Football

Sheffield United vs Arsenal LIVE: Line ups and team news confirmed, Lacazette, Ozil latest


SHEFFIELD UNITED 0-0 ARSENAL

Sheffield United XI: Henderson, Baldock, Basham, Egan, O’Connell, Stevens, Lundstram, Fleck, Norwood, McGoldrick, Mousset

Arsenal XI: Leno, Chambers, Sokratis, Luiz, Kolasinac, Guendouzi, Xhaka, Willock, Saka, Aubameyang, Pepe

SHEFFIELD UNITED 0-0 ARSENAL

5: The Blades win an early corner but David Luiz deals with it comfortably. But there’s no rest – Sheffield United win another corner with Nicolas Pepe stood ball watching. Calum Chambers hooks clear.

3: I was at the Sheffield United clash with Liverpool a few weeks ago. They were good. Very good. In fact, if they play to that standard I can see them getting a result tonight.

I forgot to mention that Mike Dean is our referee this evening. So should the game not live up to expectations – The Dean will surely oblige with some madness.

SHEFFIELD UNITED 0-0 ARSENAL

1: Packed house, chilly, under the floodlights and against a Yorkshire side RIGHT up for it. What could possibly go wrong for Unai Emery’s Arsenal… We’re underway folks.

Sheffield United vs Arsenal LIVE: Score, Premier League latest updates from Bramall Lane

Sheffield United vs Arsenal LIVE: Score, Premier League latest updates from Bramall Lane (Image: GETTY)

Sheffield United vs Arsenal LIVE: Score, Premier League latest updates from Bramall Lane

Sheffield United vs Arsenal LIVE: Score, Premier League latest updates from Bramall Lane (Image: GETTY)

‘Don’t be hung ho’

19:45: Sheffield United boss Chris Wilder, speaking to Sky Sports: “No individual errors will be key tonight and taking the opportunities when they are presented.

“We have to get the balance right. Don’t be gung ho, get the balance right in possession and out of possession. We have done that this season but sticking the ball in the back of the net is my only criticism of our time in the Premier League so far.”

LOVE that Wilder has used ‘gung ho’ in his pre-match interview. I thought that expression was reserved entirely for Football Manager.

Sheffield United vs Arsenal LIVE: Score, Premier League latest updates from Bramall Lane

Sheffield United vs Arsenal LIVE: Score, Premier League latest updates from Bramall Lane (Image: GETTY)

Something special…

19:30: Unai Emery believes Arsenal can achieve something important this season, appearing to suggest they can finish in the top four and challenge Liverpool and Manchester City at the top.

The Gunners have only lost once in the Premier League this term and were third ahead of the weekend’s fixtures while they have enjoyed success in the Carabao Cup and Europa League with more games to come in those competitions before October is over.

Arsenal lost out to Chelsea in the final of the Europa League last season and finished fifth, but Emery is positive they can achieve even more after recent chats with head of football Raul Sanllehi and technical director Edu.

“I am speaking every day with Raul, Edu and with the players,” Emery said. “Our work is more important than our speak and really now I am very happy at the club. I am really happy with the players.

“This is why we can be positive and we can think we are going to do something important this year. I was speaking with Raul and this is the same idea when he is speaking with me.”

Sheffield United vs Arsenal LIVE: Score, Premier League latest updates from Bramall Lane

Sheffield United vs Arsenal LIVE: Score, Premier League latest updates from Bramall Lane (Image: GETTY)

Twitter reaction

Tom: Mesut Ozil dropped again, not even in the squad. Started only two games out of 12 this season, completed 142 minutes. Created most chances despite missing half of the games under Unai Emery so don’t tell me he isn’t good enough. What’s going behind the scene, we deserve to know!

Patrick: Does that line-up fill me with confidence? Not at all. Is that line-up capable of getting three points? Of course. Would I love Emery to prove me wrong and secure us a comfortable victory? Absolutely.

Ally: Honestly what’s the point in having class players like Hector Bellerin, Kieran Tierney, Lucas Torreira and Mesut Ozil if you aren’t going to play them. Unai Emery is braindead.

Patrick is one of those annoying question-answerers.

