Arsenal host Sheffield United this weekend in a Premier League match not live on TV in the UK, so here is everything you need to know including how to follow the fixture.
The Gunners are still one of the two remaining unbeaten squads in the top-flight this season. But Mikel Arteta’s team lost ground in the title race last week when Declan Rice and Leandro Trossard saved a 2-2 draw at Chelsea. Now, they take on a still-winless Sheffield United side.
Paul Heckingbottom is facing a fight to stay in charge at Bramall Lane with the Blades falling further adrift. Sheffield United sit bottom of the pack through nine games having only taken one single point. They drew 2-2 with Everton before losing in each of their next five fixtures.
Arsenal did the double against Sheffield United the last time the Blades were in the Premier League in 2020/21. Goals from Bukayo Saka and Nicolas Pepe beat a Chris Wilder-led squad 2-1 at Emirates Stadium. An Alexandre Lacazette brace also helped to a 3-0 win on the road.
Heckingbottom was in charge of Sheffield United as Arsenal won 3-0 at Bramall Lane in April 2021. The fixture came amidst a run of five-straight defeats for the Blades with the Barnsley native in interim charge. He will now hope for much better on his first visit to the Emirates…
When is Arsenal vs Sheffield United?
The Premier League has scheduled the matchweek 10 fixture between Arsenal and Sheffield United for Saturday, October 28. The game will also kick-off at 15:00 after neither Sky Sports nor TNT Sports selected it for live TV coverage in the UK. Just audio commentary will be live.
How to follow Arsenal vs Sheffield United
Fans wanting to follow Arsenal vs Sheffield United live can use an audio commentary stream by BBC Radio 5 Live. Coverage will start at kick-off after the station’s post-match coverage of the 12:30 kick-off between Chelsea and Brentford. A results show will run until 17:30, too.
Live stream of Arsenal vs Sheffield United
BBC Radio 5 Live is accessible via the BBC Sounds website and app. It is also transmitted via AM/MW analogue radio frequencies 909 and 693, plus DAB Digital Radio. Fans can also find a stream of BBC Radio 5 Live on Freeview and Freesat channels 705, plus Sky channel 0105.
Arsenal team and injury news
The latest Arsenal injury news gives Arteta mixed team news for the visit of Sheffield United to Emirates Stadium. As soon as the Gunners get some players back to fitness, they seem to lose another. Gabriel Jesus is their latest injury concern after he sustained an issue at Sevilla.
Arteta admitted after the Champions League tie that he is ‘worried’ about the injury to Jesus in midweek. The forward scored and assisted to help to a 2-1 win but also felt an issue in his hamstring. Eddie Nketiah came on for Jesus, who had thrived against Sevilla, after the injury.
Arsenal were also without Thomas Partey in Seville after the midfielder sustained an issue in training before the Gunners’ trip. He had just returned from an earlier groin gripe before the international break. But the Ghanaian faces another spell on the sidelines with a thigh issue.
Only long-term absentee Jurrien Timber is also out due to an injury ahead of Arsenal hosting Sheffield United. He has been absent since the opening day of the Premier League term as the defender required surgery for the ACL injury he suffered at home to Nottingham Forest.
Arteta has also omitted Fabio Vieira from Arsenal’s last two matchday teams against Chelsea and Sevilla. But the Portuguese’s absence was a purely tactical decision from the Gunners boss. The 23-year-old is still fit and available for selection should Arteta wish to include him.
Prediction: Arsenal (3) vs (0) Sheffield United
Arsenal will expect nothing but a win – and a comfortable win – at home to Sheffield United on Saturday. Relegation is already looming large at Bramall Lane while the Emirates Stadium natives dream of the title. A huge 20 points split the two teams through nine games already.
No Premier League squad has conceded more goals than Sheffield United (24), too. Arsenal (8) have set the second-best record behind title rivals Manchester City (7). The Blades have even scored fewer goals (7) than the Gunners have conceded. Arteta’s team have scored 18.
Heckingbottom is also waiting for Sheffield United to record their first clean sheet this term. Newcastle United even beat them 8-0 at Bramall Lane. The Blades have further conceded at least two goals each game away from home, including shipping three in a defeat at Fulham.
So, even if Jesus is sidelined with an injury alongside Timber and Partey, Arsenal will expect to beat Sheffield United. Anything but three points from the contest will be devastating for their hopes of winning the Premier League title and be seen as a huge wasted opportunity.
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