VS
Bramall LaneSaturday, December 30, 2006, 5.15pm (UK time)
Referee: Alan Wiley
Successive league defeats may have dented optimism, but Sheffield United manager Neil Warnock still believes the Blades can beat the drop ahead of the visit of Arsenal in Saturday's late kick-off.
Prior to the Boxing Day 1-0 defeat at the hands of Manchester City and a 3-1 loss at Portsmouth last weekend, the Bramall Lane club had climbed out of the drop zone on the back of a three-match unbeaten run.
The Blades now find themselves just two points above the relegation trap door, but unlike at least two of the three teams below them, Warnock's side at least look capable of winning games by creating chances.
Both top-scorer Rob Hulse and Danny Webber could have scored against Manchester City and, with the Blades boss ready to bolster his squad in the New Year, there is still belief in the camp that the South Yorkshire club can preserve their top-flight status.
On the injury front, Mikele Leigertwood could make a return to the substitute's bench after a month on the sidelines with an ankle injury.
Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger is facing an injury headache ahead of Saturday's trip to Sheffield United with the news that striker Emmanuel Adebayor will miss out after suffering a thigh strain.
The Togo international has netted three times in his last four matches to help fill the void created by absence of Thierry Henry.
The Gunners skipper remains sidelined because of a problem with his sciatic nerve, leaving Wenger will few options for Saturday's trip to Bramall Lane.
Either Theo Walcott or Julio Baptista could make a rare Premiership start alongside Robin van Persie in attack.
However, defender Johan Djourou, who picked up an injury alongside Adebayor in the 2-1 victory over Watford on Boxing Day, will be fit enough to face the Blades.
That victory - on the back of a 6-2 thrashing of Blackburn Rovers last weekend - moved the Gunners up to third in the table and securing Champions League football for next season now looks like a formality.
Wenger's side are now unbeaten in seven games in all competitions and will be looking for a repeat of the 3-0 scoreline they recorded when the two sides met at the Emirates Stadium earlier in the season.