Sheffield United’s outstanding first season back in the Premier League continued as John Fleck hit a late equaliser at Arsenal.
The Blades were typically organised and threatening throughout but looked set for defeat when 18-year-old Gabriel Martinelli steered in an opener for the hosts.
Arsenal dropped deeper as the game wore on and struggled to create too much, although Nicolas Pepe thought he should have been awarded a penalty after the break.
And Chris Wilder’s attacking substitutions were rewarded when Fleck hit a deflected shot into the far corner to keep the sixth-placed Blades four points clear of the Gunners.
Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta was facing a stacked in-tray for his first job in management and the Spaniard has now overseen one win in his first five league games in charge.
Without suspended captain Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang the Gunners were always likely to be lacking a goal threat. After all, Gabon forward had scored 48% of their league goals this season.
But Alexandre Lacazette – his replacement as skipper – is hardly a novice, and with Mesut Ozil and Pepe in support, the Gunners could still boast a £160m strikeforce.
But it was Martinelli, just 18 and making his fourth league start, who was the pick.
He volleyed wide from a smart Pepe cross, shot into the side-netting after more quick feet from the winger, and then gambled to convert the opener after makeshift left-back Bukayo Saka saw his cross loop up into the goalmouth.
The watching Aubameyang was moved to declare him a “superstar” in waiting in a post on social media.
Arteta could point to his side having over 60% of the possession, but Blades keeper Dean Henderson was largely untroubled – making just three saves.
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Source – BBC
