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Remind me next time

Arsenal host a very off colour Sheffield United on matchday 4 in the Premier League. The Gunners head into the game following a matchday 3 loss to Liverpool, 3-1. It was an uncharacteristic performance from Mikel Arteta’s team in which Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang was completely taken out of the match by Liverpool’s defence. Arteta will hope his star player will have a far bigger impact against Sheffield United at the Emirates on Sunday.

Sheffield United are in a sophomore slump. The Blades have lost three straight games in the league and sit second to bottom after three fixtures. After a brilliant season in 2019-20, Sheffield United have not cracked on and still have the same issues as last term. Those issues surround the team’s inability to score and create goals consistently.

Sheffield United are the only team in the Premier League not to score a goal this season. They have only allowed four goals to opponents and manager Chris Wilder desperately needs to add a goalscorer before Monday. If a goalscorer can be found, then Sheffield United should have no problem retaining their league status.

Arsenal and Sheffield United met three times in 2019-20. The Blades took four points from six in the Premier League while the Gunners claimed a late win in the FA Cup. Can Sheffield United get their first points of the season at Arsenal’s expense?

Arsenal vs Sheffield United Betting Odds

Sheffield United claimed a famous 1-0 win at Bramall Lane last season thanks to a goal from Lys Moussett. The first-half goal held up and Sheffield United claimed the home win. The reverse fixture at the Emirates saw the teams finish 1-1 with goals on either side of halftime. Arsenal’s Gabriel Martinelli scored just before halftime but Sheffield United’s John Fleck equalised seven minutes before ful-time.

Their FA Cup meeting was just as close as the two league fixtures. Arsenal took a first half lead through a Nicolas Pepe penalty. David McGoldrick got a rare goal in the 87th minute to equalise. With the game headed for extra-time, Dani Ceballos scored a winner in the 90th minute of the cup fixture.

Arsenal’s only game this season at the Emirates finished in a 2-1 win versus West Ham. Although Arteta’s team lost on matchday 3, they have played well. Arsenal conceded four goals across three games, but three of those goals came at Anfield.

Sheffield United have lost three straight games to nil. No game saw over 2.5 goals scored. The problem for Sheffield United is that none of those games came against traditional top-six teams.

Arsenal vs Sheffield United Team News

Arteta has a long list of injuries to deal with at the Emirates. The Gunners manager could be without as many as seven players for the game. Shkodran Mustafi, Emile Smith Rowe, Pablo Mari, Gabriel Martinelli, and Calum Chambers are all ruled out through various injuries. Arteta is still waiting on the returns of defenders Sokratis and Cedric Soares. The latter has been sidelined for much of his time at Arsenal after joining last January.

Wilder has three players on his injury list ahead of matchday 4. Mousset is still ruled out after having a “minor operation” on a ligament under his toe. Jack O’Connell is also ruled out for the match. He is recovering from a knee injury. Back-up goalkeeper Simon Moore still has a broken finger on the mend. He is unlikely to make the squad.

Wilder will have John Egan back after a red card suspension suffered against Aston Villa. The manager is hunting a striker to improve the team’s goalscoring numbers. Rhian Brewster was expected to join the club and a £23 million bid was launched this week. Rumours have linked ex-Liverpool forward Daniel Sturridge with the club as well.

Arsenal vs Sheffield United Betting Tips

Arsenal to win to nil @6/4 - BET NOW

Sheffield United have failed to score in all three Premier League games this season. Can they get a goal against Arsenal at the Emirates on Sunday? The Blades have been very poor in the final third. Sheffield United do have an expect goal target of 3.33 after three games with an actual total of zero. The figure shows just how bad the team have been in finishing chances along with how well fellow defences have played against them.

Over 2.5 goals scored @19/20 - BET NOW

Arsenal have seen over 2.5 goals in each Premier League game this term. The Gunners put three past Fulham in a win to nil at home while over 2.5 goals were tallied versus West Ham and Liverpool. The third and final match the teams played last term finished with over 2.5 goals scored. Arsenal should play much better on Sunday versus Sheffield United than they did at Anfield.

Arsenal vs Sheffield United Predictions

Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang to score anytime @4/5 - BET NOW

Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang has scored one goal in three league matches this season. He added an assist to his league stat line. Last weekend’s loss to Liverpool, 3-1, was Aubameyang’s first game of the campaign not to score or create a goal. The forward was uncharacteristically poor against Liverpool and struggled to make an impact on the game. It was especially surprising due to Aubameyang being put up against Liverpool right-back Trent Alexander-Arnold.

Aubameyang averages 1.33 shots per 90 minutes and 0.11 expected goals per 90 minutes. His numbers have been good, but are actually not quite as good as teammate Alexandre Lacazette. Aubameyang got the big new contract while Lacazette continues to be linked with a move away. Lacazette has three league goals and averages 0.87 expected goals per 90 minutes. Will the big contract cause Aubameyang to take a step back?

Sheffield United should struggle once more this weekend away at the Emirates. The Blades are playing poorly and underachieving. It always felt like they would take a step backwards after flying so highly in 2019-20. The Gunners should win once more and doom Sheffield United to a fourth straight loss in the league.