WILL Sheffield United look back one day at their 6-0 hiding at Arsenal and smile?
Perhaps not yet.
But certainly the heavy defeat at the Emirates Stadium on September 23 could end up being a turning point in their season.
Before that Carling Cup third-round tie, United had lost twice and drawn twice in their previous four outings.
Yet since the hiding, Kevin Blackwell's men have won all three of their matches and conceded only once in four-and-a-half hours of play.
And that period has also signalled striker James Beattie's return to prominence. He has scored three times.
United were still licking their Arsenal-inflicted wounds when they beat Watford 2-1.
It was just four days after their humiliation in Nnorth London - and it set the Blades back on the right path.
In fact, it took just a minute for Gary Speed to get the club back on track, Beattie weighing in 65 minutes later with the decisive goal.
A 2-0 win in the South Yorkshire derby at Doncaster Rovers followed.
And then former England man Beattie led the charge again, last Saturday, when he scored two in the 3-0 rout of Bristol City.
Compare that with Arsenal.
Since putting the Blades to the sword, Arsene Wenger's side's league form has been poor - they lost at home to Hull City and only a 90th-minute steal from Cesc Fabregas earned them a point at Sunderland.
Now United hope they can keep their momentum going - with a trip to Hillsborough looming next!
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