I feel like some Arsenal supporters are over-reacting. S.U. are a pretty decent team than can defend well, they'll continue nicking points off top-half teams throughout the season. We're still close enough to get top 4, only our GD is not looking healthy.
@What4 Spot on. How is it surprising that the best English coach managed to win at home? Besides, one would usually expect the team with less possession to emerge victorious. This match had 1-0 written all over it before a ball was even kicked.
Another error from David Luiz but not counted. I can understand that awarding errors is a difficult task for WhoScored/Opta, but when a CB goes to challenge the ball with two opposition players already marked, thereby vacating space in front of the goal allowing a player to be free for any knock-down, that is an error. If I did that as a kid in Sunday league football, I would have been crucified but Luiz gets paid for it. It's now 7 goals coming from errors (including penalties) in the league and the 4th from Luiz. Kolasinac was out of position multiple times and Sokratis was hardly convincing. We didn't deserve to win having created just a couple of chances but we lost because of a lack of basic skills, yet a-sodding-gain.
@SteveHyland I don't know, it just looks like a badly organized defence to me. It looked like someone was meant to be man-marking O' Connell but lost him in the crowd, and no one picked up Moussett, I don't know why someone wasn't assigned to him. Maybe it was clever organization from Wilder, maybe it was luck. Seems pretty harsh to blame Luiz. Like they say, if no one makes a mistake, every game ends 0-0.
@uefalona- We've relied on him too much this season already. He had a poor game but has dug us out of a hole multiple times, so I'm not going to criticise him.
@nexus747 Don't give up your day job to become a weather forecaster lol Looks like a nice dry evening in Sheffield, no no rain and very little wind. Advantage Arsenal but I hope the Blades hold them scoreless
What's the deal with Ravel Morrison? Has Wilder got him metaphorically-loading into his effective system currently going down at SUFC or? I want to see him in a free-roaming, individualistic role. would be sweet.
Arsenal have their long awaited full backs back fit and probably starting for this game. I don’t mind chambers and holding between the centre. Emery should think the 4-4-2 formation is one that really works and most opposition find hard to break. The invincibles were a 4-4-2. Start Aubumeyang and Lacazette upfront!
I can see lots of Arse-anal fans up here praising their own to win, don't be shocked to see a draw or even a Sheffield win...they are not a side you overlook, thus 1-1
I'm confident of Arsenal winning 3-1 here. All the worries of Sheffield causing problems to the top 6 will work in our favour and we'll dominate the game. With Tierney likely starting on the left, we'll be too much with them down the left flank. Bellerin most likely will be rested, so i expect Chambers to play. Though I think we can all agree we want to see a back 4 of Bellerin-Chambers-Holding-Tierney
Lacazette has been out for more than a month and that's a shame because he makes Auba much better. This will be a very difficult game for Arsenal. Sheffield made life difficult for Liverpool and it will be the same for Arsenal. Arsenal would be well place for number 3 if they had a brave and smart manager considering that Spurs and Man Utd are currently on holiday. But Emery is so clueless. I wish Arsenal could win but I expect them to drop points here.
"Carlos Vela (3), Nicklas Bendtner (2) and Jack Wilshere." Oh what glorious days are behind us, comrades! Now we'll plod, contrive and stumble about trying by hook or by crook to get it up to Auba, so he can do something magical to win it for us.
Bellerín and Lacazette are not 100% but both Holding and Tierney should be fine to start now. Adding to the assumption that Xhaka will play, I'd expect the XI to look something like: Leno, Chambers, Holding, Luiz, Tierney, Guendouzi, Xhaka, Pépé, Ceballos, Saka, Aubameyang. David Luiz is a better ball player than Sokratis so gets the nod. Ceballos should be ok and we'll need his door-unlocking skills against a team who only lose by 1 at home. You can never tell what team and formation Emery will put out but I'm assuming it will be the one I listed so will therefore predict a 2-1 Arsenal win.
I feel like some Arsenal supporters are over-reacting. S.U. are a pretty decent team than can defend well, they'll continue nicking points off top-half teams throughout the season. We're still close enough to get top 4, only our GD is not looking healthy.
@What4 Spot on. How is it surprising that the best English coach managed to win at home? Besides, one would usually expect the team with less possession to emerge victorious. This match had 1-0 written all over it before a ball was even kicked.
@What4 What/Who's GD?
@MrNemobody Goal difference.
