Alexandre Lacazette brace gives Arsenal a routine win over Sheffield United
Mike McGrath
·17-min read
Alexandre Lacazette of Arsenal celebrates after scoring his sides first goal during the Premier League match at Bramall Lane against Sheffield United - Matt Wilkinson /Focus Images Limited
Alexandre Lacazette scores twice, including a wonderful team goal that looked as if it came from the Arsene Wenger era
Gabriel Martinelli scores for the first time in 15 months for Arsenal to cap off a routine win
Bukayo Saka is substituted with an apparent quad injury
At the start of a season-defining week for Mikel Arteta, he could at least start with a straightforward victory and a long-awaited clean sheet to keep their hopes of European football alive.
Arteta called it ideal preparation but that assessment also depends on Bukayo Saka and Martinelli recovering from knocks that forced them off in the second half. Both players give hope for the immediate and long-term future of this team.
Keeping a first clean sheet in 15 matches will be a relief to Arteta. It was done with a makeshift backline and against a team whose Premier League relegation will soon be confirmed, but they all count.
“This is ideal preparation, it’s a clean sheet after a long run and for the stability and spirit of the team it is great for Thursday,” said Arteta.
“We had a cohesion around the team. We controlled the game and we played at a high level and scored some nice goals. From the start I had the feeling the guys were at it, we understood how we had to attack and press and we were efficient.”
It was Sheffield United chasing the dream of Europe at this stage last season, while Arsenal have come accustomed to midweek trips abroad. They have not had a season without since the pre-Arsene Wenger year and it would be a dent to Arteta’s reign, not least the money available for the Spaniard to spend on players.
His team can be exciting but have holes that need to be filled and attracting the right players will be more difficult without Europe.
Such was Arteta’s fitness and illness problems, he picked Granit Xhaka as an ersatz left-back in a new combination to try and finally keep a clean sheet. At least it allowed Saka to spark further up the pitch and also see Martinelli start a Premier League game for the first time since January.
Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang was suffering from flu, giving the young pair a chance to combine. Arteta’s issues have not been his talented forwards but keeping goals out at the other end.
Many of the hosts’ defeats this season have been by a single goal, showing they have been battling in games despite failing to pick up enough points. They have normally made opponents work for their wins but lacked energy here. Newcastle’s win earlier in the day had pushed them closer to mathematical relegation but survival has not been part of the equation for a while.
Saka’s No10 added another string to his bow heading into the European Championships this summer. Gareth Southgate likes his versatility, with his inclusion for team meetings despite being injured during the international break seen as a sign he wants him to be prepared for the tournament. He can add this role to full-back, wing-back and wide forward to his CV.
It was no surprise that he was heavily involved in the deadlock being broken in the 33rd minute as Arsenal popped the ball around in front of the Blades penalty area. Saka made an incisive pass forward which was backheeled by Dani Ceballos, allowing Lacazette to finish.
It was the France striker’s 14th goal of the season and a reminder of the Arsenal of old, attacking with confidence and an efficiency of touches.
Arsenal's Alexandre Lacazette celebrates after scoring the 0-3 during the Premier League match between Sheffield United and Arsenal - Tim Keeton/POOL/EPA-EFE/Shutterstock /Shutterstock
Saka took a knee to the thigh and came off for Willian but he stayed on the bench with an ice pack, rather than heading to the dressing room, offering hope it is not serious. In their next move Martinelli tapped in Nicolas Pepe intercepted a pass and saw his shot saved by Ramsdale.
It was a neat coincidence that Martinelli’s previous start in the Premier League was also when they kept a clean sheet but the South American’s game is all about attacking rather than tracking runners at the other end. He then came off after rolling his ankle.
“Gabriel twisted his ankle, he was sore but he is a tough boy,” said Arteta. “Bukayo felt discomfort in his thigh. It’s the last thing we need, we’re missing some big players at the moment and we don’t want it to be serious. We will see how he develops the next few days.”
Lacazette’s second goal came when Thomas Partey danced through midfield and played through his team-mate, who finished with confidence after missing chances against Slavia.
“Against Prague he missed two big chances and needed those goals, we played him because of that and because he is playing well at the moment. It’s not about paying back, he's having good performances,” said Arteta.
