That’s it for tonight. Thanks for reading and for all your emails. See you next time.
“We’ve got to dust ourselves down and go again Saturday,” says the Sheffield United manager, Chris Wilder. “We have an obligation.
“I thought our supporters were amazing … I understand supporters leaving, I get that … but the noise at the end, when the supporters were vocal, I think shows what an amazing club this is.
“It’s a painful season and the boys are a damaged group of players. There’s no doubt about that. It’s been a long season and they’ve had to take some big hits … we have to be responsible, whether pre-me, or now, we all have to take that responsibility … we can’t get away from that.
“It might be a time to take little peek at who takes us forward in these next 10, 11 games … maybe [Oliver] Arblaster, [Andre] Brooks and [William] Osula are the ones to take us forward a little bit now.
“There were some disappointing performances all over the park … when you’re not at a level that gives you half a chance, you’re just going to get punished, and punished really brutally, like we have been today. They were in a different league, a different planet to us, and we couldn’t lay a glove on them … the gulf is huge and it’s definitely shown tonight.
“They shouldn’t need to be motivated. They’re professional footballers, they get paid, we all do, we get paid very, very well … and we’re at a level that we need to produce and motivate ourselves. I’ll do what I need to do.
“The stuff that we’ve gone through in terms of a game plan goes out the window if we make elementary mistakes. I’m not so sure it’s a motivation level. And I do get why people say, well, ‘They’re not up for it’.
“We just weren’t good enough tonight. From a motivational point of view, playing Monday night live on Sky against Arsenal in the Premier League, you know, it shouldn’t need anybody to get geed up. You should be calming people down.
“When you make some defensively really poor decisions, teams are going to punish you. It looks like you’re not trying. The boys are having a go. They’re hurting. We’re all hurting … and we’re hurting on behalf of the football club. Because the results and the performances, especially over the last three or four games, are nowhere near where they need to be.”
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Arsenal ended with 80.7 possession. They had 10 shots on target to Sheffield United’s zero and 22 shots to United’s four.
Arsenal took 1036 touches, Sheffield United 340.
Arsenal made 892 passes to the Blades’ 212.
The score in corners was 7-0 to Arsenal.
The score in goals was 6-0 to Arsenal.
Saka was feeling sick? You should have seen the Sheffield United defenders …
“I loved the way the team played,” says Mikel Arteta. “The quality that we showed and the aggression as well, with and without the ball. We were really determined from the beginning. We were worried because it’s a very tricky game … it’s a team that has done really well against some big teams as well. We’re really happy winning with the amount of goals we scored and a clean sheet.
“We have to continue to do what we are doing .. Really happy to get some players back after a long time, like Fabio [Vieira], like Thomas [Partey]. … and then maintain the momentum. We enjoy that today but tomorrow it is Brentford, and Brentford and Brentford, and keep going.
Will goal difference be crucial? “It’s going to be crucial if we win the remainder of the games … in order to do that, we have to beat Brentford now, and that’s the most important thing.”
“We love our players, our job is to improve them, to give them the resources, and to put them in situations they can explore their qualities. That’s what they try to do. The fact so many of them are scoring creates a sense of confidence and threat around the team that anybody can score a goal.”
Would going top next week change the dynamic of the title race? “I don’t know. I know how tough it’s going to be against Brentford, it always is. We will try to prepare the game the best possible way and again, play and perform in the way we are doing, and earn the right to win the game.
“Bukayo was feeling sick, and he wasn’t feeling right, so we decided to take him off. With Gabby, it is just a cut. He had a tackle and a slight cut, and we have to see how he is.
What message have Arsenal sent to their title rivals? “Nothing. We have to do our business, and win our games. That’s the only thing that we can do.”
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Tough night for Sheffield United. Tough season, let’s be honest.
if you add up all the points from sheffield united’s last two premier league seasons (36) they still don’t quite have enough to be safe
— Jonathan Liew (@jonathanliew) March 4, 2024
Carragher-banter alert. Referencing his own much-talked-about criticism of some recent Arsenal celebrations, he asks Ødegaard:
“It was a great performance from you today … but I didn’t see the photographer on the pitch?”
