3 positives & negatives from Sheffield United thrashing

Positive #2: Clean sheet

Away from home, our defensive record has been good, but, at home, particularly at the start of the camping, we were conceding goals with far too much regularity. Therefore, despite the relative inferiority of the opposition, a clean sheet in this match will do wonders for the entire backline, especially David Raya, who has looked shaky in recent weeks.

The clean sheet means we have conceded just eight goals in our opening 10 Premier League fixtures, a return only bettered by reigning champions Manchester City, who have conceded seven.

Negative #2: No Thomas Partey

A 5-0 victory is not the easiest of performances to find three negatives for, however, Thomas Partey being absent from the matchday squad yet again is undoubtedly one of them.

The Ghanian has been injury-prone for practically his entire Arsenal career, a flaw of the 30-year-old that has cost the club on multiple occasions, and perhaps that’s why they were so eager to get the deal for Declan Rice over the line in the summer.

That said, Partey is still a fantastic player and his absence from the squad is a massive blow.

Continued on the next slide…