One of Arsenal’s repeated failures last season was in neglecting to put away supposedly inferior opponents once their noses were in front. Sheffield United’s last visit to the Emirates, in January, was a case in point; John Fleck scored a just-about-deserved leveller and the hosts’ problems loomed large. They look better now but Mikel Arteta believes Sunday’s opponents have “deserved much more” than three straight defeats. With both squads in a state of suspended animation before the transfer deadline, it could be a cagey afternoon. Nick Ames
Sunday 2pm Sky Sports Premier League
Venue Emirates Stadium
Last season Arsenal 1 Sheffield United 1
Referee Lee Mason
This season G1 Y3 R0 3 cards/game
Odds H 1-2 A 6-1 D 3-1
ARSENAL
Subs from Rúnarsson, Macey, Saliba, Gabriel, Soares, Papastathopoulos, Kolasinac, Torreira, Elneny, Guendouzi, Willock, Nelson, Pépé, Maitland-Niles, Özil, Nketiah
Doubtful Papastathopoulos (calf)
Injured Mustafi (thigh, 17 Oct), Smith Rowe (shoulder, 17 Oct), Marí (ankle, 17 Oct), Martinelli (knee, Jan)
Suspended None
Discipline Y4 R0
Form WWL
Leading scorer Lacazette 3
SHEFFIELD UNITED
Subs from Foderingham, Fleck, Bogle, Burke, Jagielka, Rodwell, Sharp, Lowe, Robinson, Osborn
Doubtful None
Injured Moore (finger, unknown), Mousset (toe, unknown), O’Connell (knee, unknown)
Suspended None
Discipline Y5 R1
Form LLL
Leading scorer n/a
