Match Preview: Arsenal v Sunderland; Premier League Match Day 24

Last week we saw what a focused, determined and back against the wall mentality can do when applied in the right way. If Arsenal are going to get their first win at the Stadium of Light since 2008, the performance will need to be on par with the drubbing they gave Blackburn.

Arsenal enter a big week on this match. They have 3 key matches against two teams. For the next two Saturdays the London side visit Sunderland and in the mid-week the travel south to Milan to take on Serie A leaders AC Milan in the Champion’s league. Calling this anything other than a mammoth week is an understatement.

3 wins or anything akin to a slew of positive results will have huge implications on the rest of the season. Only the tie for Premier League though holds any negative connotations to it. In the Champion’s League there is always the return leg and for the FA Cup, getting bounced may not be bad if the Gunners need to focus on fighting for the top four.

Speaking of the top four, the run in to the end of the season requires some serious focus and effort and the feat for Arsenal isn;t easy this week as they take on the Premier League’s in-form side. Since Martin O’Neill took over Sunderland have taken 22 from an available 30 points. If the league started when O’Neill took over for the Blackcats, Sunderland would be sitting at the top of the league.

Arsenal’s opponents are much different from the side who visited the Emirates at week 8 under Steve Bruce. What is different is that they are playing with more confidence and self-belief. They are also playing every game as if its an imperative to win it.

They’ve been doing it in a consistent basis. Behind the pacy, direct play of Stephane Sessegnon the Sunderland attack has been wicked good. The combination of crosses coming in from former Gunner Seb Larsson and youngster James McLean and the pace of Sessegnon and Fraizer Campbell have developed into one potent attack.

The key battle in this match will be in the midfield Colback and Gardner are a solid tandem that are skilled at clogging up the middle. Arsenal are going to need to win this battle if they intend to hurt Sunderland. If the Blackcats have a weakness its in the central defence where they lack pace and are prone to defencive gaffes.

The good news for Arsenal is that they take on a squad that will be playing its 5th game in the last 13 days. The last game they played was 120 minutes of an FA Cup replay in the middle of the week.

The Gunners, well they are rested having last played against Blackburn in the 7-1 thrashing at the Emirates. The news gets even better as the squad they will take to the Wearside is getting healthy. Kieran Gibbs could feature which would mean natural fullbacks back in the squad since early December.

There are points to be had here and all the teams around Arsenal have rough games. Chelsea take on Everton who are looking really good at the moment and could pose problems for the embattled AVB. Liverpool and United will go at each other in their 3rd such meeting this season. And Newcastle and Spurs face off in a match that is a sure challenge for both squads.

The task is simple. Win, and keep the pressure on the other clubs around us. Lose and well – I don’t think you need reminding of what the implications of a loss to Sunderland would be. It simply can’t happen. The importance of the match isn’t lost on the team either

“It will be tough – playing up there is never easy and it is even tougher when you play in February in this weather. It is up to us, though, we have to know that we are in for a big battle. They are on a very good run and they are confident, but if we play our game we have a big chance to win it. ” – Mikel Arteta 

From the manager there was this:

“Points are going to be dropped this weekend among the contenders for fourth place. Just as long as it is not us.

“We know what is going to be expected and we know that we are in a position now where we just want to win our games. That is the case until the end of the season. We have to be absolutely, completely up for it and to be focused to win.”

With the recognition of what is at stake, the club can ill afford to come out on to the pitch with anything less than a determined performance anything reminiscent of the Bolton match or the Swansea match could quite possibly start a long trek to the end of the season reminiscent of last season’s version of the Batan Death March.

Still with a squad that is fit and not featuring any major niggles and with out a doubt the league’s best forward – this team can do it. I feel about the starting XI like I have about recent squads – they are good enough to do the deed. The fact is even with all their woes Arsenal are the third best scorers in the league. Their home form is as close to a fortress as anything. They simply have to have the mental capability to close out matches and focus on locking down opponents. They also have to find that extra switch that you need to have when you walk on the pitch and the last thing you want to do is play 90 minutes of football.

Its only when the team has lost this focus or approached the match with anything less than the mental effort required have they failed. United have had injury problems on par with Arsenal this season. Their squad depth isn’t much better but to a man on that team they believe in themselves and their ability to get through matches that are tough. It is why when down 3-0 to Chelsea you just had a thought they would come back. Arsenal need to find that mental ability. That second gear that you need.

They need leaders to see them through this epic week for the club. They need to look at each other collectively and inside each other individually and take a measure of themselves. If they don’t – then the fans will take measure of them and as we’ve seen when we do – it’s not a pretty thing.

How the match should play out – 

If Arsenal come in and run at Sunderland, look for the Blackcats to sit back, get behind the ball and try and hit Arsenal on the counter. If that’s the case, then Arsenal need to spend time trying to exploit the weakness Sunderland have in the middle of their defence. It won’t be easy. Sunderland are riding a set of  3 matches in a row with out conceding a goal. Still Arsenal offer a challenge with our pace and the new-found wileyness of Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain. Also with Bacary Sagna back and gaining in form, it will free Theo up to get forward and have the support he needs. Is it any wonder Theo had 3 assists last week when he had a proper full back behind him? All of that will need to come in to play if Arsenal are going to force their way to the 2-1 away win I see in the offing.

