Arsenal host Sheffield United at the Emirates Stadium this afternoon, looking to etch their way closer to the top-six sides on the Premier League table.
Despite improved performances and a progressively playing style under Mikel Arteta, the Gunners still find themselves mired in mid-table; whilst the Blades have maintained their steady start on their return to the top-flight, sitting four points ahead of us.
The Spaniard will be aware that it will take a process to get Arsenal to where he wants them to be, a process that will take more than just “improved performances”, as we now need to convert that into points. And with our ongoing struggles on the road, wins at home, especially against newly-promoted sides, are “non-negotiable”.
A win will give the Gunners a major boost, especially given that we have a chance to leapfrog a few teams on the log – which, of course, hinge upon results elsewhere going in our favour. We can also move within three points of 5th-placed Man United who are away at the juggernaut Liverpool tomorrow.
This is not about having top-four or top-six aspirations. Arteta has been fairly consistent in what he wants from the players as they get used to a new way of life; committed performances, leaving their hearts out there by not only doing what is expected of them, but also do it well. Because he has his beliefs that once we get that right, a positive upturn in results will follow.
He will have to do it without the talisman Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang in the next three matches, who has scored 14 of our 29 league goals. However, this is also a shot for Nicolas Pépé and Alexandre Lacazette, who showed signs of finding form in recent matches, to step up and give good accounts for themselves.
Sheffield United are very hard to beat though, as they continue to punch above their weight. Chris Wilder’s side are 6th on the table and in their 22 league games have conceded just 21 goals; only Liverpool conceded less. It also doesn’t seem to matter whether they play home or away. In 11 home fixtures they earned 17 pts, with 15 pts coming from their 11 on the road, where they only lost twice (W3, D6).
In the reverse fixture at Bramall Lane back in October the Blades ran out 1-0 winners. When they scored after 30 minutes they were happy to let us have possession and shut up shop, and we hardly had a look in. However, that was during our “respect-era” and under Arteta we look more comfortable with the ball, playing higher up the pitch with a four-men attack. So if Wilder play the same tactics, it will certainly be a fascinating match.
Team news
Gabriel Martinelli is likely to step in for the suspended Aubameyang, with Bukayo Saka expected to fill in at left-back for Sead Kolasinac, who picked up a knock at Selhurst Park.
Lucas Torreira trained normally after initial fears that he may miss this game, however, he will still be assessed ahead of the match, with Matteo Guendouzi waiting in the wings. Hector Bellerìn is also expected to make the bench.
Prediction
It goes without saying that the Gunners are not having a great season, but with Arteta at the helm you always feel we have a shot as we do create goal scoring chances. There are still too many nearly moments in front of goal though, and that is where we need to do better if we are to string together a winning run.
That said, the Blades are a very settled side and just so well-organised. Wilder may target Saka at left-back as our weak link as he will have hopes of not leaving London empty-handed.
Be that is it may, this could be a very edge-of-your-seat, running-out-of-nails-to-bite encounter, with the visitors likely to cause us issues. I do fancy our chances though. COYG!
@LaboGoon
Positively Arsenal 
Good preview LG,
The blades dont seem to win many away but are extreamley hard to beat as LG has established above. Even in our prime sides like this often took 70 minutes or so to break down so I expect today to be fast and slow with periods where both sides will test the other. Palace was a good warm up for this and Mikel has already warned about giving to many free kicks away.
Auba is out but we all know his movement is world class but his hold up play is poor and so I think what you undoubtabley lose in one area can be made up for in others. You rarely replace players like for like but try to improve or balance the side as a whole and that what we must do in trhe next three games.
I think in stage of our progression and with the blades good form you would normally predict a draw but with improvement I believe we can snatch this one as long as we play to our strengths and remember theres, apparently they score a large percentage of there goals second half, so we need to keep going for the full 95 minutes.
I.m excited and nervous again today just I used to be COYG.
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My excitement of looking forward to a game is back, but my confidence is shot to pieces.
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I just suffer PIGMOB anxiety knowing whatever bullshit they pull will not be criticised.
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Thanks Labo.
Hoping for a good performance today, but plucky northern media darlings have been a problem in recent years.
I suspect this bunch of officials are going to loom large….again. Death by yellow….again? Early booking for a first offence for at least one of our defenders/ DMs….again? Opponents licensed to shit kick with impunity….again. Pepe gets scissor tackled from behind, no punishment…again?
