Sheffield United 0-3 Arsenal: Gabriel Martinelli scores in a well-deserved victory for the gunners

Gabriel Martinelli scored in his first start since January, while Arsenal ended a four-match streak without a win with a win over lower Premier League club Sheffield United.

It was the 19-year-old’s first goal since January 2020.

It came between two goals by Alexandre Lacazette – the first neat end to the first half after Dani Ceballos ’final fifth, and the second clinical effort in the final phase after being clarified by Thomas Partey.

Sheffield United have won just four games this season, and not one since Paul Heckingbottom took over as a transfer a month ago and haven’t had much of an answer to the opponent’s increased efficiency.

With the score 1-0, there was always a chance that this generous Arsenal team would give Blades a comeback, but Martinelli’s strike ended such home hopes and Lacazette added the final boom.

The win – along with the first clean sheet in 15 games – lifts Arsenal above Leeds and Aston Villa to ninth on the table, with 45 points.

Still, it had a potential cost, and Bukayo Saka limped his thigh in the second half, creating possible suspicion in the rematch of the eighth round of the Europa League with Prague’s Slavia on Thursday.

Sheffield United are still rooted at the bottom, 18 points from safety, with only 21 left to play. With their terrible goal difference, a loss to the Wolves next Saturday will all only confirm the relegation.

A victory to strengthen Arsenal’s morale ahead of the big European match

Arsenal suffered a suspected eight-day lead until this match, suffering a humiliating 3-0 defeat by Liverpool in the Premier League before drawing the home game of the Europa League quarter-final draw with Slavia Prague.

Their hopes of achieving a place in the Champions League through the top four have long since vanished, leaving success in the European secondary competition as the last remaining route to a more lucrative big brother.

In this match, therefore, it was only a matter of throwing Slavija’s late tie at the Emirates out of their system with a calmer victory that strengthens self-confidence.

It took them a while to warm up for the task, but in the end they found a step, Lacazette’s opener came at a time when Aaron Ramsdale had been tested and the side net hit.

It is encouraging that Martinelli, starting just his sixth game of the season with injuries, has been at the center of most of their attacking threats.

If he can stay in shape until the end of the campaign, his excellent close control, direct running and eagerness to test the opposing goalkeeper could make a big difference in a season that is currently in a balance between success and disaster.

His re-appearance as a partner for the formed Lacazette, who has five goals in the last six games, is timely in the absence of Pierre Emerick-Aubameyang.

Still, Sake’s early departure from the game will worry him, with the talented young winger limping after a challenge with Rhian Brewster.

The verdict on the Blades season is already more or less grounded.

They temporarily offered a threat by creating something that would worry the Gunners, but they only ended up with the inconsistent efforts of David McGoldrick and Brewster to really show their efforts.

After 31 games that have highlighted that most of their squad is not equipped for the Premier League, the next seven will help them decide which players they want with them in next season’s championship.

‘Ideal preparation for Prague’

Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta for BT Sport: “I’m really happy with the way we played, we scored really nice goals and controlled the game the way we wanted. We played at a high level. From the beginning I felt that the guys were in it, we were efficient.

“Bukayo Saka, the last thing we need is another injury, but he felt something in his thigh.

“Gabriel Martinelli twisted his ankle, but he’s a tough guy. Against Prague, Lacazette missed two big chances and needed those goals. He played well.

“This is an ideal preparation for Thursday. It’s been a long time without a clean slate.”

Sheffield United’s interim boss Paul Heckingbottom for BBC Sport: “In the first half we didn’t have control without the ball, so we had to make changes.

“We will continue to fight and push to make sure we get more points before the end of the season.

“We have a diverse group, some young guys just starting out and some older players who have been on the road with this club for the last five years.

“You have to learn from difficult times and come back stronger.”

Arsenal penalize the underside again

• In the history of the Premier League, only Chelsea (42) beat the team starting from the day at the bottom of the table more than Arsenal, with this victory the 37th such victory of the Gunners (along with the Spurs).
• Sheffield United suffered their 25th defeat of the season, the most since the unpromoted team from Huddersfield in the 2018-19 season (28). In fact, each of the previous 12 sides in the Premier League that lost 25+ matches in the season dropped out, and 10 of them ended up at the bottom.
• Arsenal secured their first Premier League win at Bramall Lane in their fifth attempt to ask questions (D2 L2), this first win in the league since April 1991.
• Arsenal are now unbeaten in their last four away games in the Premier League (W2 D2), their longest such series of the season. In fact, the Gunners have recorded more away wins (7) than they have had this season at the Emirates (6).
• Arsenal have won 66.6% of their six Premier League games this season without Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (W4 D1 L1), compared to 36% of those with him on the team (9/25).
• Paul Heckingbottom saw his Sheffield United team concede 10 goals during their three Premier League games, jointly after the first three managerial games in the competition, along with David Moyes (2002, Everton) and Christian Gross (1997, Spurs).
• Alexandre Lacazette has scored 13 goals in the Premier League this season, 10 of which have come home – only Mohamed Salah (11) has scored more away goals this time around.
• Lacazette is the sixth Frenchman to score 50 goals in the Premier League for one club, while four of the six have done so for Arsenal (also Thierry Henry, Olivier Giroud and Robert Pires).

What’s next?

Arsenal will play against Slavia Prague in that most important rematch of the Europa League on Thursday (20:00 BST), while Sheffield United is next in action on Saturday in a league match in the Wolves (15:00).