Pain in the Arsenal
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Sheffield United vs Arsenal preview: How to watch, predicted lineups, score prediction & injury updates

By Ross Kennerley

Arsenal's French-born Ivorian midfielder Nicolas Pepe (C right) celebrates scoring his team's second goal as Sheffield United's English goalkeeper Aaron Ramsdale (2nd R) reacts during the English Premier League football match between Arsenal and Sheffield United at the Emirates Stadium in London on October 4, 2020. (Photo by Clive Rose / 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 CLIVE ROSE/POOL/AFP via Getty Images)
Arsenal's French-born Ivorian midfielder Nicolas Pepe (C right) celebrates scoring his team's second goal as Sheffield United's English goalkeeper Aaron Ramsdale (2nd R) reacts during the English Premier League football match between Arsenal and Sheffield United at the Emirates Stadium in London on October 4, 2020. (Photo by Clive Rose / 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 CLIVE ROSE/POOL/AFP via Getty Images) /
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Arsenal, Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang
LONDON, ENGLAND – APRIL 03: Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang of Arsenal during the Premier League match between Arsenal and Liverpool. (Photo by Visionhaus/Getty Images) /

Arsenal Predicted Lineup

Sheffield United: Ramsdale; Egan, Basham, Stevens; Bogle, Lundstram, Norwood, Berge, Osborn; McGoldrick, McBurnie

Arsenal: Leno; Bellerin, Holding, Mari, Cedric; Partey, Xhaka, Pepe, Smith Rowe, Willian, Aubameyang

Sheffield United vs Arsenal Score Prediction

Can one ever be confident any more? There is no easier fixture in the division for Arsenal barring the possibility of welcoming the Blades to the Emirates, but even then home form has been so dire that even that can be argued.

Under Paul Heckingbottom the hosts have been equally as limp as they were under Chris Wilder, although they showed some unrecognisable fight in their recent 2-1 loss to Leeds United – even if they only had one shot on target.

Other than that he’s overseen some torrid results since taking the post, truly cementing Sheffield United’s place as one of the worst sides of the Premier League era.

So what are Arsenal if not one of the worst sides of their Premier League era? The wild inconsistencies within this group can breed utter abjection in both boxes as well as free-flowing attacking in healthy measures. It’s a lottery.

Moreover, this previously solid defensive outlook has dissipated dramatically, with the Gunners now on a streak of 14 consecutive fixtures without a clean sheet that equals their longest run of in the competition – from October to December 2019 – during which Unai Emery lost his job.

Struggling for goals and failing to keep them out? A recipe for disaster.

However, this Sheffield United side are one every team wants to face. Is saying so a foreshadowing for an inevitable catastrophe on Sunday? It may be, but with a football team supposed to be heading in the right direction – this is debatable – failure to oversee a win against a side rooted to the foot of the table is simply inexcusable.

Arsenal should win this. I wouldn’t be shocked if they didn’t, though.

Next. Balogun deal imminent. dark

Score Prediction: Sheffield United 1-2 Arsenal

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