“I was waiting for that!” Ødegaard laughs. Everyone has a chuckle …
“No, I was too scared to do it today,” Ødegaard adds. “I went inside today.”
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Martin Ødegaard speaks: “We know it’s a tough place to come … We took control of the game, we knew they wanted to play direct and we had to be ready for that.
“When we had the ball, we were in a good mood today … In the end it was solid, a nice performance.”
“We wanted to keep the momentum going. We wanted to keep it up. Especially when you come to places like this, it can be a bit tricky if you don’t start well.”
Thierry Henry asks about the pressure Arsenal are putting on their oppoents: “I think it’s unbelievable, the work we put in without the ball … you can talk about what we do in front of the goal, but the work we do without the ball, from the front line to the keeper, is unbelievable.
“I feel really safe when we’re defending. We need to find the right balance and I think we’re doing that at the moment.”
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Triumphant social media graphic from the winning team, anyone?
Hitting six on the road 🙌 pic.twitter.com/FCZ5PRj0rC
— Arsenal (@Arsenal) March 4, 2024
Aaron Bower is on the scene for us at Bramall Lane and his match report is right here:
Reaction coming up, and perhaps a smattering of pundit chat from Henry and Carragher as well.
While not too much can be read into beating Sheffield United (no offence), the timing of the return of Partey and Jesus is perfect for Arsenal in the context of the title race.
All-round that was just an awesome performance. Saka was electrifying, as was Martinelli, Rice was relentless, and man-of-the-match Ødegaard pulled the strings in imperious fashion.
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Full time! Sheffield United 0-6 Arsenal
Total domination from Arsenal. The Gunners can move top of the table if they beat Brentford next Saturday evening, before the seismic encounter between Liverpool and Manchester City the following day. The title race is really on, people!
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90 min + 4: “Media is a lovely suburb,” writes Michael Driscoll. “Just west of Philadelphia.”
Media in Pennsylvania, of course, is the birthplace of Auston Trusty, for those of you who have been reading all evening. He will probably want to be catching up with friends and family for a bit of moral support after this.
What’s occurring on the pitch? Not much. Arsenal have the ball. Sheffield United are defending better and holding their shape.
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90 min +3: Ødegaard is awarded man of the match by the co-commentator, Alan Smith. A fair shout.
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90 min: We’ll have five minutes added on.
Speaking of the number five, this is the fourth time in recent weeks that Sheffield United have conceded five or more at home. Two of those were 5-0 losses, one was 5-2. But this? This is the worst of 2024. They did lose 8-0 to Newcastle in September.
89 min: “You reckon many Sheffield United fans have already gone home?” emails Geoff Wignall. “Not the pub then?”
Fair point. Many of them have left the stadium, let’s say.
87 min: From the Arsenal left, Trossed curls a lovely, cultured cross to the back stick, where a couple of teammates are lurking. Sheffield United clear at the second time of asking. Their defending has been somewhat more solid in the second half. Then, Jesus gets his foot on the ball in the area with a silky first touch, and makes a twisting run, but is eventually crowded out.
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86 min: You sense that Arsenal have succeeded in silencing the home crowd at this stage. Many of them have already gone home though.
Jesus chases a ball over the top. Grbic gathers it safely.
83 min: Bogle has Sheffield United’s second actual shot of the evening, although it’s a similarly poor effort to the one by Osula a couple of minutes ago. He tries a curler with the outside of his boot, but it flies away harmlessly.
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82 min: Another lightning quick counter by Arsenal. Havertz and Jesus link beautifully, Jesus has a sight of goal, and curls a powerful right-footer which is destined to bend in the far corner. He thinks he’s scored, I fancy, but Grbic dives to his left and beats it out for a corner.
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80 min: Partey fails to control a poor pass in midfield and suddenly Osula is bearing down on goal with the Arsenal defence back-pedalling. Could this be the moment? No, it could not. Osula tries a piledriver from outside the area, right-footed, and it skews off his boot, high and wide.
