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Arsenal 1-1 Sheffield Utd: Martinelli's goal cancelled out by Blades hero John Fleck
Arsenal played out a 1-1 draw with Sheffield United at the Emirates Stadium on Saturday afternoon, as the Gunners poor home form continued.
Arsenal vs Sheffield Utd: Arteta and Wilder preview clash
Arsenal ended the day in 10th place in the Premier League, after the Gunners drew 1-1 with Sheffield United at the Emirates Stadium.
Youngster Gabriel Martinelli gave Arsenal the lead shortly before the half-time whistle, after latching onto a deflected Bukayo Saka cross.
But, the Blades never looked completely out of the tie, and ended up equalising in the 84th minute.
Lucas Torreira lost the ball in the middle of the pitch, leading to John Fleck powering home from the edge of the box.
United's superb away form continues with the latest result, having only lost at home against Liverpool and Manchester City this season.
Arsenal vs Sheffield Utd RECAP: Team news and latest updates from the Emirates Stadium
Team news
Arsenal XI: Leno; Maitland-Niles, Mustafi, David Luiz, Saka; Torreira, Xhaka; Pepe, Ozil, Martinelli; Lacazette
Sheffield Utd XI: Henderson; Baldock, Basham, Egan, O’Connell, Stevens; Lundstram, Norwood, Fleck; McBurnie, Mousset
FULL-TIME - Arsenal 1-1 Sheffield United
90’ Arsenal 1-1 Sheffield United
The Blades are doing really well to try and see this game out. They keep winning free-kicks high up the pitch. Wilder looks delighted.
84' Arsenal 1-1 Sheffield United
Oh wow. John Fleck drives the ball home for the Blades! The Emirates crowd have been silenced.
It all came from Torreira losing the ball in midfield. United look most likely to win this now!
84' GOAL Arsenal 1-1 Sheffield Utd (Fleck)
81' Arsenal 1-0 Sheffield United
CLOSE
Oh McBurnie... That may have been the chance. The striker was open in the box and put it straight into Leno.
76' Arsenal 1-0 Sheffield United
SUBSTITUTION
Final change for United. Chris Basham goes off and is replaced by Mo Besic. The substitution forces the Blades into another change in formation. Looks like a 4-4-2...
74' Arsenal 1-0 Sheffield United
SUBSTITUTION
Lacazette's free-kick is his final touch of the match. He's replaced by Eddie Nketiah, who makes his Gunners return for the first time since his loan spell at Leeds United.
73’ Arsenal 1-0 Sheffield United
Big chance for Arsenal here with a dangerous free-kick. Saka does really well to work his way into a good position, before laying the ball off to Torreira. But, the midfielder is brought down.
Lacazette takes the subsequent free-kick, but blasts it over the bar.
69’ Arsenal 1-0 Sheffield United
Lovely play from Pepe. Big shout for a penalty.
Once again he stretched his legs and made his way into the box. O’Connell brings him down, and the home fans want a penalty, but no dice.
67’ Arsenal 1-0 Sheffield Utd
SUBSTITUTION
John Lundstram comes off for Sheffield United. Chris Wilder chooses to throw on an extra attacker in Callum Robinson. They're going for it.
63’ Arsenal 1-0 Sheffield United
Lundstram blasts one over the bar. United are trying to get back into this match. The chance comes from a corner that finds the midfielder on the edge of the box. He tries to place the ball into the Arsenal net, but instead ends up putting it straight over the bar.
62’ Arsenal 1-0 Sheffield United
Nicolas Pepe makes another good run down the right-hand side. He’s provided all of the energy for Arsenal today.
56’ Arsenal 1-0 Sheffield Utd
Ball cleared off the Gunners line! McBurnie flicked on a cross, but the Arsenal defence manages to clear. …Shouts of handball, too.
56’ Arsenal 1-0 Sheffield Utd
SUBSTITUTION
Billy Sharp comes onto the pitch for United, with Mousset making way.
