Arsenal missed the chance to move third in the Premier League on Monday as Chris Wilder’s Sheffield United triumphed at Bramall Lane thanks to Lys Mousset.
Unai Emery has paid tribute to Sheffield United’s impenetrable backline after his Arsenal side suffered a 1-0 Premier League defeat at Bramall Lane on Monday night, speaking to Sky Sports.
Chris Wilder’s Blades went into the weekend with the second best defensive record in the entire top flight, behind only league leaders Liverpool. When you consider that they were playing Championship football this time last year, that achievement cannot be understated.
And after Lys Mousset gave the Blades a first-half lead against Arsenal in front of a bouncing Bramall Lane, they never really looked like conceding an equaliser with John Egan shining and Dean Henderson keeping a fourth clean sheet of the season already.
Emery was understandably dismayed by a defeat which denied Arsenal the chance to move up to third in the table and the fact that his side created only two clear chances in the entire game will be a major concern, though the Spaniard was keen to point out the organisation and work ethic of a well-drilled Sheffield United side.
“They are the team in the Premier League who have conceded least goals with Liverpool, seven only,” said Emery, who admitted that Nicolas Pepe’s early miss at 0-0 proved to be a major turning point.
“If they score the first goal then defensively they are very strong and they defended very well in the second half. It’s not easy to create the chances.
“I think we deserved more. I don’t think we deserved to lose the match, but I appreciate (Sheffield United’s) work and I appreciate they are here with their supporters.”
With just seven goals conceded in nine top flight games, Sheffield United now have the joint-best defensive record in the Premier League along with Jurgen Klopp’s table-topping Reds and, if they continue like this, The Blades will stay comfortably clear of a relegation battle in the months ahead.
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