Or will the PGMOL surprise us and provide a level playing field?
Often, with newly promoted teams on a good run, the novelty can start wearing off, I hope we see some of that with Sheff Utd today, although with the season we are having, and sure to have done their homework on the PGMOL effect with Arsenal, I suspect our opponents will scent blood.
Still,at home with some very decent players, we should have enough to win this unless Mike Dean intervenes
Let’s hope Arteta can continue his drive to drag us out of what ever Emery’s tenure can be described as
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Excitement the main emotion. I have real faith that good coaching is taking place which can help individually and collectively.
But, of course, it being me…worries about pgmol effects never more than a thought or two away.
What that Sheff Utd manager has done is truly commendable. So organised, so much togetherness, cohesion, team play, commitment and also some nice bits of play, including sharp passing. Can they resist the invite, though, to go further than their normal aggression, to see how much leeway Dean will give? Very few tough teams with Brit managers ever do so.
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well before kick off there is a presentation to PGMOL Game Changer, oh sorry Game Manager, Mike Dean, to mark his 500th EPL game. I do wonder how will he celebrate that, what new rule will he invent for the occasion.
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As for team news, I do wonder if Martinelli will start wide left or after all Arteta had to say about Nelson yesterday if Reiss will start,
It seems Kolasinac might play despite his injury problems, the word is that its an on going problem, causing him pain, but that its not getting any worse, nor is it getting better, so the dilemma is do we start him not knowing exactly what long term harm it might do him, also in recent games early injuries has seen us use up the first sub, and so limited later changes that we needed
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Following from Xhaka Williams comments yesterday, occurred to me afterwards that tomorrow’s Pool Utd game has some parallels with game 50. The long unbeaten run, Utd desperate to inflict some pain on bitter rivals.
Far from an exact match, for one because Utd are way off where they were then, but probably as close to it as there’s been since. Utd won’t dare be as dirty as back then, but they will still, surely, try and use aggression and fouls to close gap. I think ref will show some tolerance of it, and give Pool a bit less protection than their current norm, but not too much. Over years I’ve found it balances out and the closest to normal reffing in Fergie time was Pool games.
Strongly fancy there will be a Utd red or pen conceded in game, which, in a way, will be so fitting.
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probably a more important team selection choice is the availability of Torreira, as we know he and Xhaka is by far our best CM duo.
Arteta has suggested that Ceballos is near a return too, I expect he will be in the 18 today.
Will we see Nketiah make the squad, if not it would seem a strange decision to not let him go out again on loan.
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Jeorge Bird
@jeorgebird
·
35m
Arsenal U18s v Southampton: Graczyk; Oyegoke, Kirk, Ogungbo, Lopez; Cottrell, Cirjan; Dennis, Greenwood, Butler-Oyedeji; Matthews.
Subs: Kovacevic, Plange, Alebiosu, Sraha, Laing.
Patino was supposed to be playing, so may be a late injury
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just seen that to back up Mike Dean today we have Lee Mason as 4th official and Martin Atkinson on VAR, what could go wrong with that little lot game changing
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Team: Leno, Maitland-Niles, Mustafi, Luiz, Saka, Torreira, Xhaka, Pepe, Ozil, Martinelli, Lacazette.
Subs: Martinez, Bellerin, Ceballos, Holding, Willock, Guendouzi, Nketiah
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Sheffield Utd Team to face Arsenal: Henderson, Baldock, O’Connell, Basham, Egan, Stevens, Fleck, Lundstrum, Norwood, Mousset, McBurnie.
Subs: Verrips, Sharp, Robinson, Jagielka, Freeman, Osborn, Besic
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Arsenal
@Arsenal
· 17m
📰
Today’s absentees…
Sokratis – (illness)
Nelson – (hamstring)
Kolasinac – (thigh)
Aubameyang – (suspended)
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Dan Critchlow
@afcDW
·
2h
Alfie Matthews scores for the u18s against Southampton to make it 1-0 in the 26th minute.
Matthews has been linked with a move to Newcastle this week.