Gabi’s gonna be a superstar ������������ Not because of the Goal because of the attitude Energy and mindset ☝������
— Aubameyang P-E (@Aubameyang7) January 18, 2020
53’ Arsenal 1-0 Sheffield Utd
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Sheffield United almost equalise after a lovely cross from O’Connell. Fleck with the original run, but goalkeeper Leno gets down well to cling onto the ball. Dangerous from the Blades.
51' Arsenal 1-0 Sheffield United
YELLOW CARD - Baldock (Sheffield Utd)
Saka breaks down the left-hand side, but is brought down by Baldock. Cynical.
46' Arsenal 1-0 Sheffield United
Back underway at the Emirates. No changes for either side in the second half.
45' Kick-off (Arsenal 1-0 Sheffield Utd)
Arsenal managed to get the breakthrough shortly before the half-time whistle, but in truth, it was relatively undeserved. A draw would've been fair at the end of the first 45 minutes. But, United are down heading into the second half.
Half-time Arsenal 1-0 Sheffield Utd
45' Arsenal 1-0 Sheffield United
The Gunners take the lead through Martinelli! Saka's deflected cross leaps beyond the Sheffield United defence. Only one man gambles, and the Brazilian tapped the ball into an empty net.
46' GOAL Arsenal 1-0 Sheffield Utd (Martinelli)
39' Arsenal 0-0 Sheffield United
Arsenal fans are beginning to get a little bit frustrated with this performance. Wasteful going forward, as Lacazette loses the ball in the final third. He didn't have much support around him, to be fair.
33' Arsenal 0-0 Sheffield United
The Blades gain the momentum in this tie again.
McBurnie and Mousset are putting the Gunners backline under serious pressure when they're on the ball. It ends in the centre-backs panicking and making a loose pass into midfield. It keeps happening...
33' Arsenal 0-0 Sheffield United
OUCH. Fresh after hitting that strike on goal, Torreira gets one right in the face. He went in for a challenge with Norwood, but the United man got there first. He struck the ball first time, and it went straight into the midfielder's face. He's down and catching his bearings.
32' Arsenal 0-0 Sheffield United
Torreira tests Henderson from 20 yards. It was a good strike from the Uruguay international. It bounced just in front of the goalkeeper, who did well to collect the ball.
25' Arsenal 0-0 Sheffield United
United have their first spell of possession for a while. Fleck picked up the ball on the left-hand side of the box. He whips in a cross which is cleared by Maitland-Niles. But, it drops nicely to Norwood from 25 yards, who decides to hit it on the volley. He shouldn't have... Straight into Row Z.
25' Arsenal 0-0 Sheffield United
Arsenal working their way into this match now, and they're in the ascendency. Pepe does well to win the Gunners a corner. The ball is played into the box, and sparks a good 60 seconds of melee on the edge of the United box. Granit Xhaka's shot/cross goes just wide of the target. Still level.
21' Arsenal 0-0 Sheffield United
Another big chance for Arsenal!
It's the same partnership from earlier in the match, as Pepe stretches his legs on the right-hand side. He plays in Martinelli who can't direct the ball goalwards.
17' Arsenal 0-0 Sheffield United
This is poor from Arsenal, so far. Mikel Arteta is furious on the touchline with what he's seeing. Loose balls, poor defensive structure, needless fouls given away. But. as it stands, the Gunners have come closest to opening the scoring.
13’ Arsenal 0-0 Sheffield Utd
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Martinelli narrowly misses the target after a lovely piece of work from Pepe. It was a quick break away for Arsenal, which - to be honest - came out of nowhere.
10’ Arsenal 0-0 Sheffield Utd
It’s all Blades now. Mousse has had a number of chances. Arsenal defensively all over the place.
7’ Arsenal 0-0 Sheffield United
Oh Shkodran… There you are.
