Paul Heckingbottom’s Job Could Be On The Line On Saturday
Paul Heckingbottom’s job as Sheffield United manager could be on the line if his side are beaten by Arsenal in north London on Saturday, according to reports. The Blades are rock bottom of the Premier League after nine games, picking up just one point so far, scoring seven goals and conceding 24.
It has been a miserable start to their return to the top flight, but it has been in very difficult circumstances for Heckingbottom, who has had little help in the transfer market. The South Yorkshire club sold the likes of Iliman Ndiaye and Sander Berge over the summer, stars of their promotion campaign, and new arrivals are yet to make much of an impact.
The Daily Mail report that Heckingbottom may be out of a job by the end of the weekend if Sheffield United are beaten by Arsenal at Emirates Stadium, which seems a very likely prospect after their results so far this season. The report states that former Blades boss Chris Wilder would be the man to replace Heckingbottom, returning to the club two-and-a-half years after he left in March 2021.
Wilder did a fantastic job with Sheffield United in his previous spell, leading them from League One to the Premier League, before leaving with the club bottom of the top flight. He has since had spells at Middlesbrough and Watford, but has been out of work since leaving the Hornets at the end of last season.
In his pre-match press conference on Friday, Heckingbottom was asked how he would assess the first quarter of the season. ‘Tough,’ he said. ‘Listen some things have been horrendous, with injuries and things like that. We’ve had tough moments on the pitch, but you have to deal with those. It’s been no different to what I expected.’
It remains to be seen whether Heckingbottom will be given the chance to turn things around at Sheffield United or if Wilder will be brought in to try and save them from relegation. Either way, Saturday could be a defining day for the club as they look to get their season back on track.
Arsenal vs Sheffield United Preview
Saturday’s match between Arsenal and Sheffield United could be a defining moment for both teams. Arsenal are looking to continue their impressive start to the season and move up the Premier League table, while Sheffield United are desperate for a win to kickstart their campaign and get off the bottom of the table.
For Arsenal, Mikel Arteta will be hoping his side can build on their recent form and put in another strong performance against Sheffield United. The Gunners have won their last three matches in all competitions and have looked impressive in recent weeks. They will be looking to take advantage of Sheffield United’s poor form and pick up another three points on Saturday.
For Sheffield United, Paul Heckingbottom is under pressure to get a result against Arsenal. The Blades have had a miserable start to their return to the Premier League and have picked up just one point from their opening nine matches. They have also conceded 24 goals in those nine games, which is the most in the league.
Heckingbottom will be hoping his side can put in a much-improved performance against Arsenal and pick up their first win of the season. However, it will be a tough task for Sheffield United as they face an Arsenal side who have looked impressive in recent weeks.
Conclusion
Saturday’s match between Arsenal and Sheffield United could be a defining moment for both teams. Arsenal are looking to continue their impressive start to the season and move up the Premier League table, while Sheffield United are desperate for a win to kickstart their campaign and get off the bottom of the table. Paul Heckingbottom’s job could be on the line if his side are beaten by Arsenal, with former Blades boss Chris Wilder reportedly lined up to replace him. It remains to be seen whether Heckingbottom will be given the chance to turn things around at Sheffield United or if Wilder will be brought in to try and save them from relegation. Either way, Saturday could be a defining day for the club as they look to get their season back on track.