Dwight Yorke's hat-trick against Arsenal was completed in the 23rd minute - the quickest ever in the Premier League - outpacing Ian Marshall's effort by four minutes It is Yorke's third for United - he also notched one whilst with Aston Villa - but only United's 11th in the Premiership where they, somewhat surprisingly, trail Blackburn, Liverpool and Arsenal. Teddy Sheringham took only 11 minutes to score three goals against Southampton earlier in the year, but his first goal was not until the stroke of half-time

Yorke's doubling of his annual tally heightens the possibility that five players from the team could reach double figures by year-end. Currently Sheringham 14, Solskjaer, Cole both 9 and Beckham 8 are ahead of him. If achieved, this would be a premiership first eclipsing the 1995/6 record also held by United of four double-digit scorers: Cantona, Cole, Giggs and Scholes.

Gary Neville assisted on three of the goals, a first such hat-trick for any United defender

The drubbing represented the first time that Arsenal had conceded more than four goals in a Premier League Game. Sheffield United and QPR now hold this honour. The result equals the worst defeat for the Gunners against United, who also managed six of the best a couple of times in the 1950's

United are unbeaten over the past ten games - a joint top this season - during which run they have scored at least one goal, also a current first Go Figure Archive