The tough looking games keep on coming as Mikel Arteta and his Arsenal side welcome high flyers Sheffield United to the Emirates Stadium, and without top marksman Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, it's already looking tricky.
With his main talisman missing for three games through suspension, Mikel Arteta will be hoping stand-in skipper and sole frontman Alex Lacazette rediscovers his goalscoring touch now, more than ever. Alongside the Frenchman, Gabriel Martinelli could return to the starting XI from the left whilst record signing Nicolas Pepe should keep his starting place on the right. Creative maestro Mesut Ozil should sit in at number ten and will be instructed to get his creative juices flowing. Against a dogged Sheffield United defence, the Gunners will need Ozil at his best to break them down.
The defence pretty much picks itself again with Sead Kolasinac a real doubt after picking up a knock in training this week. Hector Bellerin is officially fit but still not near the first XI according to reports. He needs some real game time to get back to speed now. Centrally, it'll be the improving Sokratis-Luiz duo with Saka and Maitland-Niles deputsing in the full back roles again. Whilst in the base of midfield, there were rumours that Lucas Torreira may miss out but he's fully available for selection and should start alongside Granit Xhaka again. Matteo Guendouzi and the fit again Dani Ceballos remain options but are probable bench warmers to start.
Our visitors are almost at full strength and with five defenders in their starting XI they are always extremely tough to break down. Earlier on in the season, the Blades claimed all three points after some poor officiating but really did Arsenal deserve all three? No. But regardless, the Gunners are improving under Arteta, and he will be fully aware of how compact Sheffield are. Their gun-hoe full backs and unique central defensive tactics enable them to really go at any team, anywhere. They will be hoping top midfield man John Fleck continues his personal high levels whilst upfront it could be one or two of many; Oli McBurnie, Lys Mousset, Callum Robinson, David McGoldrick or Billy Sharp...and all pose a real threat to the Gunners' back line, in very different ways.
Taking recent form and this season out of the equation, the omens look good for Arteta's men as the Blades haven't won at Arsenal at top flight level since August 1971 - more of the same please!
Expected line up:
GK: Bernd Leno
RB: Ainsley Maitland-Niles
CB: Sokratis
CB: David Luiz
LB: Bukayo Saka
CM: Granit Xhaka
CM: Lucas Torreira
CAM: Mesut Ozil
RW: Nicolas Pepe
ST: Alex Lacazette
LW: Gabriel Martinelli
Prediction: a hard fought 2-1 win for the Gunners
@craigbennett10
With his main talisman missing for three games through suspension, Mikel Arteta will be hoping stand-in skipper and sole frontman Alex Lacazette rediscovers his goalscoring touch now, more than ever. Alongside the Frenchman, Gabriel Martinelli could return to the starting XI from the left whilst record signing Nicolas Pepe should keep his starting place on the right. Creative maestro Mesut Ozil should sit in at number ten and will be instructed to get his creative juices flowing. Against a dogged Sheffield United defence, the Gunners will need Ozil at his best to break them down.
The defence pretty much picks itself again with Sead Kolasinac a real doubt after picking up a knock in training this week. Hector Bellerin is officially fit but still not near the first XI according to reports. He needs some real game time to get back to speed now. Centrally, it'll be the improving Sokratis-Luiz duo with Saka and Maitland-Niles deputsing in the full back roles again. Whilst in the base of midfield, there were rumours that Lucas Torreira may miss out but he's fully available for selection and should start alongside Granit Xhaka again. Matteo Guendouzi and the fit again Dani Ceballos remain options but are probable bench warmers to start.
Our visitors are almost at full strength and with five defenders in their starting XI they are always extremely tough to break down. Earlier on in the season, the Blades claimed all three points after some poor officiating but really did Arsenal deserve all three? No. But regardless, the Gunners are improving under Arteta, and he will be fully aware of how compact Sheffield are. Their gun-hoe full backs and unique central defensive tactics enable them to really go at any team, anywhere. They will be hoping top midfield man John Fleck continues his personal high levels whilst upfront it could be one or two of many; Oli McBurnie, Lys Mousset, Callum Robinson, David McGoldrick or Billy Sharp...and all pose a real threat to the Gunners' back line, in very different ways.
Taking recent form and this season out of the equation, the omens look good for Arteta's men as the Blades haven't won at Arsenal at top flight level since August 1971 - more of the same please!
Expected line up:
GK: Bernd Leno
RB: Ainsley Maitland-Niles
CB: Sokratis
CB: David Luiz
LB: Bukayo Saka
CM: Granit Xhaka
CM: Lucas Torreira
CAM: Mesut Ozil
RW: Nicolas Pepe
ST: Alex Lacazette
LW: Gabriel Martinelli
Prediction: a hard fought 2-1 win for the Gunners
@craigbennett10
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