A seventh-straight league victory is the prize on offer as we head to Sheffield United on Monday night, as two teams who have experienced contrasting fortunes in recent weeks go head-to-head.
While we have scored five or more goals in each of our last two away games, the Blades have conceded five in each of their last three matches at Bramall Lane, and their woeful defensive record sees them rooted to the bottom of the table having amassed just 13 points all campaign.
However our trips to the famous old venue have yielded just one victory from our five Premier League visits, and that is a record Mikel Arteta will be determined to improve as he hopes to keep his side right in the title mix.
Wilder's return yet to catch fire
It has been a miserable top-flight return for the Blades, and a change in the dugout since our last fixture hasn’t made much difference as they continue to prop up the division, struggle for victories and leak goals at an alarming rate.
Paul Heckingbottom claimed five points from his 14 games in charge before Chris Wilder was given a second stint in charge of his hometown club, but so far the return hasn’t been a happy one. Since his December appointment, just two wins have come in 12 matches, leaving his side 11 points from safety. An injury-ravaged defence has recorded just one clean sheet, and the 66 goals shipped is the most a top-flight team has conceded after 26 games since the early 1960s.
The Blades lost 5-2 to Brighton in the FA Cup followed by successive 5-0 defeats to Aston Villa and the Seagulls again in their last three home games. That leaves them on the brink of becoming the first English league side to concede 5+ goals in four consecutive games on their own turf in history, while their last match saw them fall to a 1-0 loss at Wolves.
What the managers say
Arteta: “First of all, you have to earn the right to win the games. 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.” - read every word from Mikel's pre-match press conference
Wilder: "It can't just be one way. We talked about that when we first walked in and the Liverpool one was the key one, we had to get that balance right. We can't just sit back for 95 minutes.
"They're massively in the title race, we understand that, but we're trying to dress it up as a cup match for us, an FA Cup tie. And I've said to the players if it was an FA Cup tie you'd have nothing to lose, let's go for it and give a good account of ourselves and put in a positive performance."
Team news
Arteta hopes that Thomas Partey can be named in a matchday squad for the first time since October’s visit to Chelsea after he continues to build up fitness following his hamstring issue.
Oleksandr Zinchenko and Takehiro Tomiyasu are also close to returning after improving following their calf layoffs, while Jurrien Timber has been involved in first-team training again but is still some way off a comeback.
Wilder is delighted to have January arrival Ben Brereton Diaz as well as George Baldock available for selection again, but his injury issues continue with a host of other players not currently at his disposal.
Mason Holgate is suspended, and Cameron Archer and Anis Slimane aren’t expected to return until after the international break. Defenders John Egan, Chris Basham, Max Lowe and Rhys Norrington-Davies are out for the rest of the season, while Daniel Jebbison remains out with a health issue.
Talking tactics
Adrian Clarke: Wilder is well known for his affection for a 3-5-2. On the ball, he likes to use the full width of the pitch with his wing-backs looking to combine with the two wider central midfield players. The Blades are likely to spend much of this contest out of possession though – they average a division-low 36 per cent share – so their system will look more like a 5-4-1 for most of this match.
They try to congest the middle third rather than adopting a low block, but against top teams Sheffield United can get pushed back but they are abrasive in their approach. Defensive midfielder Vinicius Souza has won more tackles than any other Premier League player, and the Brazilian is not alone in showing aggression. Looking to upset our rhythm on the ball, it will be a surprise if they are passive.
Counter-attacks will be their main source of attacking hope, so it is likely Will Osula or Rhian Brewster, two quick forwards, will lead the line. Target man Oli McBurnie is their other option up top, but Gus Hamer and Manchester City loanee James McAtee are the Blades’ most creative performers.
Both midfielders possess a goal threat from anywhere inside the final third, while McAtee [above] has a terrific left foot and will be dangerous coming in off the right or playing in central pockets behind the striker.
Facts and stats
Sheffield United have lost each of their last three games against us by an aggregate score of 10-1. They had only lost two of their previous nine before this (W2 D5).
We won 6-0 at West Ham and 5-0 at Burnley in our last two Premier League away games – no side in England’s top four tiers has ever won three consecutive away games by a margin of 5+ goals before, while only Burnley in September 1961 have scored 5+ goals in three successive away top-flight matches.
We have won all six of our Premier League games in 2024 by an aggregate score of 25-3. Only three teams have ever had a longer winning run from the start of a calendar year in the competition – Manchester City in 2021 (13), Liverpool in 2020 (8) and Manchester United in 2009 (9).
We have won 10 of our last 12 trips to Yorkshire in the league (D1 L1), including each of the last three.
We have won 14 of our last 15 Premier League games against newly promoted opposition, including each of their four such games this term.
Anel Ahmedhodzic has ended on the losing side in 16 of his 20 Premier League appearances so far (W2 D2). In the competition's history, only three players have lost more of their first 20 matches: Juninho Bacuna, Josip Drmic and Oliver Burke (all 17).
Bukayo Saka has scored in each of his last five league games, netting twice in each of his last two away from home. Only Dennis Bergkamp (September 1997) and Harry Kane (September 2017) have ever scored 2+ goals in three consecutive away appearances.
Oliver McBurnie has either scored (4) or assisted (1) in each of his last five home Premier League games, netting in each of his last four at Bramall Lane.
Having drawn his first managerial meeting with Sheffield United in January 2020, Arteta has since won each of his last four against the Blades in all competition.
Match officials
Having taken charge of his first Gunners game back in December during our epic 4-3 win at Luton Town, Sam Barrott is once again at the helm of on of our matches. The 30-year-old is in his first campaign refereeing in the top-flight, having started in the EFL back in 2020.
His first Premier League game saw him oversee the Blades as they lost 3-1 at Fulham in October, while he has issued 38 yellow cards and one red in his 12 games in total so far.
Referee: Sam Barrott
Assistants: Simon Bennett, Dan Robathan
Fourth official: Anthony Taylor
VAR: John Brooks
Assistant VAR: Marc Perry
Previous trips to Bramall Lane
We have won three of our last four away games at the home of Sheffield United, as many as our previous 12 beforehand. In fact, a victory on Monday night would see us win three successive away games against the Blades for the very first time.
Our last trip there saw us claim a 3-0 win in the Premier League thanks to a pair of goals from Alexandre Lacazette and a Gabriel Martinelli strike in April 2020, while the previous June we snuck into the semi-finals of the FA Cup thanks to an injury-time winner from Dani Ceballos in a 2-1 success.
October 2019 saw the hosts triumph when Lys Mousett scored the only goal of the game in what was our first league meeting since the 2006/07 campaign.
Relive four of our best trips to Bramall Lane, including an important title run-in clash, and an excellent cup success from a youthful side.
Live coverage
An hour before kick-off, Nick Bright and Adrian Clarke will present our matchday show Breakdown Live on Arsenal.com and the official app, which has all the best build-up any Arsenal supporter would want.
They’ll look back at our dominant win over Newcastle last time out, while Adrian will outline Sheffield United’s gameplan in great detail and find ways we can make an impact.
There will also be highlights and reaction from Arsenal Women v Tottenham at Emirates Stadium, and then as the players emerge from the tunnel live commentary comes courtesy of Dan Roebuck and Josh James at the ground.
You can also check out what broadcaster is covering the game in your region.
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