Football Previews

Sheff Utd vs Arsenal predictions, preview & team news

By Ben Green

Published: 13:30, 21 October 2019

Arsenal are on the march in the Premier League and travel to Sheffield United on Monday with the wind in their sails.

The Gunners are clinging to the coattails of the leading pack having lost just once this term, and will look to maintain an unbeaten run of eight games when they take to Bramall Lane.

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For Chris Wilder, the landscape is a little different. His Blades squad currently languishing in 13th place, but against ‘Big Six’ opposition the South Yorkshire club have looked a serious threat.

Read on for Sheffield United vs Arsenal predictions, preview, team news and TV coverage information.

When is Sheffield United vs Arsenal and where can I watch live?

Competition: Premier League

Venue: Bramall Lane

Date: Monday, 21 October 2019

Kick-off: 8:00 PM BST

TV coverage (UK): Sky Sports Main Event and Sky Sports Premier League

Last five meetings: Sheffield United vs Arsenal

23 Sep 2008: Arsenal 6-0 Sheffield United (League Cup)

31 Oct 2007: Sheffield United 0-3 Arsenal (League Cup)

30 Dec 2006: Sheffield United 1-0 Arsenal (Premier League)

23 Sep 2006: Arsenal 3-0 Sheffield United (Premier League)

01 Mar 2005: Sheffield United 0-0 Arsenal (FA Cup)

Aggregate Score: Sheffield United (LLWLD) 1-12 Arsenal (WWLWD)

Ones to watch

Sheffield United: Oliver Norwood

Oliver Norwood has been an invaluable cog in Wilder’s fluid system this season, combining grit and determination in the middle of the park with his own metronomic tendencies and an ability to spray passes further up the field.

In Sheffield United’s unorthodox three-at-the-back formation, Wilder requires a tenacious central midfielder capable of covering, closing down and easing pressure. In Norwood, he has exactly that.

Key stat: Oliver Norwood has created more chances (17) and registered more successful passes (370) than any Sheffield United player in the Premier League this season.

Arsenal: Matteo Guendouzi

Recently shortlisted for the 2019 Golden Boy award, Matteo Guendouzi has been a shining light in the heart of midfield for Unai Emery this season, especially when, at times, he may have appeared a little lightweight during his maiden campaign in English football.

That is perhaps understandable as the precious talent made the cataclysmic leap from the French second-tier to Premier League football in just one summer, but he has truly acclimatised now and is really flourishing in the Arsenal midfield.

Key stat: Matteo Guendouzi has made more successful passes than any Arsenal player in the Premier League this season (403).

Team news

Sheffield United

John Fleck was deemed unfit to make the Scotland bench for their 6-0 win over San Marino, but Wilder will be hoping he is ready to make the squad for Arsenal.

Oliver McBurnie also missed out on international football with Scotland but should return in time to face Arsenal, as should David McGoldrick, who has been suffering from a groin strain since September.

Predicted XI: Henderson; Baldock, Basham, Egan, O’Connell, Stevens; Fleck, Norwood, Lundstram; Robinson, McBurnie.

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Arsenal

Alexandre Lacazette is in contention to face the Blades on Monday night after injuring his ankle in Arsenal’s 2-2 draw with Tottenham at the start of September.

“He finished [training] well and he is feeling well,” Emery said.

“[Friday], again, he is going to train with us and we are going to decide. But the most important thing is for him to be with us, available, first to start training and second if we need him.

“It depends on how he feels over the next days training with us and his ankle is not giving him any more problems. But it is really positive for us that he has started training with us and to be another possibility for Monday.

“I do not know if he will be ready to play 90 minutes or the bench but we are going to decide in the next days. But it is really important that he has started to train with us.”

Emile Smith Rowe is available for selection having not played since Nottingham Forest, as is Mesut Ozil and Joe Willock, but Reiss Nelson is not expected back until next month.

Predicted XI: Leno; Chambers, Sokratis, Luiz, Tierney; Guendouzi, Xhaka; Pepe, Ceballos, Saka; Aubameyang. 

Squawka prediction

Already this season Sheffield United have picked up a point away to Chelsea and nearly snatched one against Liverpool, so Arsenal are not coming into this match as overwhelming favourites.

That said, the Gunners have looked slick in recent weeks and possess more than enough attacking quality to ruffle a few Sheffield feathers, so they may very well sneak one here, though three points will by no means come easy to the north London club.

Scoreline prediction: Sheffield United 1-2 Arsenal