Match Preview: Arsenal v Sunderland; EPL Match Day 8
They’re back. After two week of international work, Arsenal return to the Emirates stadium to face off against Steve Bruce’s Sunderland. Both of these teams head into week 8 of the young 2011/2012 campaign in need of a result. To say that both have completely underperformed would be a minor mistatement.
Arsenal come into this match with 7 points in 7 matches. They are off to their worst start ever in the Arsene Wenger era. The simple fact of the matter is this – if they want to contend for a top 4 spot they need to string a run of results together now. They are fighting against history on this one. In the Premier League era no team with less than 8 points after 7 games has finished in the top 4, though 3 have finished in the top 5.
While the two week interlull has surely dulled some of the sting of the loss at Tottenham the end result still lingers. We have half the losses we had last season with only 7 matches down. If things don’t start turning around soon for our team, the number of losses could be the most in any recent season.
But there is hope. First, with the exception of the top 2 – those clubs from Manchester and possibly Chelsea no club is having an outstanding season. For instance should Arsenal win against Sunderland tomorrow they will catapult back into the top 10 only 5 points out of fourth. Hardly a mountain in a long drawn out season. But as I’ve said in order to mount a run, Arsenal have to string together a run of positive results in order to challenge for that spot.
Sunderland present the perefect opportunity for the Gunners to try and get back into the win column. Sunderland like Arsenal haven’t delivered as many thought they would. They’ve been even more inconsistent then the Gunners. Their team is riddled with injuries and suspensions. Nicklas Bendtner is unable to play against his loan club so Sunderland will ahve to rely on either Connor Wickham or Ji Young Won up front. Like I said a perfect team for the Gunners to get it going again.
Attackwise Arsenal aren’t without their options with Robin Van Persie enjoying his longest run of health. If Gervinho can find a deft first touch his pace and footwork might actually amount to much. For Theo Walcott, I know alot of people have been hard on the boy but frankly, he is assisting on goals and getting around defenders if he can find a shot he might actually be a full fledged threat. Right now though he has to be careful, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain is showing that he has skill and talent in droves and might just be pushing Walcott out if he is not careful.
What I am plesantly surprised with is Arteta. He hasn’t really had a howler since he joined the club. He is not nor will he ever be the creative force that Cesc Fabregas was and any comparison to our former Captain is just lazy. The only comparison between the two is that each is Spanish and both went to La Maisa. What I like about Arteta’s game is the directness of his passes. Arsenal will always look to pass the ball around and keep possession but more often then not Arteta is direct in his play looking to get the ball forward rather than sideways. He isn’t going to be the creative unlocker of defences when we are faced with 10 men in the box. We lack that (until Jack is back). But he has good passing ability and has a quality shot.
The problem is as it ever was – the defence. We have to hope that Per Mertesacker finds his form and shows us why he is consistently picked for Germany. You don’t get picked repatedly for the German national side without being any good. Koscielny is back and I have to say he is someone I like. He just gets better and has a sense of the occasion. The other thing I like about him is he may be a suitable replacement for Bacary Sagna once Vermaelen is back as a CB. Gibbs continues to grow. The big question mark is Jenkinson who while I believe he has the makings of a solid RB still shows the signs that 18 months ago he was playing non-league ball. But if I am fair that’s a poxy criticism of him. For all the praise Smalling is getting at United, few people seem to mention that Smalling was in the boat. But what we really need to do is cut down the errors. Yes, I know the defence is learning to gell on the fly and a string of injuries can hardly make it easy for that to happen but in order for us to improve, the team, the manager and even the fans need to believe that we are moving beyond our defencive woes.
A positive I noticed at Tottenham (if anything can be taken as a positive) was a move to man marking in set pieces. We seemed to handle play in the box better that way. It shows that we might actually be finally pulling things together there. Yeah, I know I am grasping at straws.
Anyway, its good to have football back that I can get in to. Let’s hope that it results in change I can believe in.
How the Match Should Play Out:
I think I start this section out every time saying that I expect the Gunners to come out flying. I am not so sure that is going to happen. We’ve been tenative. And think they will until the flow gets going at about the 15th minute. Still with Gervinho and Walcott on the wings it should be a steady test for Sunderland’s defence. In the end we still have too many options for Sunderland and will come away with the win.
Players to Watch:
Arsenal. Carl Jenkinson. The Arsenal fan turned player has big shoes to fill in suiting up for the injured Bacary Sagna. Its hard enough playing in the EPL but playing in place of the league’s best RB is another story.
Sunderland. Sebastien Larsson. I always pick out the ex-Arsenal player but frankly he is someone I liked and had hoped we would’ve gotten for free in the summer. He is also Sunderland’s leading scorer.
