Nade goal stuns Arsenal

Arsenal's Robin van Persie (L) is challenged by Sheffield United's Phil Jagielka during their English Premiership football match at Bramall Lane, in Sheffield. Sheffield won 1-0.

Arsenal's disappointing year ended predictably in frustration when Christian Nade's first Premiership goal earned struggling Sheffield United a deserved 1-0 victory over Arsene Wenger's side at Bramall Lane.

Nade, a free signing from Troyes in the summer, was only starting because of a long list of injuries yet the 22-year-old responded to his rare chance in the spotlight by smashing a 40th-minute winner.

Arsenal's first defeat in eight games left them 17 points behind leaders Manchester United with 17 games of the season remaining.

Sheffield United's sixth victory since returning to the top tier in August was even more remarkable as they were forced to play the final half an hour without a recognised goalkeeper.

Republic of Ireland stopper Paddy Kenny was forced off with a suspected groin injury and with no goalkeeping back-up on the substitutes bench, Phil Jagielka, who stared the game in the centre of defence, was forced to pull on the gloves.

Arsenal arrived in Yorkshire desperate to usher in the new year in style after a hugely disappointing 2006 in which they had finished fourth in the Premiership - 24 points behind champions Chelsea - and suffered heartbreak in the Stade de France against Barcelona in the Champions League final.

Tame cup exits at the hands of Wigan and Bolton also contributed to a 12 months Wenger would rather forget.

Yet they had enjoyed a productive Christmas after netting back-to-back wins to reclaim third place in the Premiership table.

Without injured duo Thierry Henry and Emmanuel Adebayor, who have netted 12 league goals between them this season, Wenger gave Frenchman Jeremie Aliadiere a rare start while Julio Baptista, on loan from Real Madrid, partnered the in-form Robin van Persie in attack.

It was however Tomas Rosicky who first came closest to breaking the deadlock, Paddy Kenny flinging himself across his line to deny the Czech Republic ace his first Premiership goal in the fifth minute.

Wenger had warned Baptista, making only his third start, on the eve of the match that he needed to start showing the ability that persuaded him to sign the midfielder in the summer.

Yet he looked painfully out of touch when presented with a golden chance to score by Aliadiere in the sixth minute.

Baptista, unmarked and just eight-yards out, failed to control the Frenchman's cross which allowed Nick Montgomery to make a crucial challenge.

Gilberto Silva and Aliadiere both spurned costly chances before United stunned the visitors by taking the lead against the run of play five minute before half-time.

Alan Quinn had already wasted a golden chance to put the hosts ahead when he played a super ball to Nade after an Arsenal move had broken down.

Nade, making his first Premiership home start, glided past the pedestrian Kolo Toure before steering the ball beyond Lehmann to send Bramall Lane wild.

Far from sitting back on their hard-earned lead, the hosts spent the opening exchanges of the second half looking to increase the lead.

Nade, quiet before his goal, looked a completely different player as he teased and tormented Philippe Senderos and Toure.

Yet the Blades suffered a tremendous blow on the hour mark when keeper Kenny was forced off with a suspected groin injury.

With no back-up, Jagielka was forced to guard the posts with half an hour of the game still to go.

Warnock sent on defender Claude Davis to give his rookie stopper extra protection while Wenger, suddenly sensing a way back into the game, replaced right-back Justin Hoyte with Spanish talent Cesc Fabregas.

Yet Arsenal could find no way through as United claimed their first victory over their opponents for 33 years.