Deadbat
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Report below…..sorry for delay - got in late after a beer and then work stopped me doing it till now!
Post match podcast here also…..
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It was one of those special nights under the lights at the famous old ground as United beat Arsenal at Bramall Lane. A performance full of passion, courage, organisation and skill saw the Blades more than hold their own in the first half and Lys Mousset’s goal after Jack O’Connell’s header back at a corner gave the home side the lead. The second half United had to defend but limited Arsenal to very few chances with a real togetherness as the crowd willed them on to a famous victory. At full time Bramall Lane was a cacophony of noise as the players celebrated in front of the jubilant fans packed into all four sides. One of those occasions where you walk away and can stick your chest out and reall say you are proud to be a Blade!
With the light show complete and the fan fare that Sky TV brings, Wilder made two changes to his starting line up and it was both up front with McGoldrick and Mousset starting in place of McBurnie and Robinson. Olly McBurnie was on the bench despite being in the news for the wrong reasons earlier in the day.
Arsenal featured a wealth of attacking talent with 72 million pound signing Pepe up the top of the pitch with Aubameyang and Lacazette on the bench. Before the game there were videos of United’s win 12 years ago over Arsenal with a young Frenchman Christian Nade’s goal being shown. How ironic this proved to be with what transpired 90 minutes later.
United started the game with a real purpose and a lot of neat work down the left with Stevens, O’Connell and McGoldrick involved saw United win two early corners that were both cleared. The speed of Arsenal on the turnover and counter attack was clear with some neat work by Pepe having to be held up by Egan. United were passing the ball when they could but had to be wary to the pace of the Gunners but stayed organised and composed.
United were getting it forward when they could and Mousset and McGoldrick were already seeing more of the ball than their striking counterparts in previous games. Fleck was booked for a late tackle where the Arsenal man just got to the ball before him with Aubameyang going down. A corner saw Sokratis claim his shirt was being held and McGoldrick may have been fortunate that it was not seen but as we have seen with VAR it has to be something clear and obvious for them to reconsider and especially if the referee does not give it.
A swift break after United lost the ball high up the field saw two great passes cut United open with Xhaka playing in Kolasinac and his cross was superb but Pepe skewed the chance wide. It was right in front of goal and a very good chance missed. This let off saw United come back out and try and force Arsenal back and they had a few more passing moves with Lundstram and Norwood industrious in the centre but using the ball well. One such move nearly saw Baldock in and then Stevens nearly found a chink of light down the left. United won a corner after one move ricocheted out and from it they took the lead.
Norwood’s delivery was to the back post and O’Connell met it on the full and headed across and MOUSSET turned home unmarked to lift the roof off at the Lane! There was no question of this goal being VAR’ed and the players mobbed the young French striker who scored his first goal at home.
The crowd were now pumped up and United were roaring into every tackle and Arsenal started to get frustrated but they had a chance when the ball came across and Saka went down. The ground held its breath as Mike Dean blew his whistle but he adjudged it to be a dive and booked the record transfer. O’Connell then cynically brought his man down as Arsenal broke and he was also booked. Just before half time as the balls at up Xhaka hit a half volley that dipped but Henderson sprang to his left and pushed the ball away. It was a save you would expect him to make but still a good one. Not long after the half time whistle came and the Blades fans applauded a great first half effort.
After the break Ceballos came on for Willock and inevitably Arsenal pushed United back. The defence were noticeably deeper and Arsenal tried to move the ball side to side and find those little openings. O’Connell and then Basham had to make timely interceptions and then Egan was there to make the block. Arsenal won a free kick and corner but United were restricting Arsenal to few chances of note.
Sharp replaced the visibly tiring Mousset and was involved to play in Baldock after neat football but the wing back sent his cross behind when others were well placed. This was a rare break for United who now were sitting in more but Arsenal were struggling to penetrate and forced to deep crosses which played into United’s hands and Henderson claimed a few catches along with more Egan and O’Connell headers away.
Ceballos had a decent chance but rather scuffed his chance and Henderson gathered after a rare moment when Arsenal managed to get behind United’s back line. The game approached the hour mark and Fleck hit a shot into the side netting showing that the Blades would try and play when they could. Lacazette came on for Xhaka and Arsenal really had the big guns up top now but Pepe dragged another effort wide. A few moments of concern saw United concede possession but they kept their discipline and again a few timely blocks were made. Fleck then had a shot at the other end that Leno nearly pushed out into McGoldrick’s path.
