Sheffield United claimed their biggest scalp yet on their return to the Premier League after a spirited display against Arsenal at Bramall Lane.
Lys Mousset, making his first start for the club since joining from Bournemouth, struck from close-range on the half-hour mark in what proved to be the only goal of the game.
The Blades started on the front foot and tested Arsenal’s back four with a new look front line that contained Mousset and David McGoldrick for the first time this season.
Chris Wilder has been delighted with his side’s defensive displays so far this term but he’s admitted work needs to be done in attack, where they’d managed just eight goals in eight games before tonight’s clash.
But they grabbed their ninth when Mousset tapped in from Jack O’Connell’s knockdown from a corner after 30 minutes in Yorkshire.
It was a deserved lead for the Blades and it highlighted Arsenal’s ongoing weakness from set pieces as Mousset found himself unmarked just three yards out.
Unai Emery again overlooked Mesut Ozil, who was not part of Arsenal’s 18-man matchday squad for the fourth match running.
A midfield three of Joe Willock, Granit Xhaka and Matteo Guendouzi produced little in the first half but Nicolas Pepe – the Gunners’ brightest spark – missed a sitter to put his side ahead when he failed to connect with a blazed cross across the box.
Dani Ceballos was introduced at half-time and Arsenal lifted the intensity, even if clear chances were proving hard to come by.
But as Arsenal streamed forward, United found space on the counter-attack and the hosts twice went close through John Fleck.
The Gunners had around 75% possession after the restart but openings were scarce against a resolute and compact United defence.
A win would have put Arsenal into third but once again supporters will be questioning the direction Emery is taking the club.
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