Arsenal vs Sheffield United: 5 key players to see it through

Arsenal return to action against a gritty and innovative Sheffield United. Here are five key guys to keep the run of form going though the break.

Arsenal contentious run of form has been divisive, as fans want results while also wanting beautiful play, and sometimes you just can’t have both. The Gunners have been surprisingly tremendous about grinding out results, but they haven’t been doing it convincingly.

The international break came at a time when the Gunners could regroup, incorporate the handful-ish of unhealthy young defenders from recuperating in midweek matches to where they belong—starting every single match in the Premier League and driving away the ineffective duo of David Luiz and Sokratis.

This is a unique match in that Sheffield United have been deploying in a 3-5-2, with an emphasis on those wingbacks. It’s a formation we are familiar with from last year, when Unai Emery was still experimenting, and as such we know the weaknesses from first-hand experience.

And with those weaknesses in mind, let’s get to the five key players. We’ll start with No. 5.

5. Rob Holding

Honestly, I’m just so excited to see Rob Holding back in action in the Premier League that I wanted to sneak him on this list.

Mostly, he’s important on an individual level because I want to see him be as convincing as he was last year before getting hurt, and this year in midweek fixtures. All signs point to significant growth and development from the young Englishman, now the next step is establishing consistency and reliability in the center of the defense, and that includes staying healthy.

I have no doubts that he can cope with the Sheffield United attack, but seeing it happen for 90 minutes is a whole different ordeal. Especially since he will be playing with a relatively unfamiliar partner. Obviously he knows Calum Chambers well enough, but Chambers has been being used at rightback.

The most likely partner aside from Chambers is David Luiz, and Holding will be tasked with being the cool head to Luiz’s brash style. Seems simple enough for someone as capable as Holding is, but then again comes the theme of seeing is believing.

No. 4 is next.