Match Preview: Arsenal v Sunderland; Yes it’s a must win.
“It is frustrating, but we have to play better. That is how we have to think. We dominate our games.
“It is just when we have a weaker moment we pay for it. That is why I think we have to produce more effort defensively as a team.
So says the manager and so sayeth we all.
This is not the start to the season any of us envisaged when the likes of Alexis Sanchez, Mathieu Debuchy, Calum Chambers, and David Ospina were announced as signings to the club. Our hearts went a flutter when the signings were done and dusted well before the team had kicked a ball.
But as the military saying goes, “No battle plan survives the enemy” and as the season started to develop game after game passed by and we stuttered and puttered looking less like the purring sports car we had hoped for and more like the lemon sold from the chop shop down the road. It is down to many reasons that have been debated and dissected in the press and in social media. And to be truthful each one of the reasons likely is part of the overall reason why we’ve been so inconsistent. But at some point it has to change, doesn’t it?
There is too much talent on this Arsenal squad for it not to go on a prolonged run of success. Sooner or later the leadership that was there last season will rise up again and I think it might this weekend with the likelihood that Mikel Arteta will get the start in the deep lying role versus Matthieu Flamini. Say what you will about Arteta’s declining ability as he ages, but he is a leader and he has been in and out of the squad for a while,.
Today would be a nice day to eradicate the doldrums that have hit this squad. The recipe is there. Late minute winner in the middle of the week to put a spring in the team’s step, an opponent whom we’ve been quite successful against in past and the return of Theo Walcott all are parts of the reason why we can be successful today. However, that doesn’t mean we should take Sunderland lightly in anyway.
They may have come off their worst defeat in 32 years. But you have to think that is more anomaly then reality. They are a much better team than that 8-0 drubbing dictates with Gus Poyet having done well enough with this squad to make that before last weekend the team had only conceded 7 goals in total. Gus has been favoring a 4-1-4-1 system to help the team on the counter attack and I tend to agree with those that Guy will likely try and sit back and take advantage of our numbers forward situation.
Wenger has some roster choices to make as Calum Chambers is available for the squad this weekend after having been suspended last week. The question is where will Wenger put him? If he puts him out on the right, then Monreal gets to go in the middle but yesterday Wenger gave a little a hint as to where he may put the 19 year old Englishman tomorrow and in the future:
“If I had to bet today I would say centre back,” said Wenger. “I wouldn’t rule out central midfield and of course he can play right back as well.
“When he was a kid he played in midfield and he has been moved to right back so he likes to be at the heart of a game. Physiologically he’s more a central player than a wide player.
If Chambers does slot in at at CB in place of Laurent Koscielny, the Hector Bellerin will go into the RB position. Last week versus Hull, Bellering performed admirably with not much ti report on in terms of his defensive capabilities (he was hardly tested) but he definitely looked good going offensively.
Additionally, Jack Wilshere is suspended and that means the midfield three is likely to be Cazorla in the 10 role behind Welbeck with Ramsey and Arteta behind. While Ramsey hasn’t exactly matched his form from last year, I always get the sense the squad moves better with him than without. Even though his shot is off and he has brought back his misfiring back heel, he still gets into the right positions and makes smart runs from deep.
With Jack in the squad the team never seems as effective. Sure, he is a quality player and is capable of moments of beauty like last season’s goal of the year but for the most part, like a youth player he still holds the ball too long in most cases usually resulting in plays dying at his feet or as he petulantly pulls himself off the ground. We’ll get to see if my and others theory about arsenal performing better when Jack is out of the squad. If it holds true then Wenger should (but won’t) seriously consider making a change to the lineup.
The real good news is that we’re close to seeing Theo back on the pitch in a starting role sooner rather than later. The boss confirmed this week that Theo won’t start and he was hemming and hawing about whether he’d be on the bench but all indications are he will be in the lineup as a potential sub. Given the speed that Theo brings the potential of a the three-headed attacking hydra of Sanchez, Walcott and Welbeck is savory prospect we’ve all be waiting for since Sanchez’s deal was announced. Depending on how the match develops though, I still feel it unlikely he makes it on the pitch today, I think it’s more likely he’ll be back for Burnley at home.
The term “must win” is a cliché tossed about all the time but it does seem fitting now. With only 2 wins from 8, Arsenal haven’t yet shown the promise of the season. They need this win more than any other. They need something to jump start the season and build on the last minute heroics of the midweek.
Despite the gloom, Arsenal are still in touch of getting into the Champion’s League spots. I know it is not what we all had hoped for when the season kicked off and while there will likely be a Chelsea and City stutter at some point, it’s fair to say the title is likely gone at this point. Now we can only focus on what we can, getting into the top 4 (ugh). It has to start today.
Players to Watch:
Arsenal. Danny Welbeck. Much like the team around him, he has sputtered but he is finding his scoring touch and Sunderland are a team he like to score against having scored 6 against them when at United.
Sunderland. Vito Mannone. All of Sunderland had a howler but some of the goals were poorly played by Vito too. He’ll want show make amends and what better way to do it then against his former team?
Probable Lineups:
Arsenal (4-2-3-1) Sunderland (4-1-4-1)
Injuries & Suspensions:
Arsenal: Debuchy (ankle), Diaby (calf), Giroud (foot), Koscielny (Achilles), Ospina (thigh), Özil (knee), Wilshere (suspended -1)
Sunderland: Álvarez (knee), Coates (thigh), Giaccherini (ankle), Jones (hamstring).
Match Officials:
Referee: Kevin Friend (5M, 20Y 0R)
Assistant Referees: Collin, Hatzidakis
Fourth Official: Mason
Head to Head:
Broadcast InformationL
UK: Arsenal Player 15.00 GMT/BBC MOTD 1 (Highlights)
US: NBC Sports Network 10:00 AM EST
YAMA Prediction:
Arsenal 3 – 1 Sunderland
Match Facts (courtesy FourFourTwo)
- Sunderland have scored 16 own goals since the start of the 2010-11 season, more than any other Barclays Premier League side.
- Arsenal are looking to win four Barclays Premier League away games in a row against Sunderland for the first time.
- The Black Cats have won just one of their last 21 Premier League games against Arsenal.
- Arsenal need two more goals to become the second team (after Man Utd) to score 1500 Premier League goals.
- Arsenal’s two league wins this season have come via a 90th minute winner against Crystal Palace in their opening game and 3-0 win at struggling Aston Villa.
- Only two Premier League teams have kept a clean sheet after conceding 8+ goals in the preceding match (Arsenal in 2011 after losing 8-2 to Man Utd and Wigan in 2009 after losing 9-1 to Spurs).
- Despite conceding eight to Southampton last time out, Sunderland (2) have kept twice as many Premier League clean sheets as Arsenal this season.
- If Arsenal fail to win it will be their worst performance after nine games in the Arsene Wenger era (previously 13 in 2011-12).
- If Arsenal lose they will have half the number of points they had at this stage last season.
- Lee Cattermole has been booked in two of his last three Premier League appearances. His overall record is 65 in 212 games (plus seven red cards).
