Sheffield United return to Bramall Lane to host a Premier League match for the first time since Chris Wilder departed the Blades. Currently rooted to the bottom of the table, United face Arsenal, whom they have yet to lose a Premier League match at home to the Gunners.
The Blades are likely to be led by Interim manager Paul Heckingbotton, though a new manager may have been appointed before United face the Londoners this weekend with Alexander Blessin anticipated to be appointed from Belgian side KV Oostende.
Against this weekend’s opposition, Arsenal, the Bramall Lane club have yet to lose at home in the Premier League, though, considering the Blades record this season that could well change. United have won their last two fixtures at home by a single goal, both 1-0, and scored by French strikers. In 2006 Christian Nade scored in an epic game, and in 2019, Lys Mousset netted the games’ only goal
The Blades are expected to field a familiar formation that hasn’t served them well this season and retrain the 3-5-2 formation adopted by former boss Chris Wilder.They are expected to be without defender George Baldock (head), Jayden Bogle (face), Chris Basham, Jack O’Connell (knee), and Jack Robinson through injury, whilst midfielder Jack Rodwell and striker Billy Sharp (groin) may also be sidelined.
Journalist Nathan Hemmingham from YorkshireLive asked Paul Heckingbottom regarding the current status of midfielder Sander Berge; ‘Sander is at the back end of his rehab and hopefully, we can get him in training with the players next week, but we will have to see how he responds to the players and the ball. We are working hard and if we can get a good couple of weeks training in him we can get him on the pitch.’
Before this weekend’s bout of fixtures, the Gunners lay tenth in the Premier League table. They come into this fixture having lost 3-0 at home to Liverpool last weekend before facing Slavia Prague in the Europa League last Thursday night, which ended 1-1.
Mikel Arteta is expected to be without defender David Luis (knee), Norwegian midfielder, Martin Odegaard (ankle), and Kieran Tierney (ankle) through injury. The latter is likely to be absent for six weeks.
Past Premier League Results… vs. Arsenal
19.09.1992 – Sheffield United 1-1 Arsenal
09.01.1993 – Arsenal 1-1 Sheffield United
29.12.1993 – Arsenal 3-0 Sheffield United
04.04.1994 – Sheffield United 1-1 Arsenal
23.09.2006 – Arsenal 3-0 Sheffield United
30.12.2006 – Sheffield United 1-0 Arsenal
21.10.2019 – Sheffield United 1-0 Arsenal
18.01.2020 – Arsenal 1-1 Sheffield United
04.10.2020 – Arsenal 2-1 Sheffield United
Forthcoming Blades Fixtures;
*All fixtures are subject to change
17 Apr – Wolverhampton Wanderers (a) – 15:00
24 Apr – Brighton & Hove Albion (h) – 15:00
01 May – Tottenham Hotspur (a) – 15:00
08 May – Crystal Palace (h) – 15:00
11 May – Everton (a) – 19:45
15 May – Newcastle United (a) – 15:00
23 May – Burnley (h) – 16:00