Arsenal will welcome Sheffield United to the Emirates Stadium on Saturday for a Premier League clash, which will kick off at 14:00 GMT.
Key Highlights
Arsenal’s Unbeaten Form
In nine Premier League opening matches, Arsenal have not lost a match. They have won six times and drawn three times. Their 21 points are good enough for 3rd, two points behind leaders Tottenham.
Mikel Arteta’s side will hope for a win as their bid to bolster their burgeoning title challenge with three points and a confidence-building performance, following their late 2-2 draw away to Chelsea last weekend.
Sheffield United’s Relegation Worry
Sheffield United have not won a single match in ten outings. They have collected a solitary point. They have lost their last five matches, underlining their wretched run of results.
Their potency in front of goal has been poor; underlined by their 7 goals in 9 matches scored. To exacerbate their challenge, they have conceded 24 goals in this run, the highest in the Premier League.
As a result, Sheffield are marooned at the basement of the Premier League with a solitary point. The only good news for Sheffield is that they are 4 points from safety. This is the silver lining in what has been a poor start to the season as they fight to retain their Premier League status.
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Injury Report
Arsenal
Mikel Arteta has seen his injury worries ease in recent weeks, as his unbeaten side bid to continue their fine form in the Premier League.
The only player missing is Jurrien Timber, with the 22-year-old center-back recovering from a torn cruciate ligament. The Dutchman has missed the last 12 outings for the Gunners since August 13th, as he steps up his rehabilitation.
Sheffield United
Sheffield United will be without two players from the first-team squad due to injury issues ahead of their trip to the capital to face Arsenal.
Center-back Chris Basham is recovering from a foot injury and is unlikely to be ready to feature at the Emirates. The experienced 35-year-old suffered the injury on October 8th and has missed the previous match for Sheffield.
Another center-back, John Egan, will be unavailable for Sheffield in their clash against Arsenal on Saturday. The 31-year-old is also out with a foot injury, which has sidelined him from the last three Sheffield United outings since September 30th.
Possible Lineups
Arsenal
David Raya; O. Zinchenko, Gabriel, W. Saliba, B. White; D. Rice, Jorginho, M. Odergaard; G. Martinelli, G. Jesus, B. Saka
Sheffield United
W. Foderingham; J. Bogle, A. Trusty, J. Robinson, L. Thomas; J. McAtee, O. Norwood, V. Souza, G. Hamer; O. McBurnie, C. Archer
Prediction
Playing at the Emirates, Arsenal will look to play on the front foot and dominate the match. They will press aggressively across the pitch and make it difficult for Sheffield to play upfield, the pressing will enable them to control possession and minimize the concession of chances.
Arteta’s men will focus on widening the pitch by using wide players, allowing the players in the middle to have spaces between the lines to exploit to create goalscoring chances.
Sheffield will play with two banks of four primarily behind the ball. This will allow them to be narrow and tight and reduce the chances of Arsenal playing through the middle. This will force the Gunners wide and away from the goal.
Sheffield will also look to attack on the break, focusing on pace down the flanks or through the middle to attack the spaces left by the Arsenal high line.
Arsenal will have too much for Sheffield; they will win the match and take the three points, extending their unbeaten run in the Premier League to 10 matches.
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