Arsenal vs Sheffield possible lineup, key statistics, team news & preview

Arsenal vs Sheffield possible lineup, key statistics, team news & preview

The Premier League Matchday 4 fixture is scheduled for a 2pm kick-off on Sunday.

Team news
Arsenal: Emile Smith Rowe and Dani Ceballos are available. Mustafi, Chambers, Mari and Martinelli remain sidelined.

Sheffield: John Egan returns from suspension. Jack O'Connell, Simon Moore and Lys Mousset are unavailable through injury.

Opposition analysis:
Results-wise, Sheffield United had a very poor start to the season. They have failed to score a single goal in their three opening PL games and suffered 3 defeats in a row.

Yet they remain very difficult to beat. At times, their opponents rode their luck as the Blades wasted clear-cut chances.

Sheffield are well-known with their inventive use of an overlapping centre-back. In possession, they switch from a 3-5-2 to a 4-4-2 — and Kieran Tierney's overlapping role is certainly inspired by Chris Wilder's tactics.

Just like Arteta's Arsenal, the Blades are known for their effective use of overloads as they try to create congestion in left-centre and right-centre channels to exploit potential mistakes from their opponents.

In fact, the FA Cup game against Sheffield in June was the first time Arteta tried a back-three shape. At that time, we thought it was a 3-6-1 formation.

Hence, the Blades clash tomorrow won't be a walk in the park for Arsenal despite the opponent's poor standing in the league now.

Arsenal probable lineup:
We expect Arteta to continue using the 3-4-3 shape.
Auba, Willian and Bellerin are likely to start as they missed Thursday's trip to Anfield.
Ceballos will probably be preferred to Elneny because of his superior creativity skill.

It's going to be a dilemma between Niles and Saka on the left for Mikel but we expect him to go with Ainsley as he is more reliable defensively.
Leno; Holding, Gabriel, Tierney; Bellerin, Ceballos, Xhaka, Niles; Willian, Lacazette, Aubameyang

Stats to know
Sheffield United are winless away at Arsenal since 1971 (2 draws, 8 losses).
The Gunners have not tasted a home defeat in the Premier League in 2020.
Arsenal have the second-best shot conversion rate in the PL. They have scored 6 goals from 18 shots (33 per cent), with only Leicester boasting a better rate (48 per cent).
This season is the first in Sheffield's history in which they failed to find a net in first 3 league games.
The Blades have not earned 3 points against a top-six side away since April 1994 (2-1 vs Liverpool at Anfield).
Arsenal can't beat the Blades in the league since a 3-0 victory in September 2006 (2 defeats, 1 draw).
Sheffield United are the only Premier League side Aubameyang has faced and not scored against.
The Gunners' head-to-head record against Sheffield United: 49 wins, 28 draws, 40 losses.

Managers' quotes:
Chris Wilder, Sheffield United
"I don't think even the most critical of Sheffield United supporters can look back at those three games and think we're out of our depth and we're getting smashed left, right and centre."

"We certainly had a fabulous record in London [last season] and a couple of nights out off the back of some brilliant results at Arsenal, Chelsea and Tottenham and I like that feeling."

Mikel Arteta, Arsenal
"I hope we can go on Sunday and grab three points because it's going to be really important for us before the international break. The differences are in both teams and I think you will notice some changes in structure and players.

"They have the necessity for points as well and that will make the team even more ready for it."
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