Luke Plange makes it 2-0. Good to see both of them scoring, neither of them had done so very often recently
Full Time 2-0 to the Arsenal U18’s
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FT: Watford 0-0 Spurs
a win would put us level on pts with spurs on 31pts
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Glad to we Mustafi start… who know he may yet stay…
I personally don’t think he is that bad
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HT: Arsenal 1-0 Sheffield Utd
Martinelli with a simple finish six yards out in the 45th minute gives us a lead, despite what the BBC have been saying, we fully deserve, Utd have been all huff and puff.
Pepe is causing them lots of problems and Martinelli has had 3 decent chances. We’ve been solid enough at the back.
Still feel we have several higher gears we can go to.
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Baldock booked for two fouls on Saka in quick succession
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xhaka just cleared one off the line to keep us ahead
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Tyreece John-Jules has just scored his first league 1 goal for his loan club Lincoln
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looked like that should have been a penalty to Pepe but VAR say no
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Lacazette subbed off, Nketiah on
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ah for fucks sake, a big deflection and its 1-1
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about ten minutes for us to get a winner here
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how is there only three minutes of stoppage time
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FT: Arsenal 1-1 Sheffield Utd
a game we really should have won, Martinelli with our goal,
we’ve now had 11 draws in our 23 EPL games, our lack of goals and clean sheets are really costing us. We still have a minus goal difference. We’ve not got a goal scoring midfielder since we let Ramsey leave for free.
We had looked solid all day apart from their headed chances. We had controlled the game but really did not created enough, and for me we should have had a penalty when pepe was brought down in the area but neither Mike Dean nor Martin Atkinson were ever going to give us a peanlty.
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we really have to score more than i more goal!
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we really have to score more than i more goal!
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Noticed during Watford Tott game earlier a slightly tepid version of ‘same old…always cheating’ from one set of fans to other (think Watford to Spurs).
With Dean and Atkinson conspiring together to ignore latest blatant pen today, shame our fans aren’t all on same page, as ‘same old pgmol, always cheating’ has good ring to it
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Shame. Everyone played well. We had a good team on the ropes despite a lineup featuring several backups. Torreira was so accomplished, then made one misjudgment trying to thread it through MF. Led to their goal.
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seemingly we have the most yellows in the EPL
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So, as predicted, the PGMOL do what they can to help our opponent, what does Pepe have to do for someone taking him down to be penalised?
Full marks for effort, especially considering the age of the side and who we have missing. We have some excellent players, and great prospects, but as a team, we are not very good at the moment, seem to find keeping leads very difficult, and it is going to take Arteta probably the summer and a preseason at the very least to really begin to change that.
Anything , even the smallest crumb of comfort we get out of this season will be a bonus, we have a pathetically small points total for this part of the season, I don’t expect us to get any favours at Stamford Bridge either, I am sure the PGMOL will do their worst if they have to.
All I hope , from what seems to be the wreckage of the season, that those running the club take a bloody good look at what has led to this, and their role in it. Emery was kept on far too long for starters, who was behind that, and the desire to give him a new deal this summer, and should that person still be at this club…ok if it was Stan, can’t do much about that, but just saying….
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Aargh it is so frustrating. The ship has been steadied that is there for all to see.
The injuries as always play their part but we lack the quality and I feel that Arteta can deliver but give the guy something to work with.
We have a very mid table look but then again a month ago we had a very bottom of the table look.
Small steps at best.
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well its P23 W6 D11 L6, and as I have said many times on here, both this and last season, its the draws that are killing us, a goal more scored by us or a goal less conceded in six of them and that would be 12pts more which would have actually seen us sit in 4th spot,
we have only scored 30 EPL goals this season, that is woeful for the attacking talent we have in the squad. I seen many argue against the idea of selling Lacazette this window to help fund the signings we want. I can’t help but think we really miss a Giroud type CF, even only as back up to PEA, we have Pepe and Saka who are both fine crossers of the ball, but we don’t possess a striker who is good at heading, or even seems to want to challenge for the high ball. I will say Martinelli seems to be good at heading the ball, but he is not a target man type.
we have Aubameyang with 14 of our 30 EPL goals,(16 in all competitions) Lacazette has just 5 EPL goals, 6 in total, Pepe is next with 3 in the EPL, 5 in total, we have Sokratis and David Luiz with 2 EPL goals each, as has 18 year old Martinelli, he has 9 in total,
our 32 goals conceded is poor, but not nearly as damaging as our lack of goals scored.
