EPL Match Day 5: Arsenal v Sunderland; Match Preview
Finally, a real measurement test.
Let’s get right to it shall we? In order for us to prove our mettle, this is a win we must come away with. It’s not a must win. I am sorry I don’t believe in must wins at Week 5. But given the style of play at Sunderland and our howling defeat there last season, this is a match that we simply must use to show our credentials.
Sunderland are going to be a test even though their season has been an up and down roller coaster. They’ve been brilliant against Man City, using the 4-5-1 formation to success. But they’ve also allowed Birmingham to come back and draw against them when leading 2-0 and they’ve been beaten by West Brom.
Additionally, they’ve got a league low 8 total shots on goal and they already have a number of Red Cards – one of which is resulting in Lee Cattermole enjoying the match from the stands. Furthermore, manager Steve Bruce has some selection issues as injuries to his side are mounting up.
Sunderland will look to equal the feat of last season when a visiting Arsenal were unable to mount a counter attack to a Darren Bent goal. The loss was the highlight of the season for the Wearsiders and one of the couple of matches Arsenal shouldn’t have lost.
The Wearsider attack looks to be fronted by the club’s newest and record signing Asamoah Gyan. This could be his first full start for the home club as he has only subbed in the last one. He’ll likely lead the front alone with Darren Bent in the midfield. It is Bent though that is their talisman. Their last win without a goal scored by Bent was in August of 2009.
History however is on Arsenal’s side. Since the inception of the Premier League, Arsenal have beaten Sunderland 10 times, drawn 5 and lost 3 – the most recent being last season’s 1-0 loss. In order to keep Chelsea close by, Arsenal need to win again.
While it will be no easy feat, the Gunners have been up for the task this season. The start to the season was less than impressive, drawing at Anfield but since then they’ve been on a tear. What is more enjoyable is that even with injuries to Van Persie and Walcott, the scoring hasn’t dropped off. Even with the draw at Anfield the Gunners have 13 goals in 4 matches. Next to Chelsea they have the most shots on goal and for all of us concerned about defence, they have only allowed 8 shots on goal in 4 matches.
The Gunners head into this match with fans starting to feel some sense that maybe the player shave come of age. Still, it will take a win against Sunderland to maybe even the meter more in their favour.
They head to the northeast with a myriad of players showing increased potential. Cesc Fabregas seems otherwordly right now. After criticizing his own play after Blackburn, he came out against Bolton and showed why has to be considered one of the best if not the best midfielder in Europe. Against, Braga, well let’s just say, that someone his size shouldn’t be scoring headers against any oposition. He was his best. It seems as if Cesc is doing everything he can to secure silverware for Arsenal this season. It also seems like he has a few players along for the ride.
Jack Wilshere is showing every bit of promise he was supposed in his first full season with the first team. His poise in the box never more evident than when losing the ball in his feet against Braga, he simply back heels it to Chamakh who drives it into the net. Also on the Fabregas ride seems to be Andrei Arshavin. I have a known dislike of Arshavin. Maybe dislike is too heavy, I just think he can do more, and maybe he is just starting to show that. He himself has been critical of his own play and looks to be trying to step it up. There are others but one of the new guys has to be pointed out – Marouane Chamakh seems to give us everything that Nicky B hopes he can be. He is killer in the air (10 of last 11 goals have come off his head), he is deft at dishing out the ball (against Bolton he had 29 passes – only 1 went astray), he looks strong on the ball and isn’t easy to move off. Just ask Blackburn. Throw in good spells by Song, Rosicky, and and the french team back four and we look pretty good.
We need to be. We need to show our class. The passing is looking again like vintage Arsenal. The team as a whole seem to be buying into the idea of pressing on players when they have the ball (something I think they took from Barca when the drubbed us last year) and defencively while we seem to be good for a mistake here and there its been good. One of the reasons could be that our new defencive pairing – even with Vermaelen, feel like they want to prove they belong. Last year, Silvestre, Gallas may have taken matches “off” because they fel there was nothing left to prove, why come out with verve when I’ve done it all already. That doesn’t seem to be the case with our current defenders who seem to be wanting to get in the thick of it. Ultimately I think the defencive middle will be held by Vermaelen and Squillaci. I think Koscielny is still a little green and is sunday roast or two away from being thick enough.
Overall the team seems to be progressing – however, it will take a win this weekend to move minds even further along.
How the Match Should Playout:
This is going to be a tough match. I don’t suspect Sunderland to give us the space that Braga gave us. They will put bodies on us. But unlike City, we aren’t playing with 3 holding midfielders, the four headed attack of Chamakh, Fabregas, Nasri and Arshavin should be a little more to handle than what City offered. It won’t be easy and Bent and Gyan need to be marked. Song will be essential to keeping control of the feeds to Gyan. Look for a fast start by Arsenal to feel out and test the opposition, if they don’t score early, I see a late first half goal opening it up as Arsenal play the patience game.
Players to Watch:
Arsenal: It’s very easy to point to Cesc Fabregas. Each week he should be the man to watch. But right now he seems to want to take his play to another level. It could be the last season he wears the Arsenal red and white and he really looks to be trying to make the most of it.
Sunderland: The club went out of its way to break its bank on Asamoah Gyan. He seems to be tailor made for the EPL. This Saturday the late match sees him get his start against a top club.
Probable Starting XI:
Injuries and Suspensions:
Arsenal: Diaby (ankle) Vermaelen (achilles) Walcott (ankle) Van Persie (ankle) Ramsey (ankle) Bendtner (groin) Frimpong (knee)
Sunderland: Cattermole (suspended 2) Mensah (hamstring) Reid (achilles) Campbell (knee)
Last Meeting (EPL):
Arsenal: 0
Sunderland: 1
Current Form:
Arsenal: DWWW
Sunderland: DLWD
Leading Scorers:
Arsenal: Walcott 4 (4 league) Arshavin & Chamakh 3 (2 League) Vela 3 (1 league)
Sunderland: Bent 4 (2 league) Gyan 1 (1 league)
Match Officials:
Referee: Phil Dowd
Assistant Referees: Simon Long & Dean Mohareb
Fourth Official: Martin Atkinson
Broadcast Information:
US: FSC 12:30 PM EST
UK: ??? 1530 BST
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YAMA Prediction:
Arsenal: 3
Sunderland: 1
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