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Just when Arsenal looked tough to beat, their vulnerability was laid bare once again


Just when they had started to look tough to beat, Arsenal exposed their soft under belly again.

Unai Emery had spoken before the game of Arsenal doing “something important” this season because they had lost just once, but last night was the same old story.

Yet again, the Gunners’ set-piece vulnerability was laid bare as Sheffield United scored from a corner and they have leaked 22 goals from dead-ball situations under Emery.

Lys Mousset was the Blades’ goalscoring hero on his full Premier League debut and he also netted for Bournemouth against the Gunners in March on his last top-flight start.

By contrast, Arsenal’s French summer signing Nicolas Pepe continues to struggle to justify his record £72million price tag and he squandered a glorious chance when the game was goalless.

It was another frustrating night for Unai Emery and Arsenal

Mousset turns home the game’s winning goal

Arsenal, who have kept just two clean sheets in 24 Premier League away games under Emery, were hugely disappointing and did not create anywhere near enough.

But take nothing away from Chris Wilder’s side and they were magnificent from the first minute to the last as they gave everything to record a famous first victory over Arsenal since 2006 to climb to ninth.

Their back three of John Egan, Jack O’Connell and Chris Basham snuffed out Arsenal and they delighted the Bramall Lane faithful with a performance full of commitment and desire.

They perhaps strayed over the line at times and John Fleck was booked for cutting down Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and O’Connell for a block on Pepe, which would not have looked out of place in the NFL.

It was another night of disappointment for Arsenal

Arsenal’s problems were once again laid bare

They enjoyed some luck and Sokratis had a penalty appeal for a shirt pull by Egan rejected by Mike Dean.

United were also fortunate that Pepe fluffed a glorious chance in front of goal when Arsenal swept upfield in a swift counter-attack and Sead Kolasinac crossed from the left for him to miss his shot completely.

Pepe has only scored one goal for Arsenal and it’s easy to see why after that howler.

United took full advantage of these breaks – and some woeful Arsenal defending – to open the scoring with their first goal in 311 minutes of action on the half-hour mark.

O’Connell rose highest at the back post to nod Ollie Norwood’s corner back across goal for Mousset to steer the ball home from close range.

Sheffield United celebrate their winning goal

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Yet again Arsenal’s set-piece Achilles heel had been exposed.

The Gunners tried to respond and Bukayo Saka was booked for diving before Dean Henderson kept out a drive from Granit Xhaka.

Fleck typified United’s work rate and hunger and he fired into the side netting before unleashing a drive, which Bernd Leno gathered at the second attempt.

Arsenal lacked any such character and they struggled to test Henderson, with Pepe hitting a weak free-kick into his arms before curling an effort wide.

As bad as that was, that was as good as it got for Arsenal.





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