Arsenal vs Sheffield United Predictions

• Arsenal have scored at least three times in eight of their last 13 Premier League home matches.
• The Gunners have kept a clean sheet in just two of their last 12 league games at the Emirates.
• Winless Sheffield United have scored in six of their nine league games this term.

Blades could at least mark their mark

It has been a decent couple of weeks for Arsenal with a home win over champions Manchester City, a point at Chelsea and then a 2-1 win at Sevilla in the Champions League on Tuesday.

However, it would be easy for them to get carried away as the win over the Citizens came courtesy of a late deflected goal, they needed to come from two goals down to earn a 2-2 draw at Stamford Bridge and there were a few scares as they held on in Spain.

Arsenal have been great to watch going forward under Mikel Arteta but they have still had their defensive frailties and they can never be considered safe – not even against Sheffield United, who have collected just one point this season.

The Gunners have collected just one clean sheet in their last five home matches and while a draw against Everton has been all the Blades have to show for their efforts, they have given some good accounts.

No one at Bramall Lane wishes to recall the 8-0 drubbing they suffered against Newcastle, but they made the two Manchester teams sight all the way to get three points from their trips to South Yorkshire and let’s not forget that table-topping Tottenham needed two injury-time goals to beat them in the capital last month.

They probably don’t have enough to claim a victory now they are back in north London, but a goal is within their scope so both teams to score looks attractively priced.

Gunners can be relied upon for goals

The two characteristics of Arsenal’s home matches are that while they can be relied upon to find the net at least a couple of times, they do tend to give their opponents plenty of opportunities.

Arteta has already made a change in goal to try and ease the pressure on his defence but new keeper David Raya does not seem to be inspiring confidence and he has had a couple of hairy moments since he came in for Aaron Ramsdale.

The Spaniard could still get the nod, but there is a good chance he will not keep a clean sheet. With Arsenal possessing plenty of attacking flair, they should still be able to be a constant threat to the Blades defence, so correct-score punters may be attracted to a 3-1 home win as a betting proposition.

Nketiah is an able replacement for Jesus

The bad news to come out of Tuesday’s win in Sevilla was Gabriel Jesus’s hamstring injury, but taht should open the door for Eddie Nketiah, who has not let Arteta down when deputising for the Brazilain.

The forward has had 20 efforts on goal this season even though he has been far from a Gunners regular and he is not shy about having a pop at goal.

Consequently, there seems a good chance he will add to his season’s tally of four goals.