Arsenal ‘could end’ Paul Heckingbottom’s spell as Sheffield United boss as Blades ‘make key plans’

Arsenal’s upcoming home clash with Sheffield United could result in the first managerial casualty of the Premier League season as pressure rises on Paul Heckingbottom.

The Gunners are the clear favourites to take all three points in the encounter and are aiming to climb back to the top of the table after a 2-2 draw with Chelsea last time out.

Meanwhile Sheffield United are winless in their opening nine matches with just one draw and eight defeats - the most humiliating of those proved to be a record-breaking 8-0 home defeat to Newcastle United.

Heckingbottom is credited with leading the Blades to automatic promotion last term and has overseen a difficult transfer window which saw the club lose the likes of Sander Berge and Iliman Ndiaye but pressure is mounting on the 46-year-old to turn results around.

Infact, Sheffield United’s next game against last season’s runners-up could prove to be decisive for Heckingbottom’s future at the club and Football Insider claims that a defeat against Arsenal will result in him losing his job.

The outlet also adds that contingency plans are being made for Heckingbottom’s potential departure and one likely name to replace him is ex-Blades boss Chris Wilder.

Wilder served as Sheffield United boss for five years between 2016 and 2021 and is credited with guiding the club from League One to the Premier League in his first three seasons in the dugout.

He also stunned football pundits around the world when he guided the club to a ninth place finish in their first year in the top-flight despite operating on a lower budget in comparison to many of the teams below them.

However, Wilder’s career in management has taken a huge hit since his heroics in 2020. Wilder left Sheffield United midway through the club’s second year in the top-flight with the club rock bottom of the league with just 14 points from 28 games.

The 56-year-old has also struggled to find success in recent years at Middlesbrough and Watford who both had aspirations of promotion to the top-flight.