Sheffield United vs Arsenal LIVE: Score, Premier League latest updates from Bramall Lane

Sheffield United vs Arsenal LIVE: Score, Premier League latest updates from Bramall Lane (Image: GETTY)

Team news – Sheffield United

19:10: Chris Wilder makes two changes from the goalless draw at Watford. Good result, terrible 90 minutes to watch.

Oli McBurnie, who was charged with drink driving, is named on the substitutes bench with Lys Mousset making his first Premier League start.

Elsewhere Callum Robinson, who I stupidly assumed would play and put on this page’s graphic, is replaced by David McGoldrick.

Team news – Arsenal

19:05: Arsenal are unbeaten in five fixtures in all competitions, so even Unai Emery has resisted a multitude of changes.

He’s made one with Joe Willock replacing Dani Ceballos in midfield.

The biggest headline news is perhaps that Alexandre Lacazette has been deemed fit enough for the match day squad. No idea where Mesut Ozil is – nor do I care.

Sheffield United vs Arsenal LIVE: Score, Premier League latest updates from Bramall Lane

Sheffield United vs Arsenal LIVE: Score, Premier League latest updates from Bramall Lane (Image: GETTY)

The sides…

19:00: I’m not even going to mention that £350k per weeks superstar Mesut Ozil isn’t involved. I’m no longer surprised. Alexandre Lacazette has been deemed fit enough to make the bench though.

Sheffield United XI: Henderson, Baldock, Basham, Egan, O’Connell, Stevens, Lundstram, Fleck, Norwood, McGoldrick, Mousset.

Subs: Moore, Freeman, McBurnie, Sharp, Robinson, Jagielka, Besic.

Arsenal XI: Leno, Chambers, Sokratis, Luiz, Kolasinac, Guendouzi, Xhaka, Willock, Saka, Aubameyang, Pepe.

Subs: Martinez, Tierney, Ceballos, Lacazette, Torreira, Holding, Martinelli.

Sheffield United vs Arsenal LIVE: Score, Premier League latest updates from Bramall Lane

Sheffield United vs Arsenal LIVE: Score, Premier League latest updates from Bramall Lane (Image: GETTY)

A big test

18:55: A big test is an understatement. Tonight will be an enormous test for Unai Emery’s side and provide something of a barometer to see if the Gunners really have evolved.

The Blades have been the surprise package in my book this season. They were expected to be the whipping boys but have proven themselves on the top stage.

In fact, Chris Wilder’s side have the best defensive record in the Premier League this season. Only conceded seven in eight fixtures.

Sheffield United vs Arsenal LIVE: Score, Premier League latest updates from Bramall Lane

Sheffield United vs Arsenal LIVE: Score, Premier League latest updates from Bramall Lane (Image: GETTY)

Evening…

18:50: Hello everyone and welcome to our LIVE coverage of Sheffield United vs Arsenal.

It’s a mightily busy evening at Express HQ with the FA Cup first-round draw taking place and the Ballon d’Or nominations rolling in.

Everyone seemed pretty happy with the nominations until it was announced that Tottenham goalkeeper Hugo Lloris was one of the best 30 players in the world.

If he’s on the list then me and my five-a-side exploits must be being held on the reserve list…

Anyway, Sheffield United will aim to continue their city’s stranglehold over Arsenal when they host the Gunners at Bramall Lane.

And I’ll explain just what that stranglehold is in a few moments. Standby.

Sheffield United vs Arsenal LIVE: Score, Premier League latest updates from Bramall Lane

Sheffield United vs Arsenal LIVE: Score, Premier League latest updates from Bramall Lane (Image: GETTY)

SHEFFIELD UNITED vs ARSENAL

Sheffield United are waiting on the fitness of John Fleck, Oli McBurnie and David McGoldrick.

Goalkeeper Dean Henderson returned fit and well from England duty and manager Chris Wilder will be hoping Republic of Ireland trio Enda Stevens, John Egan and Callum Robinson do likewise.

Arsenal forward Alexandre Lacazette will hope to make the bench on Monday after recovering from an ankle injury.

Emile Smith Rowe is also available after suffering from concussion, but Reiss Nelson will be absent due to a knee injury.

Referee: Mike Dean (Wirral)



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