Arsenal will be eager to return back to winning ways in the Premier League when they welcome basement club Sheffield United to the Emirates Stadium on Saturday.
The Gunners are third in the Premier League, two places and points behind leaders and north London rivals Tottenham. They clinched a dramatic 2-2 draw with Chelsea at Stamford Bridge after being 2-0 down last weekend on their first game after the international break.
Mikel Arteta’s men are coming off a 2-1 UEFA Champions League win at Sevilla in midweek and will be overwhelming favourites on paper against Sheffield United, who have picked up just a point from their opening nine games.
Arsenal Team News
Arsenal suffered a blow in midweek when Gabriel Jesus tweaked his hamstring in the dying embers of the game against Sevilla and gingerly trudged off the field. The Brazilian has said that he would undergo a scan after feeling something in his hamstring, leaving Mikel Arteta in the dark about his availability for the weekend clash.
Thomas Partey suffered yet another muscle concern prior to Arsenal’s Champions League encounter against Sevilla and remains doubtful for the visit of Sheffield United.
Predicted Arsenal lineup vs Sheffield United (4-3-3)
Goalkeeper
David Raya has produced a few questionable performances including the 2-1 win over Sevilla in the Champions League. Yet, Arteta is likely to stick with the Spaniard and give him confidence to settle down at the club.
Defence
Ben White, William Saliba and Gabriel Magalhaes should continue in the defensive line. Takehiro Tomiyasu started at left-back against Sevilla and impressed. The Japanese deserves to hold onto the left-back spot ahead of Oleksandr Zinchenko, who was subpar in the 2-2 draw with Chelsea.
Jakub Kiwior, Oleksandr Zinchenko and Cedric must provide defensive cover from the bench.
Midfield
A muscle injury kept Thomas Partey out of the game in Seville, and if he fails to recover in time, Jorginho is expected to continue in the No.6 role for Arsenal. The Italy international will shield the back four and look to set the tempo of the game, with Declan Rice and Martin Odegaard on either side of him.
Rice and Odegaard will get the license to push higher up the pitch and cause damage in the final third against the Blades. Fabio Vieira and Kai Havertz could be introduced in the second half if the Gunners need more creativity and dynamism in the middle of the park.
Attack
Gabriel Jesus felt something in his hamstring against Sevilla in the 81st minute and couldn’t continue, so Arteta is unlikely to risk the Brazilian from the start on Saturday. He could hand Eddie Nketiah a start up top, with Bukayo Saka and Gabriel Martinelli occupying the wide areas.
The pace, dynamism and movement of the aforementioned Arsenal’s attacking trio could cause major problems for the Sheffield United defence. Leandro Trossard would be hoping to make another impactful appearance off the bench.
