McGoldrick scores but Arsenal beat Sheffield United



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Arsenal scored two quick goals in the second half to get back on the winning track in the Premier League and leave Sheffield United without a point so far this season, although Republic of Ireland forward David McGoldrick did score. the Blades’ first league goal of the season.

The Gunners had won their first two games before losing to champions Liverpool on Monday, but Bukayo Saka and Nicolas Pepe scored within three minutes of each other to seal a close 2-1 victory over the Blades, with McGoldrick scoring a good consolation for the visitors.

Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta named a few surprises in his starting lineup as Mohamed Elneny and Dani Ceballos started in midfield and Eddie Nkeitah was preferred to Alexandre Lacazette to lead the attack.

Full match details

Nketiah had a good chance early on after being selected with a ball on top, but a bad touch deflected him from goal and the opportunity was lost.

Blades boss Chris Wilder was furious when David Luiz escaped what could have been an early red card. The Arsenal defender allowed the ball to pass him and flipped Oliver Burke’s jersey back as the forward stormed as a result, but referee Lee Mason was unfazed.

The first half hour saw little action at the goal, but Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang came close to opening the scoring with just under 10 minutes to go.

Goalkeeper Aaron Ramsdale’s punt only hit Ceballos, who set his captain up for a fine, curly effort that the Sheffield United goalkeeper was right to deflect.

Then it was Arsenal’s turn to call for a red card when Sander Berge, the Norwegian midfielder booked for the foul, flipped Aubameyang.

Bukayo Saka (C) celebrates scoring the opening goal

As a result of the challenge, Aubameyang was still limping as he headed down the tunnel at half-time, but was unharmed after the interval.

He was a few inches away from turning home with a pass from Ceballos while Arsenal continued the push from a first goal in vain.

With many possibilities, Arteta turned to his bench and introduced Pepe in place of Nketiah, readjusting his front line to spread Aubameyang down the middle.

The alterations worked, as the first quality move in the game saw Arsenal break the deadlock on the hour.

Elneny stormed into the area and found Aubameyang, whose ball to Hector Bellerin saw Saka cross as he headed home at the back post, a great way for the 18-year-old to toast his first England call-up. .

Just three minutes later and the points were assured, Bellerin was again the provider as he passed the ball to Pepe.

The Ivory Coast striker burst into the box unchallenged and fired low at Ramsdale for his first goal since scoring a penalty in a 2-1 FA Cup quarter-final victory against Sheffield United in June.

As is often the case with Arsenal, things weren’t easy as McGoldrick scored a good 20-yard goal to score Sheffield United’s first goal of the season in the league.

But they couldn’t find a way to score their first points of the campaign as Arsenal saw the final stages to secure victory.



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