Henderson was booked for taking too long over a goal kick before Chambers was booked for a foul on Sharp and McGoldrick also earned Dean’s wrath for a dive and he too was carded in the same move.
Martinelli replaced Pepe and Freeman came on for McGoldrick as the game approached the final 10 minutes. Arsenal won a free kick but this was hit well off target and the crowd could breathe a sigh of relief. More neat work from Lundstram and Fleck bought a bit more time as United remained composed.
The crowd were willing United on and they were now starting to see the end in sight with Arsenal’s fans starting to get frustrated. The away side had not created any clear cut chances of note in the second half.
McBurnie was introduced for Norwood to try and give United something more at the top of the field in terms of trying to hold the ball up. He won a free kick and a booking for Sokratis and the fans cheered every throw, foul and tackle as the game entered five additional minutes of time. United saw the game out superbly taking the ball into the corner and then a final attack was repelled as Baldock and Basham got their bodies in the way. Basham thundered a clearance off an Arsenal attacker and punched the air like a goal as the goal kick was awarded. The final kick from Dean Henderson high into the Sheffield night sky was accompanied by a long blast from Dean to signal full time. United had done it! A tremendous win over one of the big sides at the Lane and well deserved. The players were to the Kop to take the acclaim as the cameras zoomed in on Wilder and goal scorer Mousset but make no mistake this was a total team effort and showed again what this team is all about.
United – So proud of them. To a man they were brilliant. They played when they could and got the goal but they were so organised, disciplined and all played for each other. It was a performance where you actually thought I am so proud to call myself a fan of this team. Someone on twitter summed it up when they said the sort of team/players you would go in the trenches with! I know what they meant. We did play football though and it felt different to the win against Arsenal 12 years ago that felt more back to the walls. First half we were as good as them and had lot of play, corners and some half chances. They had one golden chance that Pepe missed and then of course a few penalty appeals – but not sure either really was despite Emery’s sour grapes at full time. Henderson made one save from Xhaka but I think that was his only real big save all night. The rest of the game we kept them to very few chances of note. We played some lovely pockets of football at times and also made sure when we had to stop them by fair or legal means we did. I summed it up on the pod when I said our foul management was magnificent!
Second half was a bit different as you knew they would come at us and we may have to sit back with tired legs and they did move it about more but we kept a solid shape and not sure they got behind us at all. They made more subs to try and give them more up top but the vaunted attacking pair including Lacazette did very little all evening. It was one of those that even though Arsenal shifted it about and did get little openings we got back on the cover so well. We moved across and stopped them getting anything clear cut. It was a textbook defensive performance against some very good players. At times we panicked a bit second half when we had possession but that is a tiny nit-pick. To be fair this was more fatigue, I think. In terms of when we had it but still had chances (Fleck x 2) and tried to keep it when we could. I think there were one or two tired legs understandably at the end so we went long a bit more.
Individually no-one had a bad game but as a team it was a proper performance in terms of everything. We don’t have the pace, athleticism and natural ability of most of the Arsenal players but we made them look quite limited and showed we have more skill than many think as Carragher spoke about after the game. It is the sort of night where you stand there at full time and think that is My Club, my Sheffield United. I could not have been prouder. Henderson was faultless pretty much, the defence were superb but the midfield also all played great covering ground, making tackles and passing intelligently. The attack looked a threat when they could although maybe did not have as much of the ball as you would want but that will be the case v the top sides.
United have set the standard now and need to keep to this for future game. The players need to maintain focus and concentration. If they keep believing and doing the things, they have been doing then we will continue to surprise teams. We need to ensure that we keep up this same level. The great thing is as much as people say we are rubbish after international breaks – we have smashed that theory now. I also think the breaks help us as we put so much into games and the energy and effort is unreal. We can play the season in little mini blocks. So now we have the two London games sandwiched between Burnley. Anything we get at West Ham and Spurs is a bonus but Burnley is a big game as we have to ensure we can keep the standards up against sides not quite of level as Arsenal or Liverpool.
Wilder will keep them grounded and now we have a tough game at West Ham who might have the best team they have had for a long time and are very good at home. However, confidence will be high and we need to keep picking up points. If we can keep the same level of performance as we have most of the season and defend like we have done, we will be fine. There is still work to do from an attacking sense but that will take time. For now, we just need to enjoy this week and puff our chests out. It had been a long time when you can look at the top flight and see us in a position having beat Arsenal and Everton, drew with Chelsea and matched Liverpool all the way. A shame we did not beat Southampton and Watford as we would be sat in third place!
