Oliver Arblaster reveals message from teammate after ending Sheffield United goal drought vs Bristol City
Oliver Arblaster scored his first goal in more than two years to help Sheffield United seal a 1-0 win over Bristol City at Ashton Gate on Saturday.
Sheffield United midfielder Oliver Arblaster joked that teammate Japhet Tanganga had been urging him shoot more often after he scored the winner in Saturday’s 1-0 win over Bristol City at Ashton Gate.
The 22-year-old crashed home the only goal of the game with just five minutes on the clock to claim his first goal since August 2024 and help United clinch their second Championship away win of the season.
After Michael Cooper’s ball into the penalty area was only partially cleared by Bristol City midfielder Gibson Yah, the ball fell to Arblaster, who took a touch to compose himself before firing an excellent right-footed effort past Sam Tickle.
Having spent a lengthy period on the sidelines since his last goal, the United academy graduate was delighted to get back on the scoresheet, admitting that his instinct was to shoot as soon as the ball fell to his feet.
“It's so good to be back on the scoresheet,” Arblaster told BBC Radio Sheffield. “It's been a long time since my last one, but, like I just said then, Japh screams at me to shoot more and it just came to me. Instincts just shot and luckily, yes, it went in.
“I caught it nicely, and I think I could tell just before it went in that it was going in. I’m buzzing to score and, most importantly, to contribute to getting the three points. I think it was tough for us on Wednesday night [vs Portsmouth], but today’s performance deserved the three points.”
On the goal itself, the midfielder continued: “Like I say, it's instinct. The touch, it came to me nicely, I touched it and then just hit it sweetly and it went in.
“The celebration needs a bit of work, but I’m not used to scoring goals, so I’ll have to get practising!”
Having gone more than two years without scoring, Arblaster struggled to describe the emotions he experienced as he watched the ball hit the back of the net.
“There is literally no better feeling than scoring,” Arblaster added. “I can’t even describe how good it feels when you see the ball hit the back of the net.
“It would have been even nicer if it had gone into that goal,” he said, pointing towards the goal behind which the United fans were seated. “But it was such a good feeling.”