80 min: “Dear Luke,” writes Florian Neuhof. “Did you know that the Premier League’s 15,000th goal was also scored by a German and former Gunner, Moritz Volz? One of football history’s quirks.”
Florian, I do now. Danke.
78 min: Ødegaard swings a cross over for the Poland international Kiwior, who is entirely unmarked in a central position. He makes a total hash of the chance, though, and the ball bounces off his shoulder and out.
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75 min: Saliba slides an excellent pass to the feet of Jesus down the right channel. Jesus tries to bang a powerful cut-back across goal but it’s blocked out for a corner.
74 min: Rinse and repeat. Arsenal give the ball away, and Bogle tries to make a break down the right for the home team. But he’s got no support, and is easily crowded out.
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73 min: One of the Arsenal substitutes, Jesus, makes a run towards the near post from a central area. Robinson covers. Jesus goes down and wants a penalty after cutting towards the byline, but he was offside anyway.
Meanwhile, Declan Rice is taken off, with Leandro Trossard coming on.
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72 min: Arsenal continue to press high up the pitch. Sheffield United have simply had no time at all to try and build anything. The fitness, along with the determination to close their opponents down, is impressive.
70 min: Arsenal have had 80% possession, and nine shots on target to Sheffield United’s nil.
They’ve had 20 shots in all and made 641 passes to United’s 161. And they have had 756 touches to the hosts’ 256.
It’s utter domination.
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68 min: That’s 150,000 goals up in the English top flight, then.
Kai Havertz's goal tonight (Arsenal's fourth) was the 150,000th goal scored in English top-flight league history. pic.twitter.com/nPdLtveBPU
— Opta Analyst (@OptaAnalyst) March 4, 2024
64 min: The 19-year-old Ollie Arblaster comes on, for the captain, Ahmedhodzic.
This is Arblaster’s Premier League debut. Must feel a bit like batting No 6 for England, coming in at 12-4 against the West Indian pace attack of the 1980s.
63 min: Martinelli is going off injured. He’s had a knock to his right ankle, it looks like. And he’s being helped from the pitch. Looks like it could be quite bad …
Now, Arteta is about to indulge in a bit of bench-emptying.
Gabriel Jesus, Thomas Partey and Cedric Soares are coming on. White, Jorginho and obviously Martinelli, injured, go off.
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60 min: Arsenal ping the ball around again, keeping the ball high up the pitch. Martinelli nearly gets in behind after a quicksilver exchange of passes. There’s a close-up of the Sheffield United captain and defender Ahmedhodzic, who looks just as fed up as you’d expect. Who’s picking up? Mark a man! WHERE IS THE TALKING?
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It’s more lovely work from Havertz. I mean, no one could accuse him of being a flat-track bully, but he’s having a superb night here. He brings the ball down and cuts it back for White, who needs to second invitation to crack a left-footed shot that arrows into the bottom corner.
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Goal! 57 min: Arsenal 0-6 Sheffield United (White)
The perma-tanned Ben White gets on the scoresheet. Good finish too.
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56 min: Gabriel gives the ball away cheaply in midfield. Against most opposition that would be a grave error. There is space to attack with the visitors pushed forward. But Arsenal win the ball back very easily again. There is no pace, no threat, no ability to hold possession from the home team. It really is a horrible performance.
55 min: Martinelli whips a cross in from the left wing for Arsenal. Sheffield United’s defenders, with Wilder’s half-time team talk still ringing in their ears, look a bit more solid now and they clear their lines.
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53 min: Whoah! Vieira is released down the right, and shows genuine pace to get clear of the defensive cover. Not quite Saka-quick, but who is? He floats a perceptive cross to the middle where Martinelli tries a volley. It’s miscued, though, and Sheffield United snuff out the danger.
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50 min: Arsenal win it back high up the pitch yet again. You can’t beat a recovery in the final third, can you? Thomas Tuchel would be purring. Havertz is fouled by Vinicius Souza, and the Gunners have a set-piece in a handy position.
