After a positive Champions League display in the mid week Arsenal and Mikel now shift their focus back to the Premier League.
With a Title run on the cards and Arsenal already looking comfortably in the running having already faced tough opponents in Chelsea, Man City, Manchester United and Tottenham. The Gunners now face lessor opposition in Sheffield United a task they should certainly be able to overcome with style.
The Art of Analysis Previews and Predictions is here:
The lineup:
Starting from the back up. We have gone for Ramsdale in goal. With Raya performing like two different people per half it may be time to give Rambo his chance once more. Not to mention him going up against his previous team in Sheffield it would certainly be a useful game for him to continue his development and for rotation to be a useful factor.
The other change from the UCL game will be at LB. I had this debate with a user on twitter during Tomiyasu excellent performance. I felt he should be utilised more frequently, but there is case to be made for Zinchenko to start our home games.
With us likely facing a super deep low block from Sheffield, the versatility of Zinchenko to go up and down the flanks, whilst also inverting to LCM, should in theory allow for much more versatile tactical play. Not just in enabling more overlap options, but also in the overload too in order to destabilise an oppositions low block.
Given the lack of threat to be expected from Sheffield, the defensive capabilities of Tomiyasu is likely not needed in the first instance.
Further up in the midfield, I’ve gone for Kai Havertz instead of a double pivot of Rice and Jorginho. This instead is to utilise Rice in his more familiar 6 role to distribute play quicker and from deep in midfield but also allow his drives forward.
The inclusion of Kai comes from assessing the opposition we are facing. With a deep low block, one can expect a physical game from Sheffield. With tough challenges and aerial combativeness. Here Kai can help with his physicality pace and presence. Whilst he may not be on the ball often he has a tendency to draw out defenders and create space for either Martinelli or an inverting Zinchenko to flourish and here again I think he will be key.
The final change I have gone for is Eddie Nketiah starting. With Jesus picking up another injury to his hamstring in the closing moments of the game on Tuesday he is most certainly not fit to feature in this game.
Now Mikel may then opt for Trossard as a false 9 / CF role but I feel the physicality of the match and the game plan to be expected for Sheffield makes Eddie a better contender to start.
With this in mind, I do think Trossard will feature if Eddie does not deliver in the first 60 minutes of the game. But this is another moment in his career where he must stand tall and take the lead role in the front line with Jesus injured.
Conclusions:
Arsenal once again face an encounter where the low block and compact defence will be designed to frustrate and stifle their attack. Most sides employing this tactic know to kill the play on the right hand side in order to stop Saka and Ødegaard from thriving and creating. Therefore it is another instance where Havertz will need to use his off the ball presence to create space for Martinelli and Zinchenko to capitalise.
It will be a cagey affair from the visitors with Arsenal dominating possession. Mikel must get his men to not only control the game but the scoreline and be clinical up front. I see the potential for a big scoreline win but also a cagey 1-0 affair. In order to avoid this, Eddie must be more clinical in front of goal, and our wingers need to strike hard and fast!
Predictions:
Scoreline: Arsenal 3 – Sheffield 0
POTM: Martinelli
Suggested Bet: Arsenal to win & Both teams to be carded
Written by Reekesh Somaroo