for the Premier League title this season with Manchester City and Liverpool providing stiff competition.
Managed by ex-Rangers midfielder Mikel Arteta, the North London club have shown a tendency to blow teams away this season and Arsenal were once again red-hot on a trip to Bramall Lane.
Destroying Sheffield United 6-0 on their own patch, there were several names in the Blades’ line-up which will be familiar to Rangers fans.
Rangers transfer targets blown away
The match saw ex-Arsenal defender Auston Trusty face off against his former side with the Sheffield United star thoroughly embarrassed by the Gunners.
But prior to a £5m summer move to Bramall Lane, there was plenty of talk about a switch to Rangers which never materialised, probably due to the inflated transfer fee.
Midfielder James McAtee – who is on loan at Sheffield United from Manchester City – was also strongly linked with a loan move to Rangers back in January 2022.
Former Everton midfielder Tom Davies, who joined the Blades after being released by the Goodison Park club, is another name familiar to Rangers fans.
Ex-manager Michael Beale was even asked about links to the midfielder last season but a potential switch never materialised.
Then there is ex-Coventry midfielder Gustavo Hamer, linked to Rangers during his time with the Sky Blues, and bluenose forward Oliver McBurnie, who has been linked to Ibrox throughout his career.
Contrasting Sheffield United & Arsenal fortunes
It was a thoroughly humiliating afternoon for the Sheffield United team against Arsenal and perhaps Rangers fans will be glad that the club sidestepped these five options.
Talented might they be, the Blades find themselves in a right mess this season with the club rooked to the bottom of the Premier League, eleven points from safety.
Arsenal were 5-0 up by half-time in the clash with the Premier League’s bottom club, goals from Martin Odegaard, Jayden Bogle (OG), Gabriel Martinelli, Kai Havertz, and Declan Rice having them in dreamland.
Defender Ben White added a sixth in the second half of the match, with the result leaving Arsenal in 3rd, one point off Man City in 2nd and two points off Liverpool in 1st.
