Arsenal star Declan Rice spotted LOSING COUNT of the score during first-half blitz vs pathetic Sheffield Utd

DECLAN RICE lost count of the score as Arsenal battered Sheffield United.

The England midfielder held out four fingers in celebration after netting the Gunners’ FIFTH goal before half-time.

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And hitting the Blades for six at Bramall Lane lifts the visitors to within two points of Prem leaders Liverpool.

Martin Odegaard got the first before strikes from Gabriel Martinelli, Kai Havertz, Ben White and Jayden Bogle’s own goal left the hosts’ goal difference at MINUS 50.

But boss Mikel Arteta was dealt an injury scare as Martinelli limped off in the second half.

Former Gunners striker Alan Smith said: “It was devastating football with everybody getting in on the act.

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"But Martinelli’s injury will blight Arsenal’s night.”

Arteta was blown away by his troops' late haul of goals, saying: "The way we started made a difference.

"We were really aggressive and positive and we showed real quality in the final third to take the game into a great position for us.

“Then we maintained the rhythm, maintained the hunger and I love that about the team.”

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He added: "The fact that we’re scoring many goals and not conceding is a great sign, but it’s about winning every game now.

“That’s the demands these two teams have set over the past few years and that’s the task ahead of us.”

Rockb-bottom Sheffield United have now shipped an astonishing 72 GOALS in 27 matches this season.

Under-pressure boss Chris Wilder said: “It’s been a painful season, a real painful one before me and through my period.

“There’s a lot of broken and damaged players out there because this is what the league can do to you, especially when you’re off it and they’re on it.

" When you don’t close the gap they make it look huge.”