For Lacazette, he believes his goals bring confidence back to himself and the team. He became the 10th Arsenal player to score 50 Premier League goals.
“It was very important to win after the last few games, we were sad about the results and the performances as well,” he said. “I missed an easy chance on Thursday and wanted to score and it gives back confidence to me and the team.”
Sheffield United look to Blessin as next manager
By Mike McGrath
Sheffield United are in talks to appoint Alexander Blessin as their next manager following the departure of Chris Wilder last month.
The relegation-threatened team want the KV Oostende head coach to mount a challenge for Championship promotion and they are discussing a package including personal terms.
There are post-Brexit complications in the deal as foreign managers need to have coached for two years in a top league to earn a governing body endorsement from the Football Association.
Belgium is considered an elite league but Blessin, 47, is in his rookie season as a coach after working with the youth teams at RB Leipzig in Bundesliga. United would need to request for an FA Exceptions Panel to consider the application.
Blessin’s reputation at Leipzig has made him their first-choice to succeed Wilder, who had guided the club from League One to the top-flight. He has a year left on his contract with Oostende.
07:52 PM
FULL TIME
A routine win for a clinical Arsenal against a pathetic, listless, disinterested Sheffield United. They remain rooted to the bottom of the table and, judging by today's performance, won't, and don't deserve to, be back in the Premier League any time soon.
For the Gunners, that should act as a confidence booster ahead of their vital Europa League quarter-final second leg against Slavia Prague. The only concern will be the injury to Bukayo Saka.
07:48 PM
90 mins Sheffield United 0 Arsenal 3
Lacazette's night is done, he's replaced by Nketiah. A match winning performance from the skipper.
Four minutes to be added on.
07:44 PM
GGGOOOALLLL!!
Two for Lacazette and it's no less than Arsenal deserve. Partey turns on the centre circle and splits the defence with a great pass. Lacazette takes a touch, gives Ramsdale the eyes and sends him the wrong way. Clinical from the Frenchman.
07:42 PM
84 mins Sheffield United 0 Arsenal 2
Pepe slips a delightful through ball in behind but it's just too strong for Martinelli to latch on to.
McBurnie's night is done, his cameo appearance is over as he's replaced by Mousset. Arsenal also make a change, Elneny comes on to replace the goal scorer Martinelli
07:39 PM
81 mins Sheffield United 0 Arsenal 2
McBurnie is struggling here, he signals he needs to come off. Pablo Mari has just gone into the book for the foul that injured the Scotsman.
07:36 PM
78 mins Sheffield United 0 Arsenal 2
Arsenal free kick from the left corner of the box. Willian shoots, but it's straight into the wall.
07:33 PM
75 mins Sheffield United 0 Arsenal 2
Arsenal come again down the right and Chambers crosses. Ampadu is forced into an athletic clearance as he hooks it back over his own head. This is far too easy for Arsenal
07:31 PM
GGGOOOAAALLLL!!!
Game over. Lundstram gives the ball away to Pepe about 30 yards from the Sheffield United goal. The winger charges into the box and shoots. His shot is parried by Ramsdale right into the danger zone and Martinelli can tap home from six yards out. Self-inflicted from Sheffield United, they were trying to play out from the back
07:28 PM
70 mins Sheffield United 0 Arsenal 1
Saka's night is done, that doesn't look ideal. He's replaced by Willian and Martinelli is staying on at this point
07:26 PM
68 mins Sheffield United 0 Arsenal 1
Martinelli is back on his feet and running but he still doesn't look quite right. Willian is warming up to replace him. Now Saka has gone down rubbing his quad. He pulled up lame out of nowhere, which suggests he's pulled something
07:23 PM
65 mins Sheffield United 0 Arsenal 1
Martinelli has gone down clutching his ankle and he looks in pain.
Sheffield United make a double change up front with McGoldrick and Burke replaced by Brewster and McBurnie.
07:21 PM
63 mins Sheffield United 0 Arsenal 1
McBurnie and Brewster are warming up for Sheffield United as they chase an equaliser
07:18 PM
60 mins Sheffield United 0 Arsenal 1
A Xhaka back pass is a smidge short and Leno is forced to come steaming out and hoof clear under pressure from Osborn. Arsenal have ben comfortable, the only danger they face will be self-inflicted by the looks of things.
