Arsenal vs Sheffield United: preview, team news and prediction

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After defeating Sevilla in the Champions League, Arsenal will have to shift their focus to the Premier League as they are set to face off against newly promoted side Sheffield United on Saturday afternoon at the Emirates Stadium.

Having endured defeat in the previous game versus RC Lens in the Champions League, the Gunners’ lost their place at the top of the group. So, the midweek encounter was a must-win game for them to regain their spot at the summit of the group.

The North London club eventually managed to come away with all three points from the Estadio Ramón Sánchez Pizjuan thanks to Gabriel Martinelli and Gabriel Jesus’ goals on either side of the interval. So, following that victory, they have now regained their spot at the top of the table with six points from three games.

Arsenal will be full of confidence ahead of this encounter and considering their current league form, it is likely to be extremely difficult for Sheffield United to stop the Gunners this weekend.

Mikel Arteta’s side are currently third in the league with 21 points from nine games and are only two points behind the table topper Tottenham Hotspur. So, the Emirates faithful will be hoping that they will be able to win the game on Saturday and continue their title charge.

Opposition watch

After gaining the promotion, the Blades have struggled in the Premier League this season as they are currently at the bottom of the league with only one point. They haven’t beaten anyone in the English top-flight yet this term so it is expected that the Gunners will be able to continue their momentum against a struggling Sheffield side this weekend.

Paul Heckingbottom’s side are currently on a five-match losing streak and the Emirates faithful will be hoping that the Blades won’t be able to snap that this weekend.

However, although Sheffield United have been in dire form at the moment, they showed signs versus Manchester United in the previous game that they can compete at the highest level so, Arsenal shouldn’t take this game lightly.

Previous meetings

Arsenal are currently unbeaten in 18 consecutive matches versus Sheffield United at home in all competitions. The Blades have won only two games versus their Saturday’s opposition in the last 19 league encounters.

More stats

The North London club are unbeaten in 36 home games versus the newly promoted side since losing to Newcastle United back in 2010.

On the other hand, Arsenal have kept the most clean-sheets in the Premier League this season and they will be looking to continue that record on Saturday afternoon.

Sheffield have won only two matches out of 32 in the league when they travelled to the capital and they will be looking to improve that this weekend.

How to watch

The match will kick off at 3 pm UK time and the match won’t be telecasted live in the UK due to the no broadcasting rule. Therefore, the only way to watch all the action live is to have a ticket for the game. Official channels sold out weeks ago but you can still buy Arsenal tickets at reputable resellers like Seatsnet.com.

Team news

New signing Jurrien Timber isn’t available for selection having sustained a serious knee issue and he is set to remain sidelined for the entirety of this season.

Jesus picked up a knock in the previous game against Sevilla and he is set to remain sidelined for a few weeks so he isn’t going to feature in Saturday’s encounter as well. So, Eddie Nketiah is expected to start in the number nine position in place of the Brazilian. Thomas Partey has sustained a fresh injury and he is also going to remain sidelined for a few weeks so he isn’t in contention to be involved in this encounter.

As for Sheffield, they have a pretty long list of absentees ahead of this fixture due to injury problems. Chris Basham, Tom Davies, John Egan, Anel Ahmedhodzic, Daniel Jebbison, Rhys Norrington-Davies and Max Lowe are currently sidelined with long-term injury issues so they aren’t going to feature in this encounter.

Ollie McBurnie could also miss out on this fixture having sustained an issue in the previous game against Man Utd. Nevertheless, the good news for the Blades is that William Osula, Adam Davies and George Baldock could return after recovering from their respective injuries.

Predicted line-up

Arteta made some minor changes to his squad in the midweek’s game against Sevilla but he went with his preferred 4-3-3 formation and it’s expected to be the same on Saturday.

David Raya should continue between the sticks, while Benjamin White, William Saliba, Gabriel Magalhaes and Oleksandr Zinchenko could be the back four.

Declan Rice is likely to commence in the deep-lying playmaker role and on either side of the Englishman, Kai Havertz and Martin Odegaard should start in the engine room.

Gabriel Martinelli and Bukayo Saka are guaranteed to start on the flanks. But, it remains to be seen who starts in the number nine position. It’s expected that Nketiah will be leading the line for the North London club this weekend.

Expected Arsenal line-up against Sheffield United

Raya; White, Saliba, Gabriel, Zinchenko; Rice, Havertz, Odegaard; Saka, Martinelli, Nketiah

As for Sheffield, Heckingbottom could go with the 5-3-2 formation versus the Gunners and Wesley Foderingham should be in goal for them. Baldock, Jayden Bogle, Auston Trusty, Jack Robinson and Luke Thomas should be the back five, while Oliver Norwood, Vinicius Souza and Gustavo Hamer are likely to commence in the engine room.

Rhian Brewster and Cameron Archer should be given the responsibility of leading the line for the Blades this weekend.

Expected Sheffield United line-up vs Arsenal

Foderingham; Bogle, Baldock, Trusty, Robinson, Thomas; Norwood, Souza, Hamer; Brewster, Archer

Key players

Saliba is the mainstay of Arsenal’s backline and he has started the season promisingly. So, the responsibility will be on him to organise the defence and create attacks from the back.

Rice is the crucial part of Arsenal’s link-up play and alongside him, Zinchenko plays a pivotal role in this regard as well.

Saka is the talismanic figure for Arsenal to score goals and create opportunities for fellow attackers. Martinelli is also an integral part of Arteta’s first eleven so the North Londoners will be hoping that he will be able to continue his impressive displays on Saturday afternoon.

Prediction

Arsenal are a huge favourite to come away with all three points and it’s going to be extremely difficult for the visitors to come away with a positive result from this encounter if the host plays their best.

The only thing that can prevent Arsenal from winning is complacency so they can’t afford to take this game lightly and would be looking to kill this game off as early as possible. Arsenal 4-0 Sheffield United

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