Sheffield United pulled further clear of the relegation zone
with a well-deserved 1-0 victory over an off-colour Arsenal in the
final Premiership game of the year.
The Gunners were missing several of their first-choice starting XI
and looked a shadow of their best side as they fell victim to one
of the biggest shocks of the Premiership season so far.
Christian Nade netted the crucial goal but there were heroic
performances all around him, not least from Phil Jagielka, who had
to play in goal for the last half hour after Paddy Kenny was
substituted.
Sheffield United were even more under-strength than Arsenal and
were actually lucky not to have conceded two or three goals in the
first few minutes as The Gunners missed a glut of chances to open
the scoring.
Tomas Rosicky mis-hit an ambitious attempt to lob Paddy Kenny after
the Blades goalkeeper had crazily come rushing off his line to head
clear, but both men regained respectability moments later as Kenny
brilliantly dived to his right to parry the Czech's blistering
shot.
Gilberto was unchallenged in the six-yard area as he met a Robin
van Persie corner and would have been disappointed to hit his
header into the ground and see the ball bounce over the
crossbar.
Julio Baptista also wasted a good opportunity as his poor control
allowed Nick Montgomery to make a fine saving tackle.
The Blades started to gain a foothold in the game after 15 minutes
and, although Jeremie Aliadiere tested Kenny with a powerful
left-foot drive, they carved out the better chances for the
remainder of the first half.
Arsenal's midfielders were not able to find their usual passing
rhythm, while their defence lacked composure whenever the ball was
delivered into dangerous areas.
Sheffield United were rewarded for their endeavour when Nade
conjured a goal out of nothing, but the warning signs had been
apparent minutes earlier when Alan Quinn fired tamely at Jens
Lehmann following a neat move.
Nade made no such mistake in the 41st minute as he cleverly turned
Kolo Toure by letting Quinn's pass run straight through his legs
and then coolly curled his shot past Lehmann, who had sprinted
outside his area in an effort to narrow the angle.
The game became more stretched after half-time as Arsenal probed
forward in search of an equaliser and United, to their credit, kept
looking to attack on the break.
Kenny was in obvious discomfort for several minutes before Warnock
admitted he had to be withdrawn after 60 minutes, with Michael
Tonge coming on as there were no goalkeepers on the substitutes'
bench and Jagielka taking the gloves.
Quinn could have given United some breathing space just after the
hour mark as he forced Lehmann into action from tight on the right,
while Nade saw a goal ruled out for offside.
At the other end Jagielka was protected brilliantly by his defence
and even showed some ability with a couple of impressive punched
clearances, but Arsenal's reluctance to shoot from distance was
criminal.
Van Persie looked Arsenal's likeliest saviour as his trickery
caused problems, but there was little help on offer from his
team-mates.
The introduction of Cesc Fabregas failed to add any impetus to a
lacklustre display, and the Spaniard picked up his fifth booking of
the season to rule him out of Arsenal's FA Cup clash with
Liverpool.
Aliadiere finally had the right idea eight minutes from time as he
unleashed an effort from outside the area which flew wide, before
Jagielka brilliantly tipped van Persie's scuffed close-range effort
over the crossbar.
Five minutes of stoppage time were signalled but it was The Blades
who came closest to scoring as they held on for three points.