Arsenal will not underestimate Sheffield United when the two teams meet in the Premier League on Monday night, Mikel Arteta has said.
The Gunners travel to face the relegation-threatened Blades at Bramall Lane, looking to continue their perfect record in the Premier League since the turn of the year.
Arsenal have won six straight league games, scoring 25 goals in the process, ahead of facing a Sheffield United team who are rooted to the bottom of the table.
Chris Wilder’s side have won just one of their last 11 games and have conceded a league-leading 66 goals this season, though Arteta insists Arsenal are preparing for a difficult game.
“They are a really difficult team to beat. I watched four or five games now. They are extremely well coached,” the Arsenal manager said at his pre-match press conference.
“I know Chris [Wilder] really well and I admire his teams and what they do. It will be Monday night football and it will be a tough match.
“I imagine it’s tough for them and their ambitions are different. I imagine when you are there [the relegation zone] you really want to get out of it as quick as possible. We have a lot to play for as well and this is a big game for us.
“With every team we look at the weaknesses and the strengths and change the game where can. I know that team really well. I analysed them closely a few years ago, what Chris did, and I learned from his teams. It is going to be a really tough match.”
Arsenal will play after title rivals Liverpool and Manchester City in the next round of fixtures, though Arteta said his team are not concerned with results elsewhere.
“We’ve done two or three different scenarios. It’s irrelevant. What we want to do is go to Sheffield, perform the way we are performing, win the match and the rest we cannot control. The only thing you can do is the next game and focus on that. The rest will come.”
Article also features on Goonernews.com
