Arsenal missed the chance to climb back into the Premier League top four with a 1-0 defeat at Bramall Lane.
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| Sheffield United 1-0 Arsenal: Lys Mousset consigns Emery to defeat |
A Lys Mousset goal was enough to separate the two sides on a night where Arsenal showed little character or desire to turn the game around.
Arsenal were denied a penalty when Bukayo Saka was adjudged to have dived in the box by referee Mike Dean.
This was a tale of two chances, both falling the way of unmarked forwards just yards from goal.
The first was somehow scuffed wide when it was easier to score. The guilty party? Arsenal's club-record signing Nicolas Pepe. He cost £72million, do not forget.
Lys Mousset, by contrast, was a Bournemouth misfit before his £10m move to Bramall Lane this summer. He, however, showed Pepe how it should be done when presented with such an opportunity in the goalmouth.
Arsenal boss Unai Emery has fielded criticism since arriving at the Emirates last season over his side's uninspiring form away from home.
His side's form last season in particular was a major concern among Arsenal fans following humiliating defeats away to Wolves, Leicester and Southampton.
The Gunners also capitulated away to lowly Watford at the start of the season having thrown away a two goal lead to leave Vicarage Road with a point.
Monday night's defeat means Arsenal sit just outside the top four on 15 points after nine games in the Premier League. They trail fourth-place Chelsea by two points.
PLAYER RATINGS
SHEFFIELD UNITED (3-5-2): Henderson 7; Basham 6.5, Egan 7, O'Connell 7; Baldock 6.5, Norwood 7 (McBurnie 85), Lundstram 7, Fleck 7, Stevens 7.5; Mousset 7 (Sharp 55, 6.5), McGoldrick 7 (Freeman 78, 5)
Subs not used: Robinson, Jagielka, Moore, Besic
Goalscorers: Mousset 30
Booked: O'Connell, Fleck, McGoldrick, Henderson
ARSENAL (4-2-3-1): Leno 5.5; Chambers 5.5, Sokratis 5, Luiz 5, Kolasinac 6; Xhaka 6 (Lacazette 69, 6), Guendouzi 6; Willock 5 (Ceballos 46, 6), Pepe 5 (Martinelli 78, 5), Saka 5; Aubameyang 5
Subs not used: Martinez, Tierney, Torreira, Holding
Booked: Saka, Kolasinac, Sokratis
Referee: Mike Dean 7
Attendance: 30,775
Man of the Match: Enda Stevens
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