The Gunners looked vulnerable from set-pieces and uncomfortable playing out from the back, while at the other end of the pitch top scorer Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang was largely anonymous and isolated and Blades goalkeeper Dean Henderson was only forced to make one real save – from a 30-yard strike from Xhaka just before half time.

The performance prompted familiar criticism of Arsenal's mentality, with former Manchester United left-back Patrice Evra – a studio guest during Sky Sports' live coverage of the match – describing the Gunners as "babies" in a blistering assessment of a team he claimed he used to relish playing against.

Xhaka said: "We have to stop about mental bulls*** like this. For me, it is the same whether you play home or away – you have to win and show big character and a good game and not to always find the same excuse."

Addressing Evra's comments, he added: "A lot of people they speak too much. It is not the first time he has spoken something about us.

"I have a lot of respect for him as he was a great player but you have to be careful what you say. But it is not only him – a lot of people speak a lot of bulls*** about us. It's always the same.

"For me it is strange as they were in the same situation as us, they were players as well. Sometimes it is good and sometimes it is not always good but every week they speak bulls*** like this every week.

"I tell you the honest truth, I'm not interested in what people say and speak. We have to speak in our group to improve things and work hard and not listen to these people."

Sheffield United's winning goal came after half an hour when Lys Mousset turned the ball home from close range after Jack O'Connell had headed Oliver Norwood's corner back across goal.

Xhaka said: "I think we did a lot of good things and they had one chance, and it was a goal.

"But it's too easy, you shouldn't lose a game because of a corner or a free-kick. We have to improve but there were some good things as well. In the end if you want to be top four then you have to beat Sheffield."