Sheffield United break Premier League season record after Arsenal defeat
Sheffield United has started their Premier League journey with the most dismal start in the league’s history.
During their recent match against Arsenal, they suffered a 5-0 loss, with Eddie Nketiah scoring a hat-trick as Arsenal dominated the game against the struggling team.
This outcome solidifies that Paul Heckingbottom’s squad has only managed to secure a single point from their initial 10 games since their return to the top tier, showcasing a massive goal difference of minus 22.
Their losses comprise an 8-0 thrashing at home against Newcastle, the recent 5-0 defeat, and a 3-1 loss to Fulham.
In total, they’ve allowed 29 goals while only scoring seven. Their lone point was earned in a 2-2 draw with Everton at the beginning of September.
Upcoming matches are crucial for Sheffield United, as their current position in the Premier League seems to place them significantly behind in the fight to stay in the league.
They currently occupy the bottom spot, trailing by five points to reach a safe position.
Their next fixtures include a match against Wolves, followed by a game against Brighton, and subsequent matches against other teams struggling in the league—Bournemouth and Burnley.
The ownership of United faces a critical decision regarding whether to retain Paul Heckingbottom as the team’s manager or pivot in a new direction by appointing a different manager.
There have been links suggesting the return of former manager Chris Wilder to the position.
It’s worth noting that only two teams in the history of the Premier League have managed to secure one point or fewer in their initial 10 matches of a season – a feat achieved by United in both this season and in the 2020/21 campaign.
In that particular season, they faced relegation, finishing 16 points below the safety mark, ultimately ending up at the bottom of the division.
During the match against Arsenal, the Blades managed a mere 0.03xG from their two shots, marking the fourth lowest xG performance recorded by a Premier League team since the 2017/18 season commenced.
Before the game at the Emirates, Heckingbottom mentioned that his team had put in considerable effort to enhance their formation, yet they encountered relentless pressure from Arsenal, who maintained possession with a 68% share of the ball.
Their defensive emphasis, influenced perhaps by a lengthy injury list or overall team performance, has significantly hindered their attacking capabilities, leaving them in a precarious position and in desperate need of swift positive results to avoid falling far behind in the standings.
Sheffield United break Premier League season record after Arsenal defeat