ARSENAL travel to Bramall Lane TONIGHT in phenomenal form – but wouldn’t that just be football for bottom place Sheffield United to do the unthinkable?
The Gunners finally got revenge on Newcastle for their controversial VAR loss earlier this season with a 4-1 thrashing at the Emirates last Saturday.
And it was a result that meant Mikel Arteta‘s men have now recorded SIX consecutive Premier League wins since the start of the calendar year.
Furthermore, Jakub Kiwior‘s header on the weekend was Arsenal’s 25th strike since returning from their Dubai training camp in January, while the Blades have only scored 22 times all season.
But the Gunners showed signs that they can be got at in Europe and with the support of the home crowd, Sheffield United always stand a chance.
The Blades urgently need to show some life as they are bottom of the Premier League table.
Chris Wilder’s men have recorded the joint-highest number of losses in the Prem this season as they have come up short 19 times, just like Burnley.
Sheffield United have only won three out of 26 matches in the English top flight, which is the joint-lowest amount – a record they also share with the Clarets.
Wilder’s side is in an intense relegation scrap as they are a whopping 11 points away from safety.
Sheffield United’s most recent home win took place last year – on December 9 against Brentford.
Arsenal have dominated their last six Premier League matches since their 2-1 loss at Fulham on New Year’s Eve.
The Gunners have beaten Crystal Palace, Nottingham Forest, Liverpool, West Ham, Burnley and Newcastle.
And the North Londoners did it in style as they scored a staggering 25 goals along the way, conceding a mere three in the process.
Sheffield United, on the other hand, have lost five of their last six games across all competitions with their only win coming at Luton Town with a score of 3-1.
The Blades have conceded a staggering 20 goals and scored five along the way.
Arsenal star Bukayo Saka is flying high across all competitions this season.
Saka is the Gunners’ top Premier League scorer with 13 goals and seven assists in 25 matches.
The winger counts a total of 16 goals and 13 assists in 34 matches throughout this term.
Sheffield United, on the other hand, will be looking to James McAtee to help them shock the North Londoners as the Manchester City loanee counts five goals and three assists in 23 Prem games.
Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta has been studying his Sheffield United counterpart Chris Wilder for a long time and knows this will be a “really tough match”.
Arteta said: “With every team we look at the weaknesses and the strengths, and we look to take the game where we want.
“I’m saying this because I know that team very well. I analysed it many years ago and I learnt from Chris’ teams and I’m telling you it’s going to be a really tough match.
“They are a really difficult team to beat. I’ve watched their last four or five games now. With the [Manchester] City game, against [Aston] Villa the game took a different route, but they are extremely well-coached.
“I know Chris Wilder really well and I admire a lot of what he does with his teams. It will be Monday night football and it’s gonna be a tough night.”
And Wilder warned anyone who rules his team out ahead of the Premier League fixture to do so at their own risk.
The 56-year-old tactician said: “Of course the bookies and people in the game will have us down as the whipping boys on Monday night, we understand that, but the game is not always built like that and results aren’t decided before the game on league position.
“They go in as favourites, we understand that, but we have to show we’re capable of being competitive and trying to get a result out of the game.”
It’s very difficult to look beyond a comfortable Arsenal win on Monday amid an ongoing dominant run in the Premier League.
SunSport predicts: Sheffield United 0-3 Arsenal
Chris Wilder could have as many as NINE key players out for their huge encounter against Arsenal.
Max Lowe (ankle), Rhys Norrington-Davies (thigh) and Chris Basham (ankle) are all certainly ruled out.
John Egan (ankle), Ben Brereton Diaz (thigh), Cameron Archer (calf), George Baldock (muscle) and Daniel Jebbison (illness) will need to be assessed.
While Mason Holgate is still suspended after picking up a red card for a reckless challenge on Brighton star Kaoru Mitoma.
Elsewhere, Mikel Arteta will be without Jurrien Timber (knee) and Takehiro Tomiyasu (muscle).
But the Gunners gaffer hinted that the trio of Thomas Partey, Oleksandr Zinchenko and Gabriel Jesus could all be handed a run out at Bramall Lane.
*Odds courtesy of Ladbrokes are correct at time of publication