Rice belts the free-kick to the near post, maybe looking to catch Grbic out, but it’s accepted gratefully by the Sheffield United gloveman.
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48 min: Just to reiterate, Saka did indeed go off at half time. Fabio Vieira came on. It’s hardly emptying the bench but it’s a start. No sense in risking injury for Saka given this is a goal-difference exercise for the Gunners now.
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46 min: Martinelli has taken a stray hand in the face – perhaps a finger in the eye - from Baldock, who has just come on. It was accidental, but it looks like Martinelli is in some pain.
Second half kick-off!
Three changes for the hosts: Baldock, Osula and Brooks on for Sheffield United. McBurnie, McAtee, Davies off. That’s four changes in total for the Blades now.
Saka off for Arsenal, Fábio Vieira on.
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“Somehow, this is probably all Carlos Tevez’s fault, isn’t it?” emails Oliver.
Sure, Sheffield United have not been good. But this is also the kind of performance that will make genuinely Manchester City and Liverpool take notice. The fluency of Arsenal’s attack has been sensational.
Liverpool and Manchester City to play out a hard-fought 2-2 draw next Sunday, perhaps?
“The next pundit to claim there are “no easy games in the Premier League” should be forced to watch this on repeat!,” emails James Carpenter.
Don’t forget to read today’s Jonathan Wilson:
Or today’s Sid Lowe:
“I’m still uncomprehending of the lack of a yellow when Martinelli was, quite literally, aikido-thrown to the ground preceding Havertz’ goal,” writes Alex Whitney. “Considering some of the soft yellows given this season, that is simply indefensible. Referees have the toughest job on the pitch, no doubt, but the lack of intent re: consistency is remarkable.”
Yes, I agree, that was an appalling foul.
“Havertz hasn’t featured too much in your comments given the clinic being put on by Saka and Ødegaard,” says Allan Castle. “But what a game he’s having. That bit of midfield holding-up he did prior to the Martinelli goal, his own finish, that knockdown ruled out for offside… a player transformed from the early days after his arrival.”
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“A long suffering but for now a quite contented Gooner from Nairobi,” writes Manoah Jones. “Having suffered through the City and Liverpool wins over the weekend, it’s nice for the shoe to be on the other foot.”
Next weekend, that is: A reminder that Arsenal will play Brentford at the Emirates on Saturday night, with Liverpool v Manchester City on Sunday afternoon.
“I don’t understand all this hype about Saka,” writes Malcolm Shuttleworth. “Apart from scoring loads of incredible goals, and making dozens and dozens of goals, and being outstandingly brilliant, what has he ever done for Arsenal?”
“Of course Arteta should empty his bench,” emails Ron Stack. “It’s not just saving the starters’ legs, it’s preventing the kind of injury that would be inevitable if my Spurs were playing.”
He should. Of course he should. But will he?
Half time! Sheffield United 0-5 Arsenal
As Alan Partridge once said of his leaving party at the Linton Travel Tavern: “I think that went quite well.”
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45 min +3: Perhaps we’ll have a chance to get philosophical after half time, and reflect on how the increasingly imbalanced and grotesque Premier League is now all about the “haves” and the “have-nots”. Arsenal and Manchester City, for example.
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45 min + 1: I can exclusively reveal that Arsenal haven’t scored a goal for a few minutes now. They knock it around in midfield for a few seconds. Ødegaard spreads it left … Jorginho then floats a ball looking for Havertz on the right. The German volleys an attempted cross which is blocked. He wants a penalty for handball but nothing doing.
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45 min: We’ll have five minutes of added time, minimum, at the end of the first half.
It’s going to be one hell of a team talk for Chris Wilder, isn’t it?
45 min: The Sky commentator, Seb Hutchinson, tells us a team has never been 6-0 up at half time in the Premier League era.
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44 min: Should Arteta empty his bench at half-time, and save the legs of Saka etc. for the rest of the run-in?
43 min: I’ll tell you what this is. It’s a classic Premier League title-race STATEMENT OF INTENT from Arsenal.
