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The Gunners will need to make and take their chances at Brammall Lane to keep their confidence growing before Wednesday when they play their first home match since West Ham United on the 7th of March. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Facing Chris Wilder\u2019s Sheffield United in an away Cup tie\nrepresents a stern test for this increasingly youthful Arsenal side, who must\nbe tactically ready for the Blades\u2019 unique style of play described below by\nMichael Cox.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Predicted Arsenal XI:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Between the posts Emi Martinez must continue to fill in for the\ninjured Bernd Leno.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Despite David Luiz\u2019 renewed availability after suspension we\nshould expect to see the same defenders who effectively denied Southampton,\nnamely: Beller\u00edn, Mustafi, Holding and Tierney, if the latter recovers from the\nknock that saw him limp off in the second half against Saints. If\nTierney is unfit Sead Kolasinac is ready to step in but there could also be\nanother redemption opportunity on the cards for the former Chelsea man.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In midfield Granit Xhaka may partner Joe Willock with Reiss Nelson\nand Bukayo Saka providing pace on either flank. Eddie Nketiah should\nget a chance to lead the attack giving Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang a rest and a\nchance to provide the team with fresh legs in the second half. Matteo\nGuendouzi appears not to have emerged from Arteta\u2019s doghouse following the\nBrighton fracas, if media reports are to be believed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The appointed referee is Paul Tierney, who in my admittedly hazy memory has not given us as many problems as several other referees of the current bunch. Let\u2019s see what Mr. Tierney can do not to bugger our chances as Bramall Lane bays for blood.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Quick resolution is to be preferred so I am plumping for\nNketiah to score twice in the first quarter of an hour and for Holding and\ncompany to see it out from there until Aubameyang scores from midfield to make\nit 3-0 at full time. But if things do\nnot go quite according to plan, there are no replays at this stage so if the\nmatch is level after 90 minutes, there will be an additional 30 minutes of\nextra time, and a penalty shootout will decide a winner if the game is still\nlevel at 120 minutes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n But not to seem overly optimistic I should add the manager\u2019s note\nof caution uttered this week: \u201cThere are a lot of things we have to learn. I know what this team can do but only when we\nare 100% focused and committed to what we do. \nIf not, we are at the moment, average.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n![\"\"](\"http:\/\/www.goonerholicsforever.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/opposition.png\")