07:15 PM
57 mins Sheffield United 0 Arsenal 1
Chambers canters down the right and finds Pepe, who drops it off to Lacazette on the edge of the box. He opens up his body and shoots first time but misses the target when he had the whole goal to aim at.
07:12 PM
54 mins Sheffield United 0 Arsenal 1
Lacazette is dropping very deep to start this half, he's almost playing like a defensive screen at times. He's even deeper than Ceballos and Partey
07:09 PM
51 mins Sheffield United 0 Arsenal 1
Sheffield United appear determined to keep passing it out from the back, despite it yielding precisely nothing in the first half
07:06 PM
48 mins Sheffield United 0 Arsenal 1
McGoldrick takes an early shot form range that deflects off Xhaka for a corner. They go short and it breaks down but from the subsequent build up play, Egan has a good chance to have a go. However, his header comes off his own arm and goes out for a goal kick
07:03 PM
46 mins Sheffield United 0 Arsenal 1
The hosts get us back underway
06:48 PM
HALF TIME
Arsenal lead at the break and it's thoroughly deserved. It was a delightful team goal, finished off by Lacazette. Sheffield United haven't been at the races today (or indeed all season) and it's hard to see them coming back
06:46 PM
45 mins Sheffield United 0 Arsenal 1
Norwood swings a decent cross in but Chambers clears. Egan collects and shoots but it's straight at Leno. Still, it's an effort on target for the hosts, their first.
One additional minute
06:43 PM
42 mins Sheffield United 0 Arsenal 1
A Pepe corner is flicked across by Lacazette and its pinball in the middle. It eventually falls to Martinelli who slams a shot goal bound, but McGoldrick blocks
06:40 PM
39 mins Sheffield United 0 Arsenal 1
Arsenal have dominated through the middle, staying compact and preventing Sheffield United from playing out from the back. They've barely made an impression on this game the hosts, it's looked like a training match for Arsenal in the last 15 minutes.
06:37 PM
36 mins Sheffield United 0 Arsenal 1
Arsenal push for a second and Lacazette threads Saka in, but he can't corral it and Ramsdale claims. This could get out of hand if Sheffield United aren't careful
06:35 PM
GGGOOOAAALLLL!!!!
Delightful from Arsenal. Some crisp one-touch passing results in a cheeky flick from Ceballos that slips Lacazette in. He slots it home first time and that was something out of the Arsene Wenger text book. That goal's been coming
06:33 PM
33 mins Sheffield United 0 Arsenal 0
Martinelli comes dancing down the left again and plays a delicious cutback but it evades everyone. Chambers comes charging from deep at the back post and shoots but Stevens blocks.
Martinelli looks the biggest goal threat for Arsenal
06:32 PM
31 mins Sheffield United 0 Arsenal 0
Somewhat of a scrappy opening half hour, although Arsenal have produced some flashes of quality. Ceballos has been pulling the strings in midfield with some neat touches. After a bright opening ten minutes, Sheffield United have faded.
Martinelli cuts inside and shoots. It takes a big deflection off Norwood and Ramsdale does well to readjust his body and catch
06:29 PM
28 mins Sheffield United 0 Arsenal 0
Arsenal are starting to turn the screw, Pepe and Saka have linked up well. When they attack, they flood forward in numbers.
06:26 PM
25 mins Sheffield United 0 Arsenal 0
Arsenal flood forward in numbers after a tidy touch from Ceballos. It comes to Martinelli on the left flank and he drills it into the side netting. The shot was the wrong option, there were four blue shirts waiting for a cross in the middle.
06:24 PM
23 mins Sheffield United 0 Arsenal 0
Ender Stevens is very nearly caught in possession on the edge of his own box, but he somehow evades the pressure of Saka, Lacazette and Pepe.
Then, Ramsdale drills a clearance straight at Lacazette and he's fortunate it loops straight back to him.
06:21 PM
20 mins Sheffield United 0 Arsenal 0
Sheffield United have dominated the ball here and the possession stats show it. They've had 55 per cent of the ball to Arsenal's 45 per cent, though neither side has been able to manufacture much in the way of chances so far.