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41 min: Ødegaard and White link up and the wing-back is nearly in. A desperate challenge brings a corner.
Saka belts an ambitious effort from an angle.
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40 min: Of course, it’s not just Saka. But he’s been the main instigator, the main tormentor of this poor Sheffield United defence. Martinelli and Ødegaard have been outstanding too.
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Saka is tearing Sheffield United apart. He is making this look so easy. He takes a pass and runs to the byline and cuts back for Rice, who emphatically buries a right-footed shot in the far corner. The celebrations are suitably passionate. Arsenal know they will have a chance to go top against Brentford next weekend.
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Goal! 39 min: Sheffield United 0-5 Arsenal (Rice)
And another!
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38 min: Looks like Trusty’s been taken off Saka duty. He’s tucked in more centrally now.
Sacked from Saka duty, I guess.
35 min: Saka again gets on the move down the right channel, a little more centrally this time. He slides a pass through the lines for Martinelli. Martinelli’s effort is deflected out for a corner by Robinson. This really is liquid football from the Gunners.
The corner is played to Ødegaard on the edge. He crosses, but the hosts deal with the danger very well.
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33 min: Arsenal ping the ball around in an advanced area. Some big-time Charlie tries a too-cute flick and the move breaks down. But the Gunners soon get it back. From Sheffield United’s point of view, it would be nice to have some kind of outlet in attack. But they have very little. Basically nothing.
32 min: Again, I’m going to write that Arsenal haven’t had a sight of goal for about two minutes, which probably means they’re about to score.
There'll be people on Twitter, or X if you prefer, bantering about 4-0 being a dangerous scoreline.
31 min: “Hi Luke, forgot this game was on,” emails Antony. “Now you’re wondering exactly what my role is at Sheffield Utd, right?”
30 min: “This may be abject humiliation for Chris Wilder but he’s seen worse,” emails Niall Mullen. “One time, and I’m not making this up, a fella ate a sandwich near him. If he got through that then surely he can get through this.”
29 min: Bogle is booked for a foul on Ødegaard. Arsenal have a free-kick in a dangerous area that Rice will take.
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26 min: As you can see at 23 min, I was about to write how Sheffield United had relieved the pressure somewhat, at least for a couple of minutes. They won a free-kick in an advanced area, and everything. But then that. Four-nil, and it’s not even half an hour gone.
There was a futile professional foul on Martinelli after he sent Havertz in on goal for the fourth. Sheer desperation that sums up Sheffield United’s evening thus far.
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Goal! 25 min: Sheffield United 0-4 Arsenal (Havertz)
United cough up possession around halfway. Martinelli feeds Havertz. Haverts runs into the penalty area, with the defence nowhere, and cracks a stunning low finish into the far corner.
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23 min: The relentless pressure has been relieved on the … oh, no it hasn’t. Wait a sec.
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21 min: What we’ve seen so far is a perfect storm of a confident, on-form, well-coached, hungry outfit, against opponents who are desperately short on confidence in defence, having conceded five goals three times in the past several weeks.
Rice now has a crack from distance. Grbic beats out the shot. Havertz then has a chance to shoot, swivelling and hitting a half-volley from what they call a “second ball” in Sunday League footie. Grbic saves.
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The third goal, by the way, was a fluent counterattack down the Arsenal left. Martinelli exchanged a smart one-two with Jakub Kiwior and took his shot early. It took a deflection into the net, which is not what you need when you’re already 2-0 down … There was the proverbial acres of space in the home defence though.
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16 min: Wilder has seen enough and he brings off Oliver Norwood, with Ben Osborn coming on. Wilder pats Norwood’s head apologetically as he comes off. His player doesn’t look very happy. Would you be?
Fans are walking out. This is horrible for the Blades, with a complete humiliation on the cards, if it isn’t that already.