This result felt good for a non-Sheffield fan, so I can only imagine how it feels like for them. Arsenal fans bite the sour apple again
Arsenal fan TV on Youtube gonna get more views tonight than that Arsenal match :D
Another error from David Luiz but not counted. I can understand that awarding errors is a difficult task for WhoScored/Opta, but when a CB goes to challenge the ball with two opposition players already marked, thereby vacating space in front of the goal allowing a player to be free for any knock-down, that is an error. If I did that as a kid in Sunday league football, I would have been crucified but Luiz gets paid for it. It's now 7 goals coming from errors (including penalties) in the league and the 4th from Luiz. Kolasinac was out of position multiple times and Sokratis was hardly convincing. We didn't deserve to win having created just a couple of chances but we lost because of a lack of basic skills, yet a-sodding-gain.
@SteveHyland I don't know, it just looks like a badly organized defence to me. It looked like someone was meant to be man-marking O' Connell but lost him in the crowd, and no one picked up Moussett, I don't know why someone wasn't assigned to him. Maybe it was clever organization from Wilder, maybe it was luck. Seems pretty harsh to blame Luiz. Like they say, if no one makes a mistake, every game ends 0-0.
where was obangerman when you needed him?? he was virtually invisible that whole game
@uefalona- We've relied on him too much this season already. He had a poor game but has dug us out of a hole multiple times, so I'm not going to criticise him.
Well, we only created one chance, so we can't complain. Well played, S.U.
Mike Dean accusing Kolasinac of time-wasting, what a numpty.
Would have been a tap-in if Pepe used his right foot.
Hopefully I'm wrong but I can see Sheffield United pressing us off the pitch
The Arsenal players will be wearing snoods and gloves because of the cold :)
0-1 Arsenal, Aubameyang scorer.
It will be a cold,rainy and very windy night in Sheffield who will play the direct long ball game which could upset Arsenal.
@nexus747 Don't give up your day job to become a weather forecaster lol Looks like a nice dry evening in Sheffield, no no rain and very little wind. Advantage Arsenal but I hope the Blades hold them scoreless
@marinebroker Sad story : His day job is weather forecaster...
BTTS and over 2.5
What's the deal with Ravel Morrison? Has Wilder got him metaphorically-loading into his effective system currently going down at SUFC or? I want to see him in a free-roaming, individualistic role. would be sweet.
@idiot Ravel Morrison? It's been a long time since he was a kid with potential. He's lucky to even be in a PL squad, to be honest.
@What4 i think he's individual and individuals can be hard to tame/condition/coach. gotta let him be him
Over 2.5
Arsenal have their long awaited full backs back fit and probably starting for this game. I don’t mind chambers and holding between the centre. Emery should think the 4-4-2 formation is one that really works and most opposition find hard to break. The invincibles were a 4-4-2. Start Aubumeyang and Lacazette upfront!
2-2
@nexus747 The team with less possession will win 1-0.
I can see lots of Arse-anal fans up here praising their own to win, don't be shocked to see a draw or even a Sheffield win...they are not a side you overlook, thus 1-1
0-2
0-1 Pepe
surely arsenal win.
0-1
I'm confident of Arsenal winning 3-1 here. All the worries of Sheffield causing problems to the top 6 will work in our favour and we'll dominate the game. With Tierney likely starting on the left, we'll be too much with them down the left flank. Bellerin most likely will be rested, so i expect Chambers to play. Though I think we can all agree we want to see a back 4 of Bellerin-Chambers-Holding-Tierney
@LastJudgment- Yeah, I completely agree with that back 4 once Hector is 100%.
@SteveHyland I would love to see Bellerin-Chambers-Holding-Tierney in the back 4
Lacazette has been out for more than a month and that's a shame because he makes Auba much better. This will be a very difficult game for Arsenal. Sheffield made life difficult for Liverpool and it will be the same for Arsenal. Arsenal would be well place for number 3 if they had a brave and smart manager considering that Spurs and Man Utd are currently on holiday. But Emery is so clueless. I wish Arsenal could win but I expect them to drop points here.
"Carlos Vela (3), Nicklas Bendtner (2) and Jack Wilshere." Oh what glorious days are behind us, comrades! Now we'll plod, contrive and stumble about trying by hook or by crook to get it up to Auba, so he can do something magical to win it for us.
Finally, some real football.
Bellerín and Lacazette are not 100% but both Holding and Tierney should be fine to start now. Adding to the assumption that Xhaka will play, I'd expect the XI to look something like: Leno, Chambers, Holding, Luiz, Tierney, Guendouzi, Xhaka, Pépé, Ceballos, Saka, Aubameyang. David Luiz is a better ball player than Sokratis so gets the nod. Ceballos should be ok and we'll need his door-unlocking skills against a team who only lose by 1 at home. You can never tell what team and formation Emery will put out but I'm assuming it will be the one I listed so will therefore predict a 2-1 Arsenal win.
Sheffield United 0 - 1 Arsenal (continuing the trend of 1-0 losses)