Europe » England

Premier League Preview: Sunderland - Arsenal

Will seeing Black Cats prove lucky for Gunners?

Nov 20, 2009 2:31:08 PM

EPL: Francesc Fabregas, Sunderland v Arsenal (PA)

Photo Gallery

Zoom

EPL: Francesc Fabregas, Sunderland v Arsenal (PA)

Teams

Saturday, November 21, 2009, Kick-off: 15:00 GMT
Stadium of Light, Sunderland

Gunners left counting the cost of the international break

Arsenal were enjoying an outstanding run of form, despite the handicap of injuries to a string of players, up to the international break, which they went into occupying second place in the Premier League with a game in hand on leaders Chelsea. The Londoners will be hoping to pick up where they left off when the Premier League fare resumes this weekend - although not for the first time, the break proved costly to the north London club.

Robin van Persie injured ankle ligaments playing for the Netherlands in what many Arsenal fans will regard as a meaningless friendly against Italy, and is now sidelined for at least six weeks. It is a particularly bitter pill for manager Arsene Wenger to swallow as the Dutchman has been enjoying his best spell of form since joining the club, linking up to great effect with Cesc Fabregas and Andrey Arshavin. Van Persie had scored seven goals and provided a further seven assists in League games alone.

To make matters worse, Kieran Gibbs limped out of an England Under-21 clash and will also be unavailable to the Gunners at Sunderland this weekend. Ironically, with first-choice left-back Gael Clichy still recovering from a back injury, Gibbs was looking at the prospect of a prolonged run in the side. Now Wenger has an urgent problem to solve in that position on Saturday. But at least first fears of a broken metatarsal proved unfounded. Instead, he has suffered severe bruising to the bones and soft tissue of his right foot, but could be fit in time to take part in Tuesday's Champions League tie against Standard Liege.

At least the French tactician has become used to juggling his player options in the face of a seemingly endless spate of injuries. Given that Arsenal have been playing so fluently up to now despite those injuries appears to confirm Wenger's belief that his squad was strong enough without the need of costly reinforcements last summer. In their last seven Premier League games, Arsenal have racked up 23 goals, and are by a distance the leading scorers in the league with 36 goals from their 11 games to date. The Gunners are also 13 games into an unbeaten sequence in all competitions. Nevertheless, these latest two injuries will further test their resources.

Meanwhile Sunderland are without a win in three starts. Although they will be bracing themselves for a tough task in getting anything out of a clash with Arsenal, the Black Cats have been impressive at the Stadium of Light, collecting 13 points out of a possible 18. They were beaten 2-0 by another north London club, Tottenham Hotspur, in their last League game, but played well and might easily have won. Indeed, they have enjoyed a strong start to the season under the guidance of manager Steve Bruce, appointed in the summer - as their current eighth place testifies.

Bruce’s team have taken the lead within the first 10 minutes of matches on four occasions this season and will probably be looking to make an early impact again against Arsenal - who are yet to score inside the opening 15 minutes of any game this term. The Gunners have, though, scored six times in the five minutes either side of half-time, without conceding a goal in that same period.

FORM GUIDE

Sunderland

07 Nov (Premier League) v Tottenham (A) LOST 0-2
31 Oct (Premier