06:18 PM
17 mins Sheffield United 0 Arsenal 0
Arsenal attack down the left with Ceballos. HIs deflected cross finds Chambers, who strikes it first time. He makes good contact, but the angle was tight and it flashes back across the face of goal
06:15 PM
14 mins Sheffield United 0 Arsenal 0
Sheffield United are popping it about nicely in the opening exchanges. They look to go long to McGoldrick but he's offside
06:12 PM
11 mins Sheffield United 0 Arsenal 0
Ramsdale look long for one of the strikers a finds Burke well. He's looking for that outlet and has found it twice so far. Burke loses the ball but Sheffield United recycle and work it to McGoldrick on the edge of the box, but his shot squirms wide.
06:10 PM
9 mins Sheffield United 0 Arsenal 0
Saka comes steaming down the right and looks for Lacazette at the back post, but Ampadu read the danger and nips in first
06:07 PM
6 mins Sheffield United 0 Arsenal 0
Pepe is fouled by Osborn. Sheffield United are facing the Arsenal 4-3-3 in their classic 3-5-2 shape, with Burke partnering top scorer David McGoldrick up top
06:04 PM
3 mins Sheffield United 0 Arsenal 0
Arsenal with the first attack of the day, Martinelli drives down the middle before slipping Saka in. The Englishman shoots, but leathers it over the bar.
06:03 PM
2 mins Sheffield United 0 Arsenal 0
Arsenal setting up in a 4-3-3 with Granit Xhaka at left-back by the looks of things. Saka and Partey flanking Ceballos in midfield.
06:01 PM
KICK OFF
Alexandre Lacazette will get the ball rolling here in the final Premier League game of the day
05:55 PM
5 minutes until kickoff...
...and the teams are making their way out. Before we kick-off, the players will hold a two minute silence to honour the late Duke of Edinburgh
Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta before the match against Sheffield United - RUI VIEIRA /Pool via REUTERS Aaron Ramsdale of Sheffield Utd warms up before the match with Arsenal at Bramall Lane - Andrew Yates /Sportimage
05:12 PM
Three changes for Sheffield United
George Baldock has cleared concussion protocol after a head injury suffered last week against Leeds to start, while David McGoldrick and Oliver Burke start up top. Ethan Ampadu also comes in for Phil Jagielka.
McGoldrick & Burke lead the line as United make 3 changes for today's game.
Brazilian striker Gabriel Martinelli comes into the Arsenal attack in place of the ill Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, while Callum Chambers has recovered from a knock to claim his place in the starting lineup. Pablo Mari will partner Rob Holding in the centre of defence.
Sunday’s Premier League action wraps up at Bramall Lane as bottom-of-the-table Sheffield United host Arsenal.
The home side are dead and buried for the season as they are 18 points from safety with just eight games left and are looking ahead to life in the Championship next season.
Interim manager Paul Heckingbottom hopes to have Jayden Bogle and George Baldock available for this one. Both players suffered head injuries in the defeat at Leeds last weekend but could feature following concussion protocols.
Chris Basham, Billy Sharp, Sander Berge - with a hamstring problem - and Jack O'Connell - with a knee issue - remain out
The visitor’s season hasn’t been much better, as Mikel Arteta’s side are mired in mid-table mediocrity. They are currently in 11th place, eight points off the Europa League spots, and were torn apart in their last Premier League outing by Liverpool.
Martin Odegaard is expected to miss out again with an ankle injury while Callum Chambers is also a doubt. Kieran Tierney and David Luiz are confirmed absentees with knee injuries, while club captain Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang is not expected to make the trip to South Yorkshire due to the flu.
There are multiple reports in today’s newspapers that Arteta is in danger of losing the confidence of the dressing room as he “refuses” to take responsibility for his side’s poor season, instead shifting the blame to his players. They suffered another damaging result on Thursday night, conceding a late, away-goal equaliser against Slavia Prague in their Europa League quarter-final first leg.
Sheffield United are unbeaten at home in the Premier League against Arsenal, winning last season’s match 1-0. However, the last three visitors to Bramall Lane from the capital have all won and Arsenal won the reverse fixture at home in October 2-1, thanks to two quick-fire goals from Bukayo Saka and Nicholas Pepe.
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