Post match podcast here also…..
---
It was one of those special nights under the lights at the famous old ground as United beat Arsenal at Bramall Lane. A performance full of passion, courage, organisation and skill saw the Blades more than hold their own in the first half and Lys Mousset’s goal after Jack O’Connell’s header back at a corner gave the home side the lead. The second half United had to defend but limited Arsenal to very few chances with a real togetherness as the crowd willed them on to a famous victory. At full time Bramall Lane was a cacophony of noise as the players celebrated in front of the jubilant fans packed into all four sides. One of those occasions where you walk away and can stick your chest out and reall say you are proud to be a Blade!
With the light show complete and the fan fare that Sky TV brings, Wilder made two changes to his starting line up and it was both up front with McGoldrick and Mousset starting in place of McBurnie and Robinson. Olly McBurnie was on the bench despite being in the news for the wrong reasons earlier in the day.
Arsenal featured a wealth of attacking talent with 72 million pound signing Pepe up the top of the pitch with Aubameyang and Lacazette on the bench. Before the game there were videos of United’s win 12 years ago over Arsenal with a young Frenchman Christian Nade’s goal being shown. How ironic this proved to be with what transpired 90 minutes later.
United started the game with a real purpose and a lot of neat work down the left with Stevens, O’Connell and McGoldrick involved saw United win two early corners that were both cleared. The speed of Arsenal on the turnover and counter attack was clear with some neat work by Pepe having to be held up by Egan. United were passing the ball when they could but had to be wary to the pace of the Gunners but stayed organised and composed.
United were getting it forward when they could and Mousset and McGoldrick were already seeing more of the ball than their striking counterparts in previous games. Fleck was booked for a late tackle where the Arsenal man just got to the ball before him with Aubameyang going down. A corner saw Sokratis claim his shirt was being held and McGoldrick may have been fortunate that it was not seen but as we have seen with VAR it has to be something clear and obvious for them to reconsider and especially if the referee does not give it.
A swift break after United lost the ball high up the field saw two great passes cut United open with Xhaka playing in Kolasinac and his cross was superb but Pepe skewed the chance wide. It was right in front of goal and a very good chance missed. This let off saw United come back out and try and force Arsenal back and they had a few more passing moves with Lundstram and Norwood industrious in the centre but using the ball well. One such move nearly saw Baldock in and then Stevens nearly found a chink of light down the left. United won a corner after one move ricocheted out and from it they took the lead.
Norwood’s delivery was to the back post and O’Connell met it on the full and headed across and MOUSSET turned home unmarked to lift the roof off at the Lane! There was no question of this goal being VAR’ed and the players mobbed the young French striker who scored his first goal at home.
The crowd were now pumped up and United were roaring into every tackle and Arsenal started to get frustrated but they had a chance when the ball came across and Saka went down. The ground held its breath as Mike Dean blew his whistle but he adjudged it to be a dive and booked the record transfer. O’Connell then cynically brought his man down as Arsenal broke and he was also booked. Just before half time as the balls at up Xhaka hit a half volley that dipped but Henderson sprang to his left and pushed the ball away. It was a save you would expect him to make but still a good one. Not long after the half time whistle came and the Blades fans applauded a great first half effort.
After the break Ceballos came on for Willock and inevitably Arsenal pushed United back. The defence were noticeably deeper and Arsenal tried to move the ball side to side and find those little openings. O’Connell and then Basham had to make timely interceptions and then Egan was there to make the block. Arsenal won a free kick and corner but United were restricting Arsenal to few chances of note.
Sharp replaced the visibly tiring Mousset and was involved to play in Baldock after neat football but the wing back sent his cross behind when others were well placed. This was a rare break for United who now were sitting in more but Arsenal were struggling to penetrate and forced to deep crosses which played into United’s hands and Henderson claimed a few catches along with more Egan and O’Connell headers away.
Ceballos had a decent chance but rather scuffed his chance and Henderson gathered after a rare moment when Arsenal managed to get behind United’s back line. The game approached the hour mark and Fleck hit a shot into the side netting showing that the Blades would try and play when they could. Lacazette came on for Xhaka and Arsenal really had the big guns up top now but Pepe dragged another effort wide. A few moments of concern saw United concede possession but they kept their discipline and again a few timely blocks were made. Fleck then had a shot at the other end that Leno nearly pushed out into McGoldrick’s path.
