Sheffield United vs Newcastle United
Bramell Lane, Sheffield
Thursday, 05-12-2019 @22:30pm
Ref: Scot Attwell
Newcastle have won five of their past six league and cup games against Sheffield United, though this will be the first meeting since 2010.
Sheffield United have not won a top-flight game on a Thursday since beating Bolton 2-1 at home on Christmas Day in 1947. The Blades are unbeaten in seven league games (W2, D5). They have not lost any of their last 62 league and cup matches by more than a single-goal margin.
Newcastle have won their last two midweek Premier League games, after failing to win any of their previous 20 on either a Tuesday, Wednesday or Thursday (D9, L11). The Magpies have lost just two of their last 21 league fixtures in Yorkshire (W14, D5). Eight of Newcastle’s 13 league goals have been scored by defenders this term, which equates to 61.5% – the highest figure in the top flight prior to the latest round of games.
Sheffield United boss Chris Wilder says he has a fully-fit squad to choose from for Thursday’s match.
Newcastle winger Allan Saint-Maximin should be available despite being forced off during the draw with Manchester City. Forward Andy Carroll missed that game with a minor injury but is back in training and could feature. Full-back DeAndre Yedlin is nearing a return from the hip problem that has ruled him out of the last two matches.
Arsenal vs Brighton and Hove Albion
Emirates Stadium, London
Thursday, 05-12-2019 @23:15pm
Ref: Graham Scott
Arsenal interim manager Fredrick Ljungberg will be hoping for a first victory in charge of the Gunners when his side welcomes Brighton at the Emirates on Thursday night.
The Invincible started off with a hard fought 2-2 draw at Norwich City this past weekend, a game that left Arsenal fans with divided opinion concerning their teams performance.
With top four looking like a long fight this season, this is a game they cannot afford to drop points from and anything but victory will be accepted.
Arsenal have no new injury concerns for the visit of Brighton, although right-back Hector Bellerin will be assessed after missing the last two games because of a hamstring problem. Centre-back Rob Holding and midfielder Dani Ceballos remain out.
Brighton full-back Bernardo is back in contention following three months out with a knee injury. Solly March and forward Jose Izquierdo are still sidelined with respective groin and knee issues.
Brighton & Hove Albion have never won at Arsenal in 19 meetings in all competitions. Their three victories have all come at home in the top flight (D4, L12). The Seagulls’ eight fixtures at the Emirates have resulted in six losses and two draws, by an aggregate score of 17-2. However, Arsenal are winless in three of the four Premier League meetings, including a 1-1 home draw last season. Brighton have not scored in open play away from home in this fixture since 1983.
Arsenal are winless in eight matches in all competitions (D6, L2). It is their longest winless streak since February 1992 under George Graham. They could go nine matches without a victory for the first time since March 1977 under Terry Neill. Arsenal’s 14-point tally equals their lowest after 14 matches of a Premier League campaign since 1994-95, when they went on to finish 12th. If they fail to win this match it will be the first time since 1975 they have recorded fewer than five wins in their opening 15 fixtures. Arsenal are winless in six Premier League matches since a 1-0 home victory against Bournemouth on 6 October. Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang has scored an unrivalled 42 goals in 63 Premier League appearances since his making his debut in February 2018. Alexandre Lacazette has scored 24 of his 31 Premier League goals at the Emirates, including 12 of the last 13.
Brighton have 15 points after 14 matches, their lowest tally at this stage of a Premier League season. They are winless in six away league games since the opening match of the season, losing the last four. Albion could lose five successive top-flight away fixtures for the first time since December 1982. The Seagulls could also equal the club Premier League record of four consecutive defeats, last set in April 2019. Brighton have sustained 15 losses in 16 Premier League away matches against established top-six opposition, only avoiding defeat in a 1-1 draw at Arsenal in May.
The other match-day 15 results
Tuesday, 03-12-2019
-Crystal Palace 1-0 AFC Bournemouth
-Burnley 1-4 Man City
Wednesday, 04-12-2019
-Leicester City 2-0 Watford
-Man United 2-1 Tottenham Hotspur
-Wolves 2-0 West Ham United
-Chelsea 2-1 Aston Villa @10:30pm
-Southampton 2-0 Norwich City
-Liverpool 5-2 Everton
