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Sheffield United vs Arsenal preview, how to watch, team news and predictions

By on March 1, 2024

Thomas Partey Arsenal

Arsenal will be looking to boost their title hopes with a win over Sheffield United at Bramall Lane on Monday night.

We head into the game in excellent form having extended our winning streak in the Premier League to six matches with a resounding 4-1 victory over Newcastle United. During that run we’ve also picked up impressive wins over Crystal Palace, Nottingham Forest, Liverpool, West Ham and Burnley. The only defeat in 2024 came with an unfortunate 1-0 loss away to Porto in the first leg of our Champions League last-16 clash.

So Arsenal are in terrific form right now and it was another superb performance from the boys against Newcastle last weekend. As has been the case on several occasions this season, we broke the deadlock from a set piece as Sven Botman put through his own net after Gabriel Magalhaes saw his effort saved. Kai Havertz, Bukayo Saka and Jacub Kiwior secured the win before Joe Willock grabbed a consolation for the visitors against his former club.

After our goalscoring troubles before the turn of the year, Arsenal have really clicked in the final third and have now scored 26 goals in our last six league games. It’s been a phenomenal run but it’s vital we keep it up with another win over Sheffield United on Monday night.

Arsenal head into the weekend action sitting third in the table, one point off Man City and two adrift of Liverpool. However, we could find ourselves further adrift by the time we kick off on Monday night. Liverpool travel to relegation-threatened Nottingham Forest on Saturday afternoon while Man City host an injury-hit Man Utd on Sunday. I expect both teams to pick up wins, so Arsenal will be under pressure to respond and close the gap by beating the Blades away from home.

Sheffield United come into the match with just one win under their belt in 2024 – which was a 3-1 win against fellow relegation strugglers Luton Town. They lost away to Wolves last weekend and have conceded five goals in each of their last three home games in all competitions – once to Aston Villa and twice to Brighton, including their FA Cup fourth round defeat.

The hosts sit bottom of the Premier League table on just 13 points – 11 from safety – so Arsenal should be confident of coming home with all three points. If we slip up in this game, it would be a huge blow to our title hopes and many would say we don’t deserve to win the title if you lose to the club sitting bottom of the table.

How to watch

The match has been selected for live broadcast and will be shown on Sky Sports on Monday night, kicking off at 8pm. Subscribers can watch all the action on their TV, or via the Sky Go app on mobile of tablet devices.

Match going fans can buy Sheffield United vs Arsenal tickets through the official club channels or via trusted online resellers such as seatsnet.com.

Team news

Arsenal still have a number of injury doubts for the game but Mikel Arteta has confirmed a huge boost with the news that Thomas Partey is set to return to the squad on Monday night. The Ghanaian international has only played four league games this season due to various injury issues but he’s back in full training and could feature at Bramall Lane.

Gabriel Jesus is also back in contention after recovering from a knee injury that’s kept him out of Arsenal’s last six games. The Brazilian is being carefully managed to avoid any setbacks and was an unused substitute against Newcastle last weekend. However, Jesus is pushing for a recall on Monday after getting a full weeks training under his belt.

Arsenal will assess the fitness of Oleksandr Zinchenko over the weekend. The Ukrainian international has been out recently with a calf injury but could be back in the squad on Monday if he passes a late fitness test.

Takehiro Tomiyasu will also be checked over by the Arsenal medical staff as he looks to return from a calf injury that he picked up at the Asian Cup in January. Tomiyasu hasn’t featured for Arsenal this year but could be back in the squad for the trip to Bramall Lane.

There was more positive news for Arsenal as Jurrien Timber returned to full training this week. The defender has been out since suffering an ACL injury on his league debut back in August following his move from Ajax last summer. He’s made good progress in his recovery and is back in training earlier than expected, but the game against Sheffield United will still come too soon.

The hosts also have some injury issues to contend with ahead of the game. Maz Lowe remains out with an ankle injury while Rhys Norrington-Davies has been ruled out for the rest of the season with a thigh injury.

Chris Basham is still recovering from a serious ankle injury while John Egan is also still out with his own ankle problem. Cameron Archer, Anis Ben Slimane and Mason Holgate are also certain to miss the visit of Arsenal.

Daniel Jebbison could also be ruled out due to illness but there is some positive news for the Blades as Ben Brereton Diaz is back from a thigh injury while George Baldock is also set to return after resuming full training.

Likely line-ups

Arteta is unlikely to tinker too much from the side that’s performed so well lately. Jacub Kiwior has done well at left-back so I expect him to keep his place even if Tomiyasu and/or Zinchenko return to the squad. Ben White, William Saliba and Gabriel Magalhaes should also start once again alongside goalkeeper David Raya.

Declan Rice will be looking to continue his superb form in midfield while Martin Odegaard will captain Arsenal once again. Bukayo Saka and Gabriel Martinelli should keep their places while I wouldn’t be surprised to see Kai Havertz start again as he’s finally finding his feet.

The one change we could see if Jorginho dropping to the bench. The Italian international was excellent against Newcastle but he’s being carefully managed due to a hip problem so I think he’ll be ‘rested’ for this game. That could see Leandro Trossard recalled.

Likely Arsenal XI: Raya, White, Saliba, Gabriel, Kiwior, Rice, Odegaard, Trossard, Saka, Martinelli, Havertz

Likely Sheff Utd XI: Grbic, Ahmedhodzic, Trusty, Robinson, Bogle, Norwood, Souza, Hamer, Larouci, McAtee, Diaz

Prediction

This is a game Arsenal simply have to win if we want to win the title this season – especially if both Liverpool and Man City claim three points over the weekend. You can never be overly confident in the Premier League, particularly away from home, but with the form that Arsenal are in right now, it’s difficult to see past an away win.

As long as the players don’t take Sheffield United too lightly and play as we have in recent weeks, I think we should ease to victory on Monday night. Sheffield United 0-3 Arsenal