Goal! 15 min: Sheffield United 0-3 Arsenal (Martinelli)
Another sweeping move from Arsenal. A deflected effort by Martinelli nestles in the back of the net …
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Saka is being marked by Trusty. He gets the ball on the right wing and glides past the defender with contemptuous ease. Having advanced to the byline, he takes the ball in, and sends a low cross right across the face of goal. Bogle can only deflect the ball into the net, standing on the line. He looks a bit embarrassed.
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Goal! 13 min: Sheffield United 0-2 Arsenal (Bogle OG)
Saka forces an error. It’s 2-0.
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11 min: Ødegaard plays a glorious ball down the left to Martinelli, who squares for Saka. Saka hits a powerful effort goalwards from inside the penalty area, that is blocked by a desperate challenge from Robinson.
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10 min: White takes a couple of throw-ins for Arsenal in the right-hand corner in an advanced position. Sheffield United are penned in, and are reduced to hammering a clearance downfield when they get it.
8 min: Ødegaard jinks and drops a shoulder on the edge of the box. He cracks a left-footed shot which is always going wide and a little high. Chris Wilder has his arms firmly folded on the touchline.
It’s more patient, assured play in possession from Arsenal, who score with their second concerted attack, having already hit the woodwork. Martinelli links with Rice, who gets to the byline and crosses low for Ødegaard from the Arsenal left. Ødegaard is unmarked, near enough the penalty spot, and tucks the ball comfortably into an empty net. I mean, that looked easy, but Arsenal are supremely confident in possession, their movement is fantastic … not easy to defend against by any means.
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Goal! 5 min: Sheffield United 0-1 Arsenal (Ødegaard)
There it is.
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4 min: Sheffield United mount their first meanginful attack, down their right wing, but it’s contained easily enough …
2 min: Straight away, Arsenal look confident in possession. Martinelli plays a cute pass around halfway. Saka then gets in behind down the right, the hosts’ defence sliced open at almost the first time of asking by a simple one-two. He squares across the six-yard for Rice, whose shot is blocked … Havertz has a go with the ball a bit behind him – blocked – and then Saka hits a half-volley that cannons back off the crossbar! Inches away from an early lead. It’s looking like a long night for the hosts.
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First half kick-off!
Arsenal, in garish yellow and black it, kick things off.
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The teams are out on the pitch. Wilder and Arteta have had a little hug. We’re ready to go.
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Carragher, meanwhile, reckons this iteration of the Arsenal team won’t slip up in this game.
“As a fan I’m always cautious,” Thierry Henry says of his emotions. “I don’t like these types of games … You would like to think it’s going to be an easy one, but you have to make it easy.”
I think that’s the most un-Roy Keane thing he could have said.
Auston Trusty of Sheffield United was born in a place called Media, Pennsylvania. Just letting you know.
Incidentally he joined the Blades from Arsenal, for whom he never played a first-team game.
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Are Sheffield United playing 4-5-1, or more a 4-3-2-1? We’ll find out in under 10 minutes. Kick-off’s at 8pm.
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Charles Antaki emails: “Thanks Michael Bowman for the reminder of Malcolm McDonald - an example of a species of player (see also: John Radford) unimaginable in an Arsenal shirt since the start of the Wenger era.
“You could try shoehorning Robin Van Persie into that category, but I think you’d have a tough time of it. John Hartson maybe. But if Mikel Arteta is looking for a number nine, I doubt that he has anyone anything like any of those. Probably sensible, these days.”
Victory for Arsenal tonight would put them on 61 points: one behind Manchester City, and two behind the leaders, Liverpool. All will have played 27 matches.
If the Gunners do win tonight and then defeat Brentford next Saturday night at home, they would go top of the league before the Super-est of Sunday meetings between Liverpool and Manchester City on Sunday.
How’s that for motivation?
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Thierry Henry is pundit-ing like a man possessed on Sky Sports. He sounds like an incredibly knowledgeable but somewhat overbearing PE teacher.
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Some lovely stuff available to read in our football section today. Jonathan Wilson, Sid Lowe, the lot:
Henrik Larsson talking to Michael Butler is a must-read, too:
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“The last time I was at Bramall Lane with Arsenal we won 5-0,” emails Michael Bowman. “Admittedly that was 1978 in the FA Cup and we did have Malcolm McDonald.
