Chris Wilder is calling on his Sheffield United players to show their competitive spirit against Arsenal. The Blades boss insists that there are «no free hits» in the Premier League and wants a strong performance from his team when they go up against the title-chasing Gunners on Monday night.
United, who are currently at the bottom of the league, will not be fancied by many to get a result, especially as Mikel Arteta's team comes to Bramall Lane on a high, having scored 25 goals in their last six league games. But with time running out for the South Yorkshire club to get the results they need to stay up, Wilder is clear about what he expects.
Speaking to reporters in his pre-match press conference, he said: «We have to produce a performance that represents ourselves, our football club, and that the supporters are proud of. We haven't had enough of those this season and we have to produce more of those than not, so there are no free hits regardless of the opposition.
»Of course the bookies and people in the game will have us down as the whipping boys on Monday night, we understand that, but the game is not always built like that and results aren't decided before the game on league position. They go in as favourites, we understand that, but we have to show we're capable of being competitive and trying to get a result out of the game."
Arsenal suffered a setback in the Champions League last week, losing 1-0 away to Porto, but they have won their last six in a row in the league to sit just two points behind leaders Liverpool in a title race also including Manchester City that could go to the wire.
«They are flying, but what would you rather do? » Wilder said. «Play in a Championship game on Monday night or play Arsenal in front
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