Blades News

Another Game, Another Defeat

|
Image for Another Game, Another Defeat

The Blades are now close to finally having their relegation confirmed after another defeat in sorry season. Defeat to Wolves next week coupled with any kind of positive result for Brighton and Newcastle and United will have an R next to their name. In reality, relegation has been a fate that had been all but sealed for months now. This week’s defeat saw United back at the lane for the first time Chris Wilder had left as an erratic and mostly struggling Arsenal side feasted on the carcass of the Blades. It was Arsenal’s first Premier League win at Bramall Lane in 5 attempts and their first clean sheet in 15.

Manager Heckingbottom made three changes with Egan back and Ampadu also returning to the starting line-up. Burke was given the start alongside McGoldrick with still no place for record signing Rhian Brewster. Baldock was deemed fit to start at right wing-back with Bogle on the bench. Out of form players Lundstram, Norwood and Stevens continued to be selected. There was still no return for the injured players with no Sharp, Basham, Berge or the longer-term O’Connell.

Arsenal with little to play for themselves in the league made five changes from their Europa League draw and seemed to be prioritising the second leg in Prague. Aubameyang was out with flu whilst Smith-Rowe was injured. Martinelli and Pepe started up front flanking Lacazette. Chambers, Mari and Ceballos came in.

Arsenal began with fluid football and a ball slipped through to Saka saw him shot over when well placed. The away side dominated the ball early but a miskick from Stevens led to a chance for Pepe but the offside flag went up. Stevens made another mistake but Ampadu’s cleared the cross that was sent over.

Ramsdale had been trying to pass the ball out and from one such kick out, Burke retrieved it and sent a high cross over. Osborn kept it alive and it fell to McGoldrick who stayed onside but he pulled his shot wide. It was a decent chance for the home side.

After this, the balance of the game continued with the away side moving it between the thirds nicely and the Blades midfield unable to get any kind of pressure on. They could not get out and Norwood twice just kicked a clearance against an Arsenal man.

REPORT BY DEADBAT_DB

Ramsdale’s distribution had been one of the bright spots but he made a mistake and hit Lacazette and the ball fortuitously rebounded straight back into the keeper’s hands. It could have easily gone into the net.

Osborn then gave it away and the Gunners sprang forward again with Ceballlos flick into Martinelli but the forward hit the side netting when he had men in the box. Arsenal was dominating and a rare break saw Stevens got a decent cross over but McGoldrick fouled Xhaka as it came over.

Arsenal continued to move it around nicely and the pressure on goal started to intensify as they had a series of efforts and the first one on goal. Nobody pressed and Arsenal worked it to Martinelli whose shot took a deflection off Norwood and Ramsdale did well to readjust and make the save.

Martinelli then skinned Baldock down the touchline and cut in but his cross driven in missed everyone. The ball fell for Chambers but his shot was cleared off the line by Egan. It seemed like a goal was coming and so it proved on 33 minutes. Lovely football saw it moved forward. Saka did well and Lacazette came onto it, played into Ceballos who once again flicked it on and back to LACAZETTE who got away from Ampadu and rolled it into the far corner giving Ramsdale no chance.

It was a great goal but again like with the goal at Leeds it was created and finished without any pressure or challenge on the ball.

More good football saw Saka nearly get in as United stood off. Arsenal then won two corners as Martinell had an effort deflected just wide from McGoldrick and even when United cleared it, the ball hit Osborn on the heel and Arsenal came again.

A rare break saw Norwood get his foot in and McGoldrick got down the line but chose to settle for a corner rather than make something happen. The set play was half-cleared and Egan had an effort straight at Leno. At least it was another effort on goal in another rather timid Blades showing.

Arsenal finished the half as they started it with another attack and appeals for a Norwood handball were turned away by VAR and the half time whistle came soon after this.

The second half saw United at least start with a few attacks. McGoldrick had a shot deflected behind and then from the corner, Norwood’s looping ball was headed goalwards by Egan but punched away by Leno.

Arsenal then had a spell of play again moving it around and was looking comfortable although a run by Burke at least got it moving the other way for a spell. Norwood’s wasteful cross gave it away though not long after.

There was no urgency from the Blades in the game and the game was just drifting away with the visitors’ content to just play keep ball. A break from the corner saw Arsenal move forward and the ball was played back and Lacazette bent his effort over in the visitors’ first effort of the half.

Arsenal continued to keep the ball and it was all very easy. They moved it around with no pressure on the ball and just seemed content to keep the Blades at arm’s length. McGoldrick did have a chance when he came inside but was selfish and his shot was blocked.

MacBurnie and Brewster came on for McGoldrick and Burke just over the hour mark. Martinelli went down with a knock but was able to carry on. Saka was not as fortunate as he went down with a pull and had to be replaced by Willian.

United had not threatened despite the slight improvement for 5 minutes to start the half and the game was all but sealed if it was not already as Lundstram’s appalling period in a Blades shirt continued as he put it on a plate. The ball was pushed to Pepe whose shot was palmed out by Ramsdale straight into the path of MARTINELLI who tapped home. The keeper will not have been happy with his part in the goal despite the architect being Lundstram.

Ampadu then had to do well to clear but then brought his man down and this saw a chance for Willian but the free-kick was off target. McBurnie did go on a run but got a kick and his spell did not last long as he went off after this kick. Mari was booked for his part in the tackle. Mousset came on but the third goal came in the 84th minute. Partey went past Osborn easily and sent a through ball which completely dissected the Blades defence and LACAZETTE was in away from Ampadu again. He gave Ramsdale the eyes and shot home easily. The route was complete.

United did create a chance on 87 minutes when a lovely slide-rule ball from Egan set up Stevens to cross but his pull-back was sliced wide from Mousset. Ampadu got a late yellow as the game ticked into four minutes additional time but the game could not end quick enough for the Blades as another pitiful performance mercifully came to an end. The Blades players trooped off amidst the snowfall in S2 knowing that they are simply out of their depth at this level.

Teams

Sheffield United: Ramsdale, Baldock, Stevens, Fleck, Lundstram, Egan, Burke (Brewster 64), Norwood, McGoldrick (McBurnie 64, Mousset 83), Ampadu, Osborn. Unused: McBurnie, Lowe, Jagielka, Bogle, Bryan, Ndiaye.

Arsenal: Leno, Chambers, Holding, Mari, Saka (Willian 69), Ceballos, Xhaka, Partey, Pepe, Lacazette (Nketiah 88), Martinelli (Elneny 83). Unused: Ryan, Bellerin, Cedric, Gabriel, Azeez, Nelson.

Share this article