“I was accused of being a Southerner; I suppose they might have picked my NZ accent.”
Manchester City have said they have a “clear strategy” for their women’s side after handing the coach, Gareth Taylor, a contract extension until 2027.
Taylor, who was appointed head coach in 2020, has been under pressure at times in his tenure but the team are level on points with Chelsea at the top of the Women’s Super League and have reached the quarter-finals of the FA Cup and the semi-finals of the League Cup this season.
Apropos of the Premier League title race, here’s Barney Ronay on Phil Foden.
Any thoughts on tonight’s match? You can email me.
“We believe it is the right thing to do,” Arteta said of sticking with an unchanged team for tonight.
Next question: What is he most pleased about, in view of Arsenal’s strong recent form?
“The consistency we showed, how strong defensively, and the aggression and determination. We’ve generated [created] a lot.”
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Mikel Arteta also had a chat with the telly boys, with Thierry Henry alongside Jamie Carragher on pundit duty this evening.
“They have made some changes during matches,” Arteta says of Sheffield United and Wilder’s reputation for creativity with his formations.
“We have to be adaptable. The players have to have adaptability, understand where the space is going to be.”
Carragher asks: what is it like watching City and Liverpool win, and then having to play on a Monday night? “It’s a lot of changes at the moment,” Arteta says. Presumably he means changes in the table. “You’re watching the games and hoping for certain results, but we have to focus on what we can control.”
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A smiling Chris Wilder, the Sheffield United manager, has a chat with Sky Sports: “I’ve got to say whatever was happening regarding points totals [potential deductions for Everton and Forest], your job as a pro footballer is to keep going right til the end … we’ll go to the final whistle on the final day.
“We need to give our supporters something to shout about. We’ve not been good enough all season, especially the last couple of games at home.
“It’s brilliant [to have George Baldock back on the bench] … the likes of Tom Davies, Oli McBurnie – they’ve played in this division, they know what nights like this are all about.
“I know, nights like this, how the place can get going … we need to get a platform in the game … we need to get off to a decent start.”
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Teams
Two changes for the hosts, with Oli McBurnie and Tom Davies coming in. “The Arsenal” are unchanged from their 4-1 win against Newcastle last time out, while Thomas Partey on the bench, available again after a long-term injury.
Sheffield United: Grbic, Ahmedhodzic, Trusty, Robinson, Bogle, Norwood, Vinicius Souza, Hamer, Tom Davies, McAtee, McBurnie. Substitutes: Baldock, Brereton, Foderingham, Osborn, Arblaster, Larouci, Osula, Brooks, Peck.
Arsenal: Raya, White, Saliba, Gabriel, Kiwior, Ødegaard, Jorginho, Rice, Saka, Havertz, Martinelli. Substitutes: Ramsdale, Partey, Gabriel Jesus, Smith Rowe, Nketiah, Cedric, Trossard, Vieira, Nelson.
Referee: Sam Barrott
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Preamble
Manchester City are on a roll. Jurgen Klopp’s rebooted Liverpool 3.0 have hit some serious form, too. Victory for Arsenal at Sheffield United this evening is therefore non-negotiable if they want to keep some heat on the top two.
The Gunners have been on a productive run themselves, mind you, and three points at Bramall Lane tonight would make it seven league wins in a row for Mikel Arteta’s side. There is also good news on the fitness front, with the central midfield general, Thomas Partey, set to be involved for the first time since October.
For the Blades February was an extremely mixed bag. They mustered victory against relegation-battle rivals Luton, but conceded five goals at home not once but twice: first against Villa, then against Brighton. (They also shipped five at home against the Seagulls at the end of January, in the FA Cup.)
They prop up the Premier League table on 13 points, equal with 19th-placed Burnley but having played a match fewer. Things are looking bleak, but could Chris Wilder have something up his sleeve to exert a bit of pressure on title-chasing Arsenal?
Kick-off: 8pm UK time