Henderson was booked for taking too long over a goal kick before Chambers was booked for a foul on Sharp and McGoldrick also earned Dean’s wrath for a dive and he too was carded in the same move.
Martinelli replaced Pepe and Freeman came on for McGoldrick as the game approached the final 10 minutes. Arsenal won a free kick but this was hit well off target and the crowd could breathe a sigh of relief. More neat work from Lundstram and Fleck bought a bit more time as United remained composed.
The crowd were willing United on and they were now starting to see the end in sight with Arsenal’s fans starting to get frustrated. The away side had not created any clear cut chances of note in the second half.
McBurnie was introduced for Norwood to try and give United something more at the top of the field in terms of trying to hold the ball up. He won a free kick and a booking for Sokratis and the fans cheered every throw, foul and tackle as the game entered five additional minutes of time. United saw the game out superbly taking the ball into the corner and then a final attack was repelled as Baldock and Basham got their bodies in the way. Basham thundered a clearance off an Arsenal attacker and punched the air like a goal as the goal kick was awarded. The final kick from Dean Henderson high into the Sheffield night sky was accompanied by a long blast from Dean to signal full time. United had done it! A tremendous win over one of the big sides at the Lane and well deserved. The players were to the Kop to take the acclaim as the cameras zoomed in on Wilder and goal scorer Mousset but make no mistake this was a total team effort and showed again what this team is all about.
United – So proud of them. To a man they were brilliant. They played when they could and got the goal but they were so organised, disciplined and all played for each other. It was a performance where you actually thought I am so proud to call myself a fan of this team. Someone on twitter summed it up when they said the sort of team/players you would go in the trenches with! I know what they meant. We did play football though and it felt different to the win against Arsenal 12 years ago that felt more back to the walls. First half we were as good as them and had lot of play, corners and some half chances. They had one golden chance that Pepe missed and then of course a few penalty appeals – but not sure either really was despite Emery’s sour grapes at full time. Henderson made one save from Xhaka but I think that was his only real big save all night. The rest of the game we kept them to very few chances of note. We played some lovely pockets of football at times and also made sure when we had to stop them by fair or legal means we did. I summed it up on the pod when I said our foul management was magnificent!
Second half was a bit different as you knew they would come at us and we may have to sit back with tired legs and they did move it about more but we kept a solid shape and not sure they got behind us at all. They made more subs to try and give them more up top but the vaunted attacking pair including Lacazette did very little all evening. It was one of those that even though Arsenal shifted it about and did get little openings we got back on the cover so well. We moved across and stopped them getting anything clear cut. It was a textbook defensive performance against some very good players. At times we panicked a bit second half when we had possession but that is a tiny nit-pick. To be fair this was more fatigue, I think. In terms of when we had it but still had chances (Fleck x 2) and tried to keep it when we could. I think there were one or two tired legs understandably at the end so we went long a bit more.
Individually no-one had a bad game but as a team it was a proper performance in terms of everything. We don’t have the pace, athleticism and natural ability of most of the Arsenal players but we made them look quite limited and showed we have more skill than many think as Carragher spoke about after the game. It is the sort of night where you stand there at full time and think that is My Club, my Sheffield United. I could not have been prouder. Henderson was faultless pretty much, the defence were superb but the midfield also all played great covering ground, making tackles and passing intelligently. The attack looked a threat when they could although maybe did not have as much of the ball as you would want but that will be the case v the top sides.
United have set the standard now and need to keep to this for future game. The players need to maintain focus and concentration. If they keep believing and doing the things, they have been doing then we will continue to surprise teams. We need to ensure that we keep up this same level. The great thing is as much as people say we are rubbish after international breaks – we have smashed that theory now. I also think the breaks help us as we put so much into games and the energy and effort is unreal. We can play the season in little mini blocks. So now we have the two London games sandwiched between Burnley. Anything we get at West Ham and Spurs is a bonus but Burnley is a big game as we have to ensure we can keep the standards up against sides not quite of level as Arsenal or Liverpool.
Wilder will keep them grounded and now we have a tough game at West Ham who might have the best team they have had for a long time and are very good at home. However, confidence will be high and we need to keep picking up points. If we can keep the same level of performance as we have most of the season and defend like we have done, we will be fine. There is still work to do from an attacking sense but that will take time. For now, we just need to enjoy this week and puff our chests out. It had been a long time when you can look at the top flight and see us in a position having beat Arsenal and Everton, drew with Chelsea and matched Liverpool all the way. A shame we did not beat Southampton and Watford as we would be sat in third place!