Football

Arsenal vs Sheffield United result: Blades expose Gunners’ lack of leadership with Mikel Arteta relieved to take point



Arsenal were fortunate to escape with a point in their 1-1 draw with Sheffield United at the Emirates. Mikel Arteta’s team were sloppy, tentative and lacked confidence. Gabriel Martinelli opened the scoring on the stoke of half time with one of the home side’s few incisive moves but John Fleck equalised with seven minutes to go to give the Blades a deserved point. Chris Wilder’s men were on top for long stretches of the match.

United dominated the early stages with much of the play conducted in the home side’s half. Arsenal were nervy and insecure. Ainsley Maitland-Niles gave away possession inside his own half with a lackadaisical pass, giving Enda Stevens the chance to pick out Lys Mousset with a fine cross but the striker headed over.

Wilder’s team determined the tempo of the game and Arsenal’s rare flashes came on the break. Alexandre Lacazette set Nicolas Pepe free behind United’s high defensive line. The winger found Martinelli at the back post but the angle of the striker’s run and the depth of the cross made the opportunity little more than a half chance.


The Arsenal midfield sat very deep, allowing their opponents the time and space to move the ball across the pitch and select their point of attack. It took Arteta’s side until the midway point in the first half to get a foothold in the game but the lack of precision and pace in their passing meant the United defence remained comfortable. Mesut Ozil worked the channels and contributed the odd flick and a couple of dummies but the home side lacked composure.

One of Arsenal’s biggest problems is a lack of leaders. David Luiz does a fine caricature of leadership with his arm-waving and fingerpointing but no one in the side exudes authority. The vacuum in this department was illustrated when Lucas Torreira was hit in the face and knocked prostrate. During the stoppage in play the Gunners stood around uncommunicative, each player seemingly in their own little world. Meanwhile, the United defence conducted an analysis of their performance so far. Only one side looked like a team.

Martinelli scored the opener for Arsenal (REUTERS)

Yet Arteta has significantly more talent to call upon that Wilder. When Arsenal click, they can be devastating. As half-time approached it seemed like United were easing their way towards the break. They sat deep, allowed their opponents to have the ball and held their shape. They were shocked when the home side cut them apart. Ozil passed inside to Lacazette and drove into the area as if expecting the return. Instead, the Frenchman rolled the ball wider, to Bukayo Saka, who got behind the back line. The 18-year-old clipped in a composed cross and Martinelli slipped away from the ballwatching defenders to score with ease.

The reverse did not affect United’s confidence. They opened the second period in a similar manner to the first, pushing forward and applying pressure. They lack Arsenal’s craft, though. Oli McBurnie is willing but blunt and Mousset was replaced by Billy Sharp in an attempt to provide more thrust. McBurnie had a header chested off the line by Granit Xhaka and Bernd Leno and Luiz had heartstopping moments on the ball that suggested United’s pressing would eventually pay off.

With the visiting side chasing the game there was room in behind for Arsenal to break. Pepe caused problems on the right and the combination of Martinelli and Saka on the opposite flank turned the defence around. There was always the threat of a second goal, despite the home team’s failure to take control of the game.

Sheffield United celebrate their equaliser (Getty)

There were massive appeals for a penalty in the 67th minute when Pepe charged into the area and was sandwiched by Stevens and Jack O’Connell. It looked like a foul and there was certainly contact but Mike Dean – in charge of his 500th Premier League game – consulted VAR and waved play on.

It seemed that Arsenal might escape with a victory until the 83rd minute. United were becoming increasingly desperate when Callum Robertson, on as a substitute, curled a cross into the box and Sharp headed the ball on. Fleck was waiting at the back post and drove the ball into the far corner of the net.

McBurney had a chance to nick the win with time running out but his shot was charged down. The rebound fell to Fleck but Arsenal managed to clear the ball and preserve their point, much to Arteta’s relief.



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