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In a rare 3 pm kick-off at the Emirates Stadium, the Gunners took on a rampant Sheffield United. Heading into this game, Arsenal trailed the Blades by four points, such a situation is testament to the work of Chris Wilder. Mikel Arteta’s men came into this match off the back of an underwhelming draw at Selhurst Park. The North London club was looking to put things right against a newly promoted team that beat West Ham last week.
After a tightly contested opening 44 minutes, it was Arsenal who took the lead as Gabriel Martinelli poked home from close range after a Bukayo Saka cross. Things stayed this way until John Fleck grabbed a dramatic equaliser in the 83rd minute. The match would eventually end even with both teams deservedly taking a point from the game.
Here are 5 hits and flops from Arsenal’s 1-1 over Sheffield United.
#5 Flop: Shkodran Mustafi
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Within the first five minutes, the German had already made his first mistake, as he let Enda Stevens outmuscle him for a ball that was rightly his. Arsenal fans have constantly seen Shkodran Mustafi fail them on several occasions. That’s why many a fan has written his career off with even the club actively trying to sell him in the summer and this window. That’s why it was a surprise to everyone to see the 27-year-old’s name on the team sheet ahead of Rob Holding. However, Arteta will argue that this decision best portrays how light the squad is in defence.
Sokratis was unable to compete in today’s game due to illness so this was meant to be Mustafi’s chance to secure a starting place. Instead, he showed his old rashness and poor decision making alongside an already unstable David Luiz. Although the Gunners kept a rare clean sheet, the 27-year-old was certainly not the reason for it.
#4 Hit: Enda Stevens
Sheffield United once again showcased their tireless work ethic at the Emirates, a work rate that most teams cannot handle. Arsenal certainly couldn’t as the Blades constantly swarmed Mikel Arteta’s men all over the pitch. No one represented this work ethic more than Enda Stevens, the left wing-back relentlessly bombed up and down the left flank.
Up against a tricky Nicolas Pepe and Ainsley Maitland-Niles, Stevens more than held his own, often creating chances in the final third too. The 29-year-old regularly outmuscled Arsenal’s players and was rarely found wanting in his own defensive duties.
In a hardworking outing, the 29-year-old completed 29 passes, made four tackles, three clearances, two interceptions, won one aerial duel, created two chances and impressively completed four successful take-ons. This season, Stevens has been one of Wilder’s best players, starting all of the Blades’ 23 league games. Without the wing-back’s constant off the ball chasing, Arsenal could have caused real damage down the right flank, instead, Pepe had another quiet game.
#3 Flop: Alexandre Lacazette
With Aubameyang out of the squad for the next three games, all eyes were on Alexandre Lacazette to step up and take on full goalscoring responsibilities. The Frenchman hasn’t scored in his last seven appearances, with most of the team’s goals being scored by his strike partner, despite playing on the wing.
Once again, the Frenchman put in a workmanlike shift that saw him make most of his touches outside of the box rather than in it. Despite being captain for the day, the 28-year-old was hooked off after 75 minutes for the young Eddie Nketiah.
In another poor performance, the Frenchman only attempted one shot on goal, had 25 touches, completed zero dribbles and only completed 13 passes. With rumours swirling that the Frenchman is refusing to sign a new contract, many fans would not be sad if the striker left in the summer. Based on today’s evidence, it’d be hard to create a case for the forward starting another game this season.
#2 Hit: Gabriel Martinelli
The Brazilian teenager was brought in the summer for a measly £6 million price tag. At that time, no fan knew what impact he would have on the senior team. This season, the 18-year-old has scored nine goals, firmly establishing himself as the club’s 2nd top scorer after Pierre Emerick-Aubameyang.
Coincidently, the youngster was brought into today’s squad to fill the void left by the suspended captain, who's been banned for three PL games.
Once again, it wasn’t just the 18-year-old’s goalscoring prowess that impressed most, it was his work-rate off the ball that inspired his teammates. At times, the Brazilian was found high pressing the Sheffield United defence on his own.
In another a coming of age performance, the winger attempted three shots on goal, completed one dribble, won one aerial duel and scored his team’s only goal of the game. Arteta has demanded that his players show commitment, fight, hard work and a willingness to press as the foundation of their new philosophy. At the moment, Martinelli embodies that style best in the team.
#1 Flop: Mesut Ozil
Under Mikel Arteta, Mesut Ozil has had a mini resurgence. The World Cup winner has been finding himself in the right positions, regularly pulling the strings in the final third. This is the complete opposite to things were under Unai Emery, where the 31-year-old rarely even made the matchday squad.
Arteta has instructed the playmaker to adopt wide positions on the counterattack, so he can then have a much better view of the pitch and attacking options ahead of him.
However, today might have been the German’s worst performance under Arteta yet. His touches were poor, his passes were overhit and he regularly lost the ball when Sheffield United put him under pressure. Chris Wilder’s men suffocated Ozil of space and time on the ball, something in which he didn’t have a response for.
In a match where he had little control in the final third, the 31-year-old had 59 touches of the ball, didn’t attempt a shot on goal, completed two dribbles, misplaced six passes and provided four key passes. Ozil was passive off the ball and ineffective on it.
