Sheesh. We’ll have to revisit this weekend’s results in a Rivals’ Roundup to follow, but what gives? Everywhere we looked, it looked liked rivals and contenders were set to drop points only for the deus ex machina to rear its head in various forms. Liverpool went into extra time at the City Ground only to be gifted possession, leading to a last-gasp winner. Man U scored at the Etihad only to collapse 3-1. Even Tottenham found a way to let Palace score first before roaring back to win. With all of this in mind, we’d do well to mind our manners against the Blades against whom we do have an unfortunate history…

1999. The FA Cup. The Blades keeper put the ball out of play so that a teammate could receive treatment at our end. Ray Parlour took the throw-in and tossed towards the Blades keeper. Kanu, perhaps not understanding the situation, ran onto it and squared to Overmars (who probably should have known better) to tap it home. 2-1 to the Arsenal. Controversy rightly ensued, but the FA did nothing. Arsène offered a to host a replay, to which the FA consented, and we managed to win 2-1 in order to advance. At a risk of revisiting more-recent controversies, I somehow doubt that Liverpool will be offering Notthingham Forest a replay after Tierney’s foul-up.

Let’s get to the match in front us, though. While the Blades are all but confirmed for relegation, having won just three of 26 matches and having shipped 66 goals, we’d do well to approach a cornered beast with caution. Yes, there are players taking swipes at each other on the pitch, but they’re acquitted themselves well here and there, suffering a 1-2 loss to Man City, another 1-2 loss to Man U, and earning a creditable 1-1 draw away to Aston Villa. They’re no mugs, and we would do well to be wary of them. While we can count on Wilder’s side to sit in a deep block and hope to hit on counters, we’ll also have to be patient, knowing that his set-up is designed to deny us opportunities.

Wilder has a a raft of injuries that will deny him tactical and formational options, but this will only encourage him to batten down the hatches. Expect to see a lot of the “sterile donut” as we pass and pass and pass along the edges of the 18, trying to penetrate a dense thicket of defenders. This is one of those matches in which it would be useful to have a prolific and physical striker, but, in his absence, we still should be able to somehow find our way past our hosts.

After all, if Liverpool can get past Forest (albeit aided by Tierney’s incompetence) and Man City can overcome Rashford’s early strike to win the Manchester derby, we simply have no other choice but to keep pace. It would have been grand for Forest and Man U (and Palace) to have claimed any points whatsoever, but this is what it means to be in a three-horse race. I have no quarrels with Sheffield United and would like to see them stave off relegation, but even the most-optimistic among us have to admit that it looks bleak for these Blades.

As for us, we simply can’t afford to do anyone any favours, not when Liverpool and Citeh are being gifted points left and right. We simply have to put the Blades to the sword in order to sustain our title-tilt.

My scoreline prediction? Sheffield United 0-3 Arsenal. I hope I’m being conservative.