Players to Watch:

Arsenal. Alex-Oxlade Chamberlain. The kid simply plays above his years. Without fear and with purpose. He made defenders at United look silly and Blackburn were simply schooled by the youngster.

Sunderland. Seb Larsson.  I consider him one who got away this season. He was out there to be had. He trained with the squad in the summer and could have been a Gunner again but we passed. If you need to know why I want him. Go watch the video of his goal against us in the first tie at the Emirates. ’nuff said.

Projected Lineups:

Injuries and Suspensions:
Arsenal: Diaby (hamstring) Frimpong (knee) Gervinho (international duty) Jenkinson (back) Wilshere (ankle) Santos (ankle).

Sunderland: Bendtner (ineligible) Kilgallon (match fitness) Cattermole (hamstring) Vaughan (ankle), Angeleri (knee) Brown (knee) Gordon (knee) Bramble (Achilles/calf).

Leading Scorers:
Arsenal:  Van Persie 22

Spurs: Sessegnon 6

Last Meeting (EPL):

Arsenal: 2

Sunderland: 1

Goals For:

Arsenal (away): 1.8

Sunderland (home): 1.6

Goals Against:
Arsenal (away): 2.1

Sunderland: (home): 0.9

Last Five:
Arsenal: WDLLL

Sunderland: WWWLW

Goal Difference:
Arsenal: 12

Sunderland: 9

Match Official:
Referee: Neil Swarbrick (Matches 7, R2 Y21)

Broadcast Information:
US: Foxsoccer.tv 1000 AM EST

UK: Arsenal Player 1500 GMT

GAMEDAY CHAT: It’s Open!!!!!!

www.youaremyarsenal.com/gamedaychat

YAMA Prediction:
Arsenal: 2

Sunderland: 1

The Final Word – 

It seems when the press aren’t crucifying Fabio Cappello or raising one for Harry Redknapp to get on they are running with reported rumors about Arsenal.

This week there were two worth noting. The first had to do with some supposed comments that Robin Van Persie may or may not have said to Marca, about playing for Real Madrid. Supposedly in an interview with the Spanish magazine Van Persie said this –

‘I am grateful to hear about the interest of a club as important as Real Madrid. It’s logical that players desire to play for them. But I don’t believe that Arsenal would accept any negotiations.’

There seems to be one little problem. Van Persie took to twitter to say this:

‘Contrary to reports in Spain I have NEVER spoken to Marca newspaper and never gave any interview. Enjoy your day”

Oops. This is what happened with Cesc. Alot of the surrogates for the club began circulating rumours in an attempt to destablize the player. In this case pulling on Fabregas’ yearnings to go home. Now, it’s RvP with a reported quote in an attempt to make it seem like Arsenal would be better off selling the player.

Whomever wrote the article for Marca forgot one important thing about Van Persie, he is no fan of Real Madrid and has railed against their revolving door policy for managers. Van Persie has the mentality of an old-timer in the body of one of the newer generation. He approaches the game and his loyalty to the team he plays for much in the way as the legends of all did. This isn’t to say that Van Persie won’t leave. He may. Van Persie is still a very competitive player and he may want to play for a squad that is winning things.  It’s why if he leaves I think it will be either to a club like Barcelona. Still, what I like about Van Persie in this situation is he is instantly coming out to refute any rumours instead of letting them linger and fester like a former captain now residing in Spain. Once the player comes out there is very little breath for a rumour like this to fester.

The other nugget out in the interwebs was an innocuous comment that Wenger made in an interview where he said he needs to make a £20 million profit every summer. The quote was run in the middle of a few articles and was without any context whatsoever. It was instantly carried right away as a story focusing on the fact that Arsenal didn’t have money to do things.

However, that wasn’t really the case. What it was referring to was Arsenal trying everything possible to pay off the debt for the stadium in an efficient manner. The debt payments the club has to make is around £15 million each year. So regardless of the business the club has to do they want £15 million on hand to service the payments. Here is Wenger on the matter in a current piece on Arsenal.com –

“We want to pay the debt we owe from the stadium we built, that’s around £15 million [per year]. So it’s normal that at the start, we have to make at least £15 million or we lose money.”

Wenger insists he does not feel that his hands are tied in the transfer market due to the financial requirements of the Club.

“I accept one basic principle for every company; that you can spend the money you make.”

Case closed.

Oh and in case you missed it – Gervinho is in the finals at the Africa Cup of Nations and could be back with the club in time for the clash at AC Milan. Sadly, Thierry Henry will leave the club the day after that as the New York Red Bulls have rejected a request to extend his loan to February 26. Wayne Bridge could play for Sunderland (I hope so.) And if anyone cared Marouane Chamakh is back too.

See you all on the flip side . . . Stay Goonerish!!

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