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Football London
Football London
Sport
Chris Wheatley

Martinelli starts as Mari returns at centre back - Arsenal predicted XI vs Sheffield United

Arsenal face Sheffield United in a Premier League clash on Sunday.

The Gunners have played more league matches at Bramall Lane without winning than at any other ground (4) - with the last away top-flight win in April 1991.

Mikel Arteta's side will be keen on getting back to winning ways after a disappointing couple of games against Liverpool and Slavia Prague.

Sheffield United have only scored 17 goals in their 30 games this season and are the lowest scorers in the league.

And it's a match that Arsenal will need to win if they are to have any hope of securing European qualification via the Premier League in the remaining eight games.

"It is nine points [to fifth-placed Chelsea], eight games is a lot to play for and mathematically everything is possible but we have to put a run together," said Arteta ahead of the game.

David Luiz (knee) and Kieran Tierney (knee) are both on the sidelines for the next few weeks.

Martin Odegaard (ankle) and Emile Smith Rowe (hip) face late fitness tests ahead of Sunday's game, but Calum Chambers returns to the squad after missing Thursday's Europa League match with a minor knock.

Those injury blows and a need for rotation ahead of the European quarter-final second leg in Prague next week mean that changes are likely to be made.

Chambers could return at right-back to deal with the aerial threat of Sheffield United, while Pablo Mari could come in for Gabriel who has looked shaky in the past few weeks.

Pablo Mari joined Arsenal permanently in the summer (Stuart MacFarlane/Arsenal FC via Getty Images)

Cedric Soares is likely to continue at left-back in place of the injured Tierney, and Thomas Partey will most likely start alongside midfield partner Granit Xhaka once again.

Arteta could be tempted to bring captain Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang back into the fold for Sunday's match, whilst a surprise start for Gabriel Martinelli would give added bite to the Gunners' attack.

Nicolas Pepe performed well against Sheffield United earlier on in the season, and after his impressive cameo appearance against Slavia Prague the Ivorian is expected to start.

Arsenal predicted XI vs Sheffield United: Leno; Chambers, Holding, Mari, Cedric; Partey, Xhaka; Saka, Pepe, Martinelli, Aubameyang.

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