Nicolas Pepe, Granit Xhaka and Joe Willock woeful as Arsenal lose away at Sheffield United

NICOLAS PEPE, Granit Xhaka and Joe Willock had games to forget as Arsenal suffered a 1-0 defeat at Sheffield United on Monday night.

Unai Emery's men blew the chance to move into third as Lys Mousset's first-half tap-in condemned the Gunners to a loss on the road.

Here, SunSport's Anthony Chapman delivers his player ratings.

ARSENAL (4-3-3):

BERND LENO - 6

DIDN’T really have to make any saves of note but looked comfortable for most of the game.

Let down once again by a shoddy defence.

CALUM CHAMBERS - 5

THE return of Hector Bellerin can’t come soon enough, with Chambers looking uncomfortable on the right.

Doesn’t seem to fit in as either a full-back or centre-back, and may be out of time to prove himself at the Emirates.

SOKRATIS - 5

ROB HOLDING must be licking his lips after this performance.

Sokratis was uneasy in possession and conceded numerous corners, making for a bad night.

DAVID LUIZ - 5

HASN’T brought much stability at all to Arsenal’s back line.

The Brazilian is even struggling to find his long-range passes which kept him in the side at Chelsea.

SEAD KOLASINAC - 5

ANOTHER struggler at the back, Kolasinac’s time in the team could be up by next weekend.

Kieran Tierney is fit and ready to play, and is surely just a match away from taking Kolasinac’s place.

MATTEO GUENDOUZI - 6

TRIED to influence the game but could not get hold of the ball too often.

Pressed higher in the second half but was outsmarted each time by Sheffield’s three-man defence.

GRANIT XHAKA - 4

JEERED by his own fans, the Arsenal captain failed to provide much in his deep-lying role.

Had a good shot on goal in the second half but was more luck than anything.

JOE WILLOCK - 4

ANONYMOUS before being hooked at half-time.

The youngster has to buck up his ideas if he wants to nail down a place in the starting XI.

NICOLAS PEPE - 3

A CLUB-record signing who can’t seem to score.

Pepe fluffed the easiest of tap-ins in the first half and looked clumsy all night long.

PIERRE-EMERICK AUBAMEYANG - 5

DIDN’T have many chances fall to him, but didn’t really create anything himself.

Could not get the better of United’s overlapping centre-backs, who had his number all night long.

BUKAYO SAKA - 6

YOUNGSTER was booked for diving on a miserable night at Bramall Lane.

Tried to use his flair to create a few chances in the first half and can take heart from his effort.

Subs:

DANI CEBALLOS

CAME on at half time to change the tempo, but despite getting plenty of touches he could not create any clear openings.

ALEXANDRE LACAZETTE

CHUCKED on with 20 minutes remaining, the Frenchman looked short of match fitness after returning from a long-term injury.

GABRIEL MARTINELLI

YOUNG Brazilian introduced for Pepe with ten minutes left but by then United had the game firmly under control.