Arsenal’s starting lineup against Sheffield United as Mikel Arteta names a different XI from the XI that won Newcastle last week- £55M star dropped to bench as £30M man starts

On Monday night, football enthusiasts will witness a pivotal clash as Arsenal takes on Sheffield United at Bramall Lane in the Premier League. Despite sitting at the bottom of the table, Sheffield United poses a formidable challenge to Arsenal’s quest for victory.

Under the stewardship of Mikel Arteta, Arsenal boasts a robust squad, poised to tackle the challenge head-on. The Gunners have displayed commendable form in recent outings, clinching resounding victories against West Ham United (6-0) and Burnley (5-0). Should they secure another triumph, Arsenal could etch their name in the annals of English football history.

Interestingly, Arsenal has the opportunity to achieve a remarkable feat. They could become the first club in English Championship history to secure three consecutive away wins, each by a margin of at least five goals. Such a feat would solidify their dominance and leave a lasting imprint on the league.

However, the stakes are equally high for Sheffield United. A defeat against Arsenal would not only dampen their hopes of survival but also relegate them to an unwanted place in history. The Blades have endured successive 5-0 losses at Bramall Lane, falling prey to both Aston Villa and Brighton. Should they suffer another defeat by a similar margin, they would enter uncharted territory as no English team has ever succumbed to three home losses by a five-goal deficit.

As the tension mounts and anticipation builds, all eyes turn to the starting lineup that Mikel Arteta will deploy for this historic encounter. The formation could potentially shape the outcome of the match, dictating the flow of play and strategy employed by both teams.

With the stage set for an enthralling battle, football aficionados eagerly await the spectacle that is sure to unfold at Bramall Lane. As Arsenal seeks to make history and Sheffield United fights for survival, the clash promises to deliver excitement, drama, and perhaps, a record-breaking performance.

GK: David Raya – Arsenal goalkeeper says: “My story is not a typical footballer’s story.”

RB: Ben White – White is a fan of the card game Uno (more than football) and is very competitive off the pitch. “I want to win in everything I do,” he told The Guardian. “My wife and I play a lot of games at home and I’m not going to let her win.”

CB: William Saliba – “We don’t play just to be there, to stay calm,” Saliba said of Arsenal’s title ambitions. “We want it.”

CB: Gabriel – The last time Gabriel made a mistake that Opta classifies as a mistake that directly leads to a goal was in October 2022.

LB: Jakub Kiwior – Michal Hanek, Podbrezov’s assistant coach when Kiwior was at the club, told the BBC: “I asked him what he had for lunch. He said, ‘Doughnuts with jam. It was funny and I laughed a bit, but then I explained to him that as a professional you can’t eat doughnuts for lunch.” I’m glad that’s been cleared up.

CM: Martin Odegaard – Over dinner with Arsene Wenger, Odegaard reflected on his teenage years before joining Real Madrid. “Is he analyzing me now?” he recalls thinking. “Will he judge me if I eat French fries?”

CM: Declan Rice – Arsenal’s new passing specialist has made four assists in six league games this calendar year, more than he has made in all of his 83 previous competitive appearances.

CM: Kai Havertz – When Havertz was 17 years old and on his way into the Bayer Leverkusen first team, he bought himself a “nice backpack”. Havertz realized that the shiny white and gold number was “a bit too cool” and “not for me”. It allowed him to come back to reality – and his sister Lea got a new bag.

RW: Bukayo Saka – Saka has scored as many goals as the entire Sheffield United team (seven) this calendar year.

ST: Leandro Trossard – The Lego enthusiast built a replica of the Taj Mahal while in prison.

LW: Gabriel Martinelli – “He had a wish,” says Martinelli’s father. “Nothing like that was lost. He went at every ball like it was his last meal.” The same can be said today.