Mustafi tries to let the ball run of play for a goalkeeper, but is quickly chased down. Mousset steals the ball from him, and Arsenal manage to scramble the ball out for a corner.
4' Arsenal 0-0 Sheffield Utd
First shot of the game for the Gunners! Saka played a nice ball into the box, and Lacazette flicked the ball to Pepe. The Ivorian smashes the ball toward goal, but it's straight at Henderson. Still 0-0.
Booking for Oliver Norwood. He brought down Lacazette right under the referee's nose. Easy decision.
2’ Arsenal 0-0 Sheffield Utd
Scrappy first few minutes here. The ball has been in there air more than on the ground. The visitors marginally on top.
1' Arsenal 0-0 Sheffield Utd
Sheffield United get the match underway at the Emirates!
Kick-off (Arsenal 0-0 Sheffield United)
2.55pm - The teams are heading out of the tunnel - not far away now!
2.50pm - Arsenal have confirmed that centre-back Sokratis Papastathopoulos is absent today with an illness.
Alexandre Lacazette captains the side.
2.45pm - Fifteen minutes away from kick-off now. A reminder that a win for Sheffield United would take them into the European spots, albeit until tomorrow at least.
A big win for the Arsenal would take them above arch-rivals Spurs. But they'll have to win by at least eight goals...
2.00pm - The breaking team news for Arsenal is that Lucas Torreira starts. He passed a late fitness test, but Kolasinac misses out. Arteta has opted for a 4-2-3-1, with young Gabriel Martinelli playing on the left-hand side.
Sheffield United have lined up as you would expect. Both Oli McBurnie and Lys Mousset will be looking to cause David Luiz and Shkodran Mustafi problems at the back.
Arsenal XI: Leno; Maitland-Niles, Mustafi, David Luiz, Saka; Torreira, Xhaka; Pepe, Ozil, Martinelli; Lacazette
Sheffield Utd XI: Henderson; Baldock, Basham, Egan, O’Connell, Stevens; Lundstram, Norwood, Fleck; McBurnie, Mousset
13.50pm - Arsenal will definitely be without Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang today. He’s serving a three-match ban after being sent off against Crystal Palace last weekend.
Sead Kolasinac and Lucas Torreira both face late fitness tests for the Gunners.
Meanwhile, the Blades have a near-clean bit of health. They’ll only be without reserve goalkeepers Michael Verrips and Simon Moore.
Could we see Jack Rodwell back in top flight for the first time since May 2017?
13.40pm - Good afternoon! Welcome to the Express Sport coverage of Arsenal’s Premier League clash against Sheffield United.
We’ll be bringing you all of the team news from the Emirates Stadium in about 20 minutes. Hang tight!
Arsenal are still in the process of rebuilding their season, having only won two of their last 14 league matches.
But, the Gunners have raised their game in recent weeks under the leadership of Mikel Arteta.
Sheffield United, meanwhile, have an excellent away record in the top flight this season.
They’ve only lost away matches at Manchester City and Liverpool this season.
Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta has admitted that he’s been impressed with today’s visitors to the Emirates Stadium.
The Gunners are currently in 10th place in the Premier League table; four points behind Sheffield United.
“I’ve been very impressed,” said the Arsenal boss. “Everything they do has a real sense, they are really difficult to break down.
“The solidarity in their team is incredible, how hard they work for each other and they have very clear principles - in attack and in defence. So it will be a very difficult test. I already warned the players today.”
Meanwhile, Wilder warned against complacency, as there’s still 16 more matches to be played this season.
“It’s an outstanding news story so far and I’d love for it to be a brilliant story come the end of the season.
“A newly-promoted team coming up, playing the way we’ve played and the position we are in and how we have done it - over the last two or three years as well and from a financial point of view too.
“We’ve done fantastically well, there’s no doubt about that. But it’s only this stage of the season... there's still a lot of football to be played.”