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just to add that these midfielders and forwards have not scored a single EPL goal this season,
Nelson
Ozil
Ceballos
Willock
Xhaka
Guendouzi
Torreira has only one goal too
add in that fullbacks – AMN, Bellerin, Tierney, Kolasinac, Saka have not a single EPL goals between them either.
that 12 players have over 110 EPL starts and nearly 40 subs, between them this season, and Torreira is the only one of them who has scored a goal.
What was that about Ramsey being easily replaceable that the expert fans kept telling us.
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Arteta clearly not impressed with the pen decision, he used the words “ very clear” as with the decision in the Chelsea game.
Seems virtually every game, these cheats in the PGMOL are making a key decision against this team.
Arteta mentions almost daily surprises working against them, injuries. Just hope the club are fully backing him in the transfer market if possible, if Arteta really makes his mark as a manager, failing to back him might one day come back to bite the club
Injuries and the PGMOL, lucky Arteta has played for the club, so none of this is new for him, but I do get the impression even he is surprised by issues like the Biased refereeing.
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So another deflected goal against us.
Can anyone confirm this many deflected goals we have conceded this season?
Last week and this week makes our 2 out of 2 for a loss if 4 points
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Arteta’s after game comments, from Football.london
How frustrating was that?
“Yes I’m very disappointed today. I think the performance deserved three points and we lost two points. In the Premier League if you don’t put the game to bed in the last 10-15 minutes, these types of teams just need a long ball, second ball or set piece and you can give the points away.”
It’s felt like a one-goal lead hasn’t been enough for Arsenal all season. There’s always nervousness in the crowd and in the players?
“Yeah and there is a history of that (which) I think makes it more. But in the Premier League when you’re 1-0 up in the last 10 minutes be careful because anything can happen.”
Do you need to undo the work that was done before you?
“I don’t know. What was done before, they tried to do their best possible thing. I inherited a team in a difficult situation that was trying to improve as much as possible but I don’t know. In the second half they didn’t generate anything to the goal, just one long ball, a second ball and someone from an incredible angle put it in the top bin. It’s difficult to control.”
Is it a fitness issue?
“I think they all went full gas. I think they all tried really hard and we put them under real pressure every time we didn’t allow them to come out the way they do and generate overloads in wide areas and control second phases and put crosses in the box – I don’t think that was the case. Maybe in the first five or 10 minutes when we had to figure out the game.
“But after that when you are 1-0 up in the last minutes and they change to a back four, start committing more bodies forward, both full-backs are high and they have six players in front of the ball it’s more difficult to control. You play long balls or second balls like this, it’s not easy.”
Do you think you should have had a penalty?
“I think it’s very clear.”
Did you speak to the referee about it?
“No.”
Did Gabriel Martinelli step up for you today?
“Absolutely, he’s an 18-year-old kid with all the enthusiasm but as well he’s so brave to make decisions, to threaten the opponent every time He is always in the middle of the goal waiting for an opportunity to come and the fact he hasn’t played 90 minutes for a while since his injury – but still the way he went about every single action is impressive.”
Scoring nine goals now is an astonishing record isn’t it?
“Absolutely, yeah.”
You had a discussion with Ainsley Maitland-Niles during the match. Was that to give him specific instructions?
“When we are analysing the opponent and there are some errors that happen on the pitch we have to correct them and try to help the players as much as possible and we can ask Ainsley (to do) a lot of things but he’s not a full-back. Bukayo (Saka) is not a full-back. They are trying to adapt as quickly as possible but these things are going to happen.”
What’s the case with Reiss Nelson?
“We had an incident in training and the doctor is still deciding how long it’s going to take but it’s not looking good.”
How will the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations effect Arsenal?
“Let’s see. It’s something we are talking to the club (about) to figure out exactly the scenario we are going to be looking at. It’s not just us there are many other clubs involved. They never asked any questions to us so I’m assuming we have to accept whatever decision comes.”
Does that change your philosophy in the transfer market? (When thinking about singing African players?)
“No.”
