Pain in the Arsenal
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Arsenal Vs Sheffield United: 5 things we learned – Dani Ceballos rescues Gunners

By Andrew Dowdeswell

Arsenal's players celebrate after Nicolas Pepe scored the opening goal from a penalty during the English FA Cup quarter-final football match between Sheffield United and Arsenal at Bramall Lane in Sheffield, northern England on June 28, 2020. (Photo by ANDREW BOYERS / POOL / AFP) / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or 'live' services. Online in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No video emulation. Social media in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No use in betting publications, games or single club/league/player publications. / (Photo by ANDREW BOYERS/POOL/AFP via Getty Images)
Arsenal's players celebrate after Nicolas Pepe scored the opening goal from a penalty during the English FA Cup quarter-final football match between Sheffield United and Arsenal at Bramall Lane in Sheffield, northern England on June 28, 2020. (Photo by ANDREW BOYERS / POOL / AFP) / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or 'live' services. Online in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No video emulation. Social media in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No use in betting publications, games or single club/league/player publications. / (Photo by ANDREW BOYERS/POOL/AFP via Getty Images) /
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(Photo by ANDREW BOYERS/POOL/AFP via Getty Images)
(Photo by ANDREW BOYERS/POOL/AFP via Getty Images) /

On Sunday afternoon, Arsenal travelled to Sheffield United in the quarter-finals of the FA Cup. Here are five things we learned from the 2-1 win.

Arsenal travelled to Sheffield United with hopes of earning a place in the FA Cup semi-finals for the fourth time in the past seven years. They have a superb record in the quarter-finals of the competition and maintained it on Sunday, squeezing past an excellent United team thanks to a late Dani Ceballos finish. The Gunners had held a one-goal lead for much of the match after Nicolas Pepe scored a penalty, but David McGoldrick’s late equaliser caused panic. In the end, however, Ceballos swept and secured the team’s trip to Wembley.

Here are five things we learned from the 2-1 victory.

SHEFFIELD, ENGLAND – JUNE 28: Ainsley Maitland-Niles of Arsenal battles for possession with Oliver McBurnie of Sheffield United during the FA Cup Fifth Quarter Final match between Sheffield United and Arsenal FC at Bramall Lane on June 28, 2020 in Sheffield, England. (Photo by Oli Scarff/Pool via Getty Images)
SHEFFIELD, ENGLAND – JUNE 28: Ainsley Maitland-Niles of Arsenal battles for possession with Oliver McBurnie of Sheffield United during the FA Cup Fifth Quarter Final match between Sheffield United and Arsenal FC at Bramall Lane on June 28, 2020 in Sheffield, England. (Photo by Oli Scarff/Pool via Getty Images) /

5. Why won’t Maitland-Niles play right-back?

Ainsley Maitland-Niles started at right wing-back here. He failed to impact the match positively in the opening stages, but as Arsenal started to play out from the back more effectively later in the first half and beyond, the young midfielder grew into the game. At half-time, his 88% pass completion rate was the second-best in the team while his 40 touches led all midfielders and attackers.

Maitland-Niles was central to Arsenal’s progressive play. He carried the ball well, bounding into space in front of him when he had the chance, and he provided Shkodran Mustafi and Joe Willock with passing options to shuttle possession forwards and break out of United’s pressing scheme.  His offensive play also provided Nicolas Pepe with the chance to drift inside. Maitland-Niles maintained the width in the final third and Pepe could make runs into the penalty area and pick up spaces in more central areas.

And yet, for the positive performance he put in, Maitland-Niles seems unwilling to play right-back in a back four. Whenever he has played there, he has looked very comfortable, but he refused to feature in the position once Hector Bellerin returned. Should Maitland-Niles swallow his pride and commit to the position, he could be a high-level regular starter.