While some of their title rivals have been occupied with midweek FA Cup ties, Arsenal have had the luxury of nine days to prepare for their Monday night clash with Sheffield United.
The Gunners’ spirits will be sky high after dismantling a poor Newcastle side 4-1 last weekend, putting their dramatic late Champions League loss to FC Porto behind them.
In contrast to their late season demise last campaign, Mikel Arteta’s men are looking imperious in the Premier League, winning all five of their league matches in 2024 while scoring 25 goals and conceding just three.
Sheffield United have been going in the opposite trajectory to their north London visitors, shipping 15 goals in their last three matches at home.
Here are three factors that could decide the outcome between these two sides come Monday night…
Odegaard key to dismantling Sheffield United low block
When speaking about teams using low blocks to defend against Arsenal back in November, Gunners boss Mikel Arteta claimed sides would “suffer a lot if they want to defend there”. This has been what the Gunners have faced most of the campaign, and they have found plenty of success in breaking them down. Much of that success has been down to captain Martin Odegaard, with the Norwegian back to his best form after a subdued start to the campaign.
The midfielder has five goals and seven assists in the league so far, and has set up three goals in the last three games. By dropping into the space in front of the opposition defence, he drags his opponents out of their defensive shape before playing the crucial through-balls to the likes of Gabriel Jesus, Gabriel Martinelli and Bukayo Saka. His ability to retain the ball allows his teammates to enter the attack and suffocate the opposition, in the process breaking them down and leading to goals. His performance will be crucial to Arsenal getting a result.
New look defensive shape
Embed from Getty ImagesWhilst Arsenal have been potent going forward, Mikel Arteta’s men have been just as impressive defensively. Conceding a league low of 23 goals, the defensive four of Ben White, Gabriel, William Saliba and Jakub Kiwior have suffocated their opponents in every match, boasting an expected goals conceded of just 1.9 when they have played together.
Following the injury of Oleksandr Zinchenko, White now inverts into midfield with Kiwior sticking alongside the centre halves, with this tactical switch taking Arsenal’s possession game to a whole new level. These defensive numbers are grim reading for Sheffield United, who are the lowest scorers in the league this season, and will have to come up with something magical to knock the Gunners off their perch. The defensive changes made by Arteta have worked well of late and it will be a big ask for the Blades to disrupt that.
Mentality will be crucial
Last campaign, Arsenal were in the hot seat, leading the Premier League by five points and looked to be cruising to their first league title in 19 years. However, multiple draws from winning positions against West Ham and Liverpool, as well as a humbling 3-0 defeat at home to Brighton put an end to their charge.
So far, that has not been the case, but if there were to be a match that such a thing could happen, it would be against the bottom side. This season, the Gunners look much stronger mentally, particularly evident after dismantling Newcastle only three days after their late loss away at Porto. It would take a serious downturn in concentration for the north Londoners to suffer a similar collapse to last campaign, something Mikel Arteta will not let happen again.
