Arsenal will be looking to continue their positive run of form when they travel to Sheffield United in the Premier League on Monday night.
The Gunners are unbeaten in their last eight matches in all competitions - including their last five in the league - and a win away to the 15th-placed Blades would see them return to third position in the Premier League table.
Match preview
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Sheffield United will be looking to make it back-to-back Premier League wins over Arsenal when the pair lock horns on Monday night. Indeed, the last meeting between the two teams in the top flight occurred back in December 2006, and Christian Nade scored the only goal of the match in a 1-0 Blades success.
Two wins, three draws and three defeats - that is how Chris Wilder's side have performed in the early stages of the 2019-20 Premier League season. Nine points sees them occupy 15th position in the table - just one point clear of 18th-placed Newcastle United heading into the final match of week nine.
The Blades will certainly feel that they deserved to get something out of their last home game against Liverpool on September 28 having impressed for long spells. A mistake from Dean Henderson saw Jurgen Klopp's side triumph, but the newly-promoted side did pick up a point away to Watford in their last match before the international break.
Home form will be important for Wilder's team this season, but they are actually unbeaten in their four Premier League away matches this term. Indeed, they have drawn with Bournemouth, Chelsea and Watford on the road, in addition to recording an impressive 2-0 victory at Everton on September 21.
In terms of what is ahead, the Blades will travel to West Ham United and welcome Burnley in their next two before facing struggling duo Tottenham Hotspur and Manchester United in back-to-back fixtures either side of the November international break.
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Arsenal entered this weekend's matches in third position in the table behind Liverpool and Manchester City. However, wins for Chelsea and Leicester City on Saturday afternoon have seen the Gunners drop to fifth.
A victory on Monday night would see them return to third, though, just one point off second-placed City. Unai Emery's side have been far from perfect this season, but there is no question that they have shown plenty of positive signs to embark on an eight-match unbeaten run in all competitions.
Arsenal's only defeat this season was at Liverpool on August 24, while they have won two of their last three in the Premier League against Aston Villa and Bournemouth, with those two matches coming either side of the 1-1 draw away to Man United on September 30.
It is an incredibly busy end to the month for the Gunners as they face Sheffield United, Vitoria de Guimaraes, Crystal Palace and Liverpool in three separate competitions before November rolls around. As a result, Emery will have to utilise his squad over the next couple of weeks to ensure that key players are kept fresh.
Away form remains an issue for the capital outfit, however, as they have not won on the road in the Premier League since the opening weekend of the campaign. A victory on Monday night would sent out a huge message, but Sheffield United will also fancy their chances of picking up a positive result.
Sheffield United form: DLWLLD
Arsenal form: WWWDWW
Team News
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John Fleck will face a late fitness test as the Sheffield United midfielder looks to recover from a knock that he picked up over the international break, while Oliver McBurnie is also a slight doubt due to a knee problem.
Both players are expected to make the starting XI, however, while David McGoldrick could feature on the bench as the forward looks to overcome the groin issue that has ruled him out since the middle of September.
Wilder has no other serious injury concerns, though, and it seems likely that he will select the same side that started against Watford on October 5.
As a result, Callum Robinson and John Lundstram should both keep their spots with the likes of Lys Mousset, Billy Sharp and Phil Jagielka on the bench.
As for Arsenal, Reiss Nelson is definitely unavailable due to a knee problem, but Alexandre Lacazette is in line to feature for the first time since the start of September after bouncing back from an ankle issue.
Lacazette's expected return could see the in-form Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang shifted out wide, while Kieran Tierney is expected to be handed his Premier League debut at left-back.
Fit-again Hector Bellerin is battling Calum Chambers for a spot at right-back, but the bulk of the side that started the victory over Bournemouth should remain the same, meaning that Uruguay international Lucas Torreira could be on the bench once again.
Sheffield United possible starting lineup: Henderson; Basham, Egan, O'Connell; Baldock, Norwood, Lundstram, Fleck, Stevens; McBurnie, Robinson
Arsenal possible starting lineup: Leno; Chambers, Sokratis, Luiz, Tierney; Guendouzi, Xhaka; Aubameyang, Ceballos, Pepe; Lacazette
We say: Sheffield United 1-1 Arsenal
Three of the previous six Premier League matches between these two teams have finished level, and we fancy a low-scoring draw at Bramall Lane on Monday evening. Both sides will be confident of causing problems in the final third of the field, but we are finding it difficult to separate them on the night.
Matt Law
