Mikel Arteta says Sheffield United’s set-up was behind his reason to switch Bukayo Saka to the left-wing for periods of Arsenal’s win against the Blades.

And Eddie Nketiah hat-trick and goals from Takehiro Tomiyasu and Pablo Vieira helped the Gunners to a 5-0 win against the winless Blades.

Saka was unusually quiet during the win, though he provided a helping hand in Nketiah’s second by playing in a corner from the right.

The England playmaker is typically deployed from the right, which allows him to cut in on his favoured left foot.

But Arteta switched Saka to the left for periods of the win, which had supporters questioning the move.

Saka switched wings with Martinelli.

And the Spaniard says he felt Saka could capitalise on certain ‘vulnerabilities’ in the Blades’ defence from the left.

‘There was certain behaviours of the opponent that could allow certain spaces…in relation to how the midfielders were behaving with our attacking midfielders,’ said Arteta.

‘He did read that very good in certain moments.

‘The timing sometimes was better than other times but it was another way to attack certain spaces that we believe were vulnerable to it.’