Ainsley Maitland-Niles causes problems for the Blades down the right wing, Dean Henderson punches the cross away, it eventually falls to Kieran Tierney but he shoots harmlessly wide.

Both McBurnie and Willock looked a bit dazed but are able to carry on. It's been a very stop-start half so far, but Arsenal will not care as they lead through Nicolas Pepe's penatly.

Postpublished at 36 mins

36 mins

Sheffield United 0-1 Arsenal

A nasty looking clash of heads, completely accidental, between Oli McBurnie and Joe Willock.

Image source, Reuters

Watch John Lundtsram's header be ruled out for offside following a VAR review early on in the quarter-final.

Bad news for all those who have John Lundstram in their Fantasy Football team as the Sheffield United midfielder lands badly from a challenge with Joe Willock and has done some damage to his shoulder.

Norwegian midfielder Sander Berge is on and Lundstram, who thought he had put his side ahead only to be denied by VAR, is taken off and looking in a lot of discomfort.

No complaints about this one. John Fleck wipes out Alexandre Lacazette with a crude challenge from behind. Yellow all day long.

It's one from the training ground. Three Blades are over the ball, the ball is backheeled to John Fleck but all he can do is hit the free-kick into the wall and the chance is wasted.

Arsenal immediately counter and Alexandre Lacazette shoots low and hard but a top two-handed save from Dean Henderson keeps it out.

A free-kick just outside the box for Sheffield United gives them an instant chance to grab an equaliser.

Dave Thackeray: Clear penalty. Perhaps the football Gods are with us.

Adam Salter: Talk about ‘against the run of play’. Good pen by Pepe, what an opportunity Arsenal have now.

Penalty given, Nicolas Pepe to take it.

The corner came to nothing but Arsenal keep the ball. The ball is played into the feet of Alexandre Lacazette, Chris Basham tries to get the ball from behind, clips the Frenchman who goes down. But seems a soft one. VAR is having a look.

Image source, PA Media

Nicolas Pepe does well to wriggle free and get to the byeline. He sends in a low cross but a sliding Jack Robinson is well placed to steer it behind for an Arsenal corner.

Jack Robinson is lucky to not see yellow for a cynical chopping down of Alexandre Lacazette near the halfway line. Not been much of a response from Arsenal so far after being saved by VAR.

Silvio: This team selection by Arteta is baffling. He looks like someone who is trying to look like a genius, but as now he has been everything but that as an Arsenal coach.

Grumpy Expat: The VAR decision unfortunately doesn't rule out the fact that the Arsenal have a softer centre than a choc ice that's been left out in the sun.

Small man: Luckily for Sheffield, Mustafi and Luiz will give them at least two more scoring opportunities

VAR gets it right as John Lundstram is clearly in an offside position when Oli McBurnie's header falls to him.

We remain goalless.

Image source, Getty Images

But wait, we go to VAR.

A half chance for Arsenal as John Egan, back in the team after a sending off against Newcastle, sends a backpass a bit short and Alexandre Lacazette thinks he can get there.

However, Dean Henderson, also back in the side, after being unable to play against parent club Manchester United, gets there in time to hack it clear.

At the other end, Jack Robinson has a shot deflected wide for a corner.

Nicolas Pepe has started wide on the right for Arsenal and he comes inside from the touchline, the ball is played across to Kieran Tierney from left-back but the chance is wasted as the ball goes harmlessly out of play for a throw-in.