As we look to claim a seventh-straight win at the expense of rock-bottom Sheffield United on Monday night, Mikel Arteta has stressed that we still need to earn the right to win the game.
We maintained our 100 per cent winning start to league football in 2024 by seeing off Newcastle United 4-1 last weekend as momentum continues to build, whereas our opponents have won once in their last 11 fixtures under Chris Wilder, and just twice at Bramall Lane all season.
On paper it looks as though we could continue to improve our goal difference, but Mikel is adamant that we have to play as well as we have since the turn of the year to make sure that we return to north London with the maximum haul of points.
“First of all, you have to earn the right to win the games,” he said. “We want to be ruthless and efficient in front of goal and I think lately we’ve been really good.
“With every team we look at the weaknesses and the strengths and try to take the game to the opponent, but I’m saying this because I know [Sheffield United] really well. I analysed them many years ago and the things that Chris did, and I learned from his teams. I’m telling you, it’s going to be a really tough match.”
Another stark contrast between the teams is our recent purple patch in front of goal. We have won all six of our Premier League games this year by an aggregate score of 25- 3, and only three teams have ever had a longer winning run from the start of a calendar year in the competition’s history.
Meanwhile the Blades have conceded five goals in each of their last three home matches, and have kept just one clean sheet in the league this season. Their 66 goals conceded is the most after 26 games in a top-flight campaign since Ipswich Town in 1963/64.
However, Mikel is determined to not let overconfidence creep into his players with a precious three points up for grabs as we aim to keep pace with Liverpool and Manchester City at the top of the table, and believes the Blades are a much more dangerous proposition than their league standing belies.
“They’re a really difficult team to beat,” he said speaking in his pre-match press conference. “I’ve watched four or five games now with the City game, the way they started against Villa, and then obviously the game took a different route, but they are extremely well coached.
“I know Chris really well and I admire his teams, a lot of things that he does with them. It will be Monday night football and it’s going to be a tough night.
“I imagine that it’s really tough for them and their ambitions are different but it’s really important. I imagine when you are there you want to get out of there as quickly as possible and we have a lot to play for as well. It’s a big game for us.”
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