The Gunners have gone four without a win in all competitions and need to respond here against the division’s bottom side.
Browsing: Sheffield United
The Whites beat Fulham 2-1 prior to the international break, while the Blades went down 5-0 to Leicester City in their most recent league outing.
The 24-year-old scored five goals in three league appearances for the Foxes in the lead-up to the international break last month, including his first Premier League hat-trick against Sheffield United.
The Blues are still unbeaten under new boss Thomas Tuchel, whereas Sheffield United’s own change of management got off to the worst possible start last time out.
Iheanacho put Leicester in front in the 39th minute, tapping Jamie Vardy’s square ball into an empty net.
The Foxes returned to winning ways last time out and are five points clear of fifth, while United are destined for relegation and are on the verge of sacking manager Chris Wilder.
A first win in 10 matches stopped Saints’ alarming slide and moved them 10 points clear of the bottom three.
The defending champions have now lost each of their last four games in the Premier League, and have remarkably picked up fewer points this calendar year than their bottom-of-the-table hosts.
Fulham are currently 18th in the table, six points from the safety of 17th position, while Sheffield United are bottom of the division, 14 points behind the Magpies with 14 games left to play in 2020-21.
Mason Mount’s well-worked opener just before half-time was cancelled out by a bizarre own goal from Antonio Rudiger as Chelsea conceded for the first time in four games under Tuchel.
The Blues beat Tottenham Hotspur 1-0 on Thursday to keep their momentum going, while the Blades have also found some form over the past few weeks.
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer made five changes from the shock defeat to bottom club Sheffield United in midweek, but had to settle for a 0-0 draw against a Gunners outfit missing arguably their three best players.
Fine work from Ferran Torres to work his way through two United players inside the area before cutting back for the striker to tap home after just nine minutes.
Pep Guardiola’s men hit West Bromwich Albion for five to return to the top of the table, and they remained on their perch after the Blades marched to a shock 2-1 victory over Manchester United.
United knew they had to respond after Manchester City leapfrogged them at the summit with a 5-0 hammering of West Brom on Tuesday, but they were well short of their best on a frustrating night
Rashford had a scan on his knee after the FA Cup win over Liverpool at the weekend, but the England forward is set to play as United try to protect their two-point lead.
While the home side are nine points behind 17th-placed Brighton & Hove Albion, the midweek triumph over Newcastle United has given hope to Chris Wilder’s team as they bid to avoid relegation.
Chris Wilder’s side had failed to win any of their opening 17 matches of the season – the worst start to a Premier League campaign – but finally came good to leave the pitch with three points in the bag for the first time in six months.
Eze, a £20 million signing from QPR, scored a goal of the season contender when carrying the ball almost the full length of the pitch before beating Blades keeper Aaron Ramsdale.
“I thought I may as well take the chance and see if I can beat someone,” he said.