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yes mandy, Arteta clearly upset about the non award of a penalty, in his TV interview he was asked if the Refs and VAR need more help on these calls he said
“How many tools do they need”
now I’m not sure if he is referring to equipment or the PGMOL Game Changers with the whistles and VAR
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Emile Smith-Rowe made his Championship debut today, playing around 80 minutes for Huddersfield in their 0-0 home draw with Brentford
Tyreece John-Jules scored his first goal in League One, for Lincoln in their 1-0 win over Blackpool
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I find it amazing that so many Gooners are surprised that clear decision are going against us on VAR,
Why would anyone expect a PGMOL Game Changer to act differently towards Arsenal when they are in the VAR studio, than they do when on the field of play.
The PGMOL is rotten to the core, I have been telling you all for a couple of years now that VAR might change things for some clubs, but that nothing would change for Arsenal, how could it, bias is bias, and it don’t matter how many different angles you give for these PGMOL guys to look at, they are not looking to come to the correct decision, they are looking for an angle to back up their long held view of things.
Mike Riley clearly disliked Arsenal when he was a Ref, he is now in charge of the PGMOL, his game changers know their boss does not like AFC, so why would anyone expect any of them to do things that would upset their boss.
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well Newcastle has just beaten Chelsea so we are now 9pts off 4th, we play them midweek, so as mad as it sounds top 4 is actually still within reach, but of course we will need a complete change of function from the PGMOL for that to happen
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Former ARSENAL U23 and reserve captain and a favourite of mine Issac Hayden scores the winner against chelski, excellent!
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Positively Vindicated (Blackburn George)@arseblagger
·4m
Mesut Özil vs Sheffield (H):
88% pass accuracy – highest on pitch
29 opp. half passes – most on pitch
18 final third passes – most on pitch
7 ball recoveries
4 chances created – most on pitch
4 duels won
3 crosses (2 acc.)
2 dribbles (2 succ.)
2 tackles
1 long ball (1 acc.)
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I cannot believe that we are still discussing Arsenal and referee decisions, well maybe I can.
Nothing surprises me anymore as we are now hit with a double whammy and as others have said you are now up against 2 biased referees.
It leads to total frustration for manager players and fans alike.
Decisions and deflections definitely are compounding our problems.
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well was Arteta in his after game comments making a point to Edu, Raul and Josh, when he stated that AMN is not a fullback and that Saka is not a fullback, was he letting them know he wants signings now. 12 days of the transfer window left, top 4 still within reach, if only just, still in two cups, CL qualify still possible, are our execs going to do all they can to help us get there, or are they going to be inactive.
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Mikel Arteta on transfers: ‘The circumstances are changing daily because we keep having more and more injuries, suspensions. We are there, we are in the market, we are looking for option that could improve and give us more stability in certain areas but it’s still early to tell anything.
Will it involve loaning players? ‘I don’t know. The club will know better than me.’
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Sounds bit ominous on Nelson injury. Hugely frustrating. Felt like a very important period on back of looking better under Arteta and receiving such praise yesterday. With young players, you never know how much picture may have changed if they are out with anything for months. Balls
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Tormey impresses as Arsenal U23s beat Leicester; Matthews helps U18s overcome Southampton
by jeorge bird
Arsenal U23s secured their place in the knockout stages of the Premier League International Cup last night as they beat Leicester City 3-0.
Robbie Burton scored a penalty, while Folarin Balogun also found the net before teeing up James Olayinka.
Nathan Tormey produced an impressive performance out wide, with goalkeeper Karl Hein also catching the eye.
There was a significant moment for first-year scholar Daniel Oyegoke late on, too, as he made his debut at this level.
Leicester finished the game with ten men after Mitchell Clarke was sent off.
Arsenal: Hein; Swanson (Oyegoke 88), Clarke, Medley, Omole; M. Smith, Burton; Olayinka, McEneff (Olowu 75), Tormey (Cottrell 90); Balogun. Subs not used: Hillson, Greenwood.
Alfie Matthews was amongst the scorers as Arsenal U18s secured their first league win since October by overcoming Southampton 2-0.
Southampton were eager for revenge after Arsenal knocked them out of the FA Youth Cup recently, but Matthews and Luke Plange, who replaced him as a substitute, both scored.
Matthews was linked with a move to Newcastle United this week, but for now remains focused on his performances for Arsenal.
Arsenal: Graczyk; Oyegoke, Kirk, Ogungbo, Lopez; Cottrell, Cirjan (Alebiosu 73); Dennis (Sraha 90), Greenwood, Butler-Oyedeji; Matthews (Plange 64). Subs not used: Kovacevic, Laing.
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