Projected Lineups:
Injuries and Suspensions:
Arsenal: Vermaelen (ankle), Wilshere (ankle), Sagna (ankle)
Sunderland: Bendtner (ineligible) Gordon (knee) Campbell (knee) Bardsley (suspended -1) Bramble (club suspension)
Leading Scorers:
Arsenal: Van Persie 6 (3 league)
Spurs: Larsson 2 (2 league)
Last Meeting (EPL):
Arsenal: 0
Sunderland: 0
Goals For:
Arsenal (home): 1.3
Sunderland (away): 0.7
Goals Against:
Arsenal (home): 0.7
Sunderland: (away): 1
Last Five:
Arsenal: LWLWL
Sunderland: DLWLD
Goal Difference:
Arsenal: -6
Sunderland: 1
Match Official:
Referee: H Webb
Broadcast Information:
US: Foxsoccer.tv 0830 AM EST
UK: Sky Sports 1 1330 BST
GAMEDAY CHAT: It’s Open!!!!!!
www.youaremyarsenal.com/gamedaychat
YAMA Prediction:
Arsenal: 2
Sunderland: 0
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@ CaribKid
Haven’t we not reached the point where comparing ourselves to the past or to the Manchester clubs is pointless? I watch players like Arteta and Rosisky and know that there is no way we can make top 5 this season, Liverpool with all their problems were favorites to beat us at home and to make it worse they did it!!
If we wish for the best, no injuries and everyone playing their part 5th place is the best we can hope for. I remember the good ol times in 2007 when we could claim to be in transition or MKII, now we are a mid table team. But working for a few years one this I always picked on was that if something looked a little chaotic on the outside it is CRAZZYYYY!!! on the inside. I would love to read a book/article from an insider because there must be a whole lot going on that we don’t know about. Chief executives being fired (David Dein), owners dying, board members selling out others fighting in public, star players leaving, I would love to read it.
Arsenal as we know it is no more
@George Kenya, “Arsenal as we know it is no more”
I think you mean to say, as we “knew” it….
I agree, but that’s the nature of things. If I had lived in Portsmouth in 2006 (instead of at 17 Highbury Terrace, London N5) I bet I would still be trying to follow that team despite their plunge….Likewise, I will with Arsenal…..
Wenger’s latest comments about the summer indicate that things were indeed crazy with “half the team” looking for a lifeboat (wanting to leave)….We can debate (ad nasuem) if that’s the manager’s fault (or the board/owner’s or god’s or whoever’s) but it really doesn’t make things better….
Or we could talk about the troubles in the current squad evidenced from the last match, or we could (maybe) look to bright spots or reasons for hope. As always, but especially right now (given the fragile state of confidence) results are really all that matter. We got one on the weekend and I’ll hope for one tomorrow and in the match after that, and the match after that, etc., etc, etc…..
And soon enough Abou Diaby will be available (I’m actually serious, but I mean to write it with a winky face bigger than anything at the bottom of the page)…..Baby steps for (props to Fred….) Wenger babies…..(and supporters alike)…..
@George Kenya
It’s not about comparing us to the past. Rather, it’s about where we go from here and making the most effective utilization of our players. Wenger simply does not have the capacity to do so at this time.
Ergo, Wenger out and a new regime in.
@George Kenya,
I am a football purist. Always was and will be forever. What is there to say about a team which can’t put in a solid 90 minute performance, we see the same mistakes happening over and over for years and instead of improving we are declining.
This team is less than the sum of it’s parts due to Wenger’s intransigence in failing to change his failed tactics appropriately.
The final nail in the coffin was when I heard him say (more than once by the way), “I have been coaching for 32 years, there are very few who could teach me anything”.
At any stage in life when someone thinks they know it all is when they can be legally declared insane and certified autocratic. He is obviously suffering from delusions of grandeur and will continue to drag this team down unless he is removed, and removed now.
At this point, almost any decent coach could take this team and utilize their strengths more effectively rather than forcing them to play in a manner not suited to their talents.
Don’t normally like ANR, but a they had a headline the other day which was quite appropriate, “Arsenal trying to play Barca football with West Ham talent”. A bit over the top but basically true.
@Caribkid,
Meanwhile Ferguson brings in NEW and YOUNG coaches in regularly to LEARN from them. Same with EVERY other top coach.
Yet our retarded f&^$ of a manager who has NEVER won a CL in his life is too good to learn from ANYBODY.
I dislike Wenger more than ANY other manager in the league. And that pretty much sums it up.
Is the site down or have people given up on the arsenal
No posts after a win? My 2 cents are that Walcott is finnished at. This club and Jenkinson is the best crosser we have.
We are Everton if vp gets injured. A win is a win so well done boys
@George Kenya,
I think the second one is the right one, and Id have to agree with you about Walcott, with the form of Oxlade-Chamberlain and the way Arshavin played yesterday, Walcott needs to find some form or get out
@George Kenya, What is there to say about this current team?
They don’t play well. They don’t play together. They don’t play with any type of style. They are a particularly likable team. They aren’t winners, and they are being lead by a manager and board who have completely dismantled and sold off an incredible team.
Should I care about a 2-1 win?
or should I care more about what will happen at the club with the management and ownership.
Wenger and the Board have rendered the matches meaningless.
PS.
Carl Jenkinson should not be playing in the Premiership, let alone at Arsenal… I’m not sure Gibbs should be either… but that can be said of about half the team.
@stag133, * ARE NOT A PARTICULARLY LIKABLE TEAM
@stag133,
I would have to agree with you on the Jenkinson point, I would rather theyd spent money on someone with more experience but what can you do when the board is tight-fisted eh? You can’t argue with the quality of his crosses though, the kid’s got huge potential.
And as for Gibbs, Im gonna disagree sorry, he’s come on leaps and bounds and he’s not purely attacking anymore, he has been quite steely at the back. Dealing with Van De Vaart at WHL is no easy task and he didn’t do that badly
@George, ok, we’ll disagree on Gibbs. Clichy is better in my humble opinion, and I have not seen anything remotely “steely at the back” from ANYONE at Arsenal in a long time… and definitely not Gibbs.
what am I going to do about the club being “tight fisted”?
Not follow them like I used to, until they bring in new management / ownership / coaching… and address the issues in the team by SPENDING our money on proper talent.
All the supporters can do, is show our displeasure by NOT BUYING MERCHANDISE, NOT SHOWING UP for the highest priced tickets in Europe, and if you go, NOT BUYING FOOD & DRINK at the matches. We can speak with our wallets. Plain and simple.
The lack of interest in the team SPEAKS VOLUMES.
Once we are out of the competitions, you’ll be able to walk up to the match and get tickets for less than face value… a half empty stadium will force changes…
First in a while Ive seen 2 players play the way they did this match in a looong looong time; Rosicky and Arshavin. Rosicky might have been making a point in that he deserves a place in the squad I dont know, all I know is his passing was better and he played quite well. The Same with Andrey, lovely little dribbles and unlucky to not find the net with the first one.
Carl Jenkinson, well his crosses are damn good and we need to make more use of them, he’s not done too badly at RB though. Walcott is still consistently inconsistent unfortunately, Wenger needs to get him playing or have AOC take his place, who frankly is in better form at the moment.
Still shaky at the back unfortunately, Szczesny made some stunning saves as per usual, though Id like it if we had to rely less on them :/ and as for Van Persie; damn he can hit a free kick, unlucky not to have a hatrick with that shot that hit the post, lovely bit of skill there
Spurs (in lavender) give up the lead (twice) in Newcastle, while RVP’s boots saying “Show me the money,” surely falls upon deaf ears…..
Easier perhaps to root against our rivals than to support the Arsenal these days…. But still we soldier on…..Hopefully to scout some South of France talent in midweek……
made it tougher than it needed to be…
but 3 points for this club is always going to be a chore.
Tottenham are rumored to be IN for TEVEZ.
Great stuff…. its a nightmare, in that Tottenham, NOT Arsenal, are signing the players I want ARSENAL get…
Scott Parker for a a pittance… and if they get Tevez for the reported 20 Mill, it will be an absolute STEAL.
They will definitely finish ahead of us if they get Tevez, and I think they will regardless, unless we make some seriousl January moves… HIGHLY UNLIKELY based on recent seasons, even based on the Summer.
Game day chat is open and ACTIVE
Starting XI Szczesny, Jenkinson, Mertesacker, Koscielny, Gibbs, Song, Arteta, Rosicky, Walcott, Gervinho, Van Persie.
Subs Fabianski, Andre Santos, Djourou, Frimpong, Arshavin, Benayoun, Park.
From the programme notes:
“I want to say something about my commitment to Arsenal because there have been many stories in the media lately,” said Van Persie.
“I am committed to Arsenal, and that’s how it is, despite people [in the media] making up stories. For example, they said I was selling my house, but that’s nothing recent, I moved house last year.
“I see stories which make me laugh, but I can see how frustrating it is from the fans’ point of view. But I am committed to Arsenal. I am captain, and fans should not believe everything they read.
“As for that house story, the house has been for sale for a while, but I’m not living on the streets or anything, I have found a really nice house, and yes, it’s in London! So I want to put that straight, I am committed, and I will show that on the pitch.”