1. Footymad
  2. Gunners Mad
  3. Gunners Latest
  4. Gunners News

Sheffield United 1-0 Arsenal: Report, Ratings & Reaction as Gunners Lament Refereeing Decisions

A superb team performance saw ​Sheffield United defeat Arsenal 1-0 at Bramall Lane as the Gunners were left to rue a number of controversial decisions by the officials.

The visitors could not hide their fury when no penalty was forthcoming after Sokratis had been wrestled to the floor at a corner, with VAR ultimately deciding not to overturn the decision for John Egan's challenge on the Greek centre-back. 

Arsenal frustration continued to grow as £72m winger Nicolas Pepe failed to make any meaningful contact from six yards out, having been found by a devilish cross from Bukayo Saka.

FBL-ENG-PR-SHEFFIELD UTD-ARSENAL

The ​Gunners looked vulnerable in the early stages of the contest and were made to pay for their wayward defensive display on the half-hour, with Lys Mousset stabbing in from point-blank range as he latched on to Jack O'Connell's towering header at the back post.

Arsenal looked to have earned themselves a spot-kick as Saka tumbled over in the box within minutes of ​United's opener. However, referee Mike Dean chose to show the teenager a yellow card, before he also booked Unai Emery's exasperated assistant Freddie Ljungberg for his protests.

In stoppage time at the end of the first half, Granit Xhaka unleashed a venomous volley from outside the area, with home goalkeeper Dean Henderson showing fine athleticism to parry the Swiss' swerving drive wide of the post.

Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang

The Gunners gradually began committing bodies forward as the second period wore on, though they unable to carve out any clear-cut opportunities as their opponents held firm. 


They had several ambitious attempts drift narrowly wide of the goal in a dominant display after the break, but the night belonged to the Blades.


Here's 90min's breakdown of this one...

Sheffield United

Key Talking Point

Chris Wilder's recruits have been a welcome addition to the first division and they're all set for a second successive campaign amongst the country's best. Of course, this isn't news to those who've been keeping an eye on the side's performances this term.

Chris Wilder

Their showing against the north Londoners was no less than the home crowd would have expected after United's impressive form in recent months. 

There's no sign of the Blades bandwagon slowing down - could they be targeting a top-half finish come the business end of the season?

Player Ratings

Starting XI: Henderson (8); Baldock (6), Basham (7), Egan (6), O'Connell (8), Stevens (8); Lundstram (6), Norwood (8*), Fleck (7); Mousset (6), McGoldrick (7).


Substitutes: Freeman (7), Sharp (6), McBurnie (7).

STAR MAN - Oliver Norwood

Norwood earned promotion from the ​Championship with three different teams - Fulham, Sheffield United and ​Brighton - in the last three seasons, ultimately getting his shot in the top flight under Wilder.

Ollie Norwood

On the evidence of Monday - and his previous eight matches - the midfielder would have been a valuable asset at this level for the clubs that let him go. 

Dictating play from deep with his marvellous array of passing, Norwood kept the tempo high and regularly found teammates in space. He was like a metronome, spreading the play wonderfully and starting numerous attacks.

​​

​​

​​

Arsenal

Key Talking Point

Arsenal may be justified in feeling aggrieved with Dean's decisions on Monday night, but that doesn't mean they deserved a result at Bramall Lane. Emery's men need to focus on their own shortcomings, which were on full display in Yorkshire.

As has been the case for the entirety of 2019/20, the Gunners' backline was not up to the required standard. David Luiz is the opposite of a calming presence, Sokratis continues to struggle with the pace of the ​Premier League and Callum Chambers is out of his depth. 

FBL-ENG-PR-SHEFFIELD UTD-ARSENAL

There are glaring issues in Arsenal's defence and they have no option but to address them, unless they're happy settling for mediocrity. 


Their forwards are excellent and the midfield is solid - it's clear what's stunting the club's progress.

Player Ratings

Starting XI: Leno (6); Chambers (5), Sokratis (6), Luiz (4), Kolasinac (6); Xhaka (7), Guendouzi (6); Pepe (5), Willock (5), Saka (7*); Aubameyang (5).


Substitutes: Martinelli (6), Lacazette (6), Ceballos (5).

STAR MAN - Bukayo Saka

Saka was industrious at Bramall Lane and looked like Arsenal's best avenue of attack, suggesting he has a big future in Emery's first-team. 

The 18-year-old should have collected an assist in the opening minutes of the contest, but Pepe's atrocious attempt at finishing denied him that.

Bukayo Saka,Mike Dean

On top of that, replays indicate the referee was wrong to book the Gunners academy graduate; that's two crucial moments which - if they'd gone the other way - could have made Saka the hero for his side.

​​

​​

​​

​​

​​

Looking Ahead

Arsenal resume their Europa League campaign on Thursday night as they welcome Portuguese outfit Vitoria Guimaraes to the Emirates Stadium, before they play host to ​Crystal Palace the following Sunday.

The Blades travel to east London for a meeting with ​West Ham United on Saturday. Exactly one week after that encounter, they're back at Bramall Lane to do battle with ​Burnley.

For more from Ed Alexander, follow him on Twitter!


Source : 90min

Trending on the boards