Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta would have been pleased by some aspects of the performance last time out against Crystal Palace but the sending off of Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and his subsequent three-match suspension is a big blow.

They face Sheffield United tomorrow who have only lost twice away from home this season, with those defeats coming against Manchester City and Liverpool.

In terms of the starting line up, Arteta may be forced to play Bukayo Saka in defence if Sead Kolasinac doesn’t recover in time from a thigh strain. Hector Bellerin is closing in on a return from a hamstring problem but Ainsley Maitland-Niles is expected to keep his place in the side, with Sokratis and David Luiz likely to be centre-back partnership once again.

In midfield, Lucas Torreira appears to be winning his fitness battle, after Arteta confirmed he trained on Tuesday, so the Uruguayan is expected to line up alongside Granit Xhaka, with Mesut Ozil ahead of him in the no.10 role.

Up front, Gabriel Martinelli looks poised to replace the suspended Aubameyang on the left-wing, with Alexandre Lacazette and Nicolas Pepe keeping their places in the front three.

Arsenal’s Predicted XI To Face Sheffield United:

Leno, Maitland-Niles, Sokratis, Luiz, Saka, Torreira, Ozil, Xhaka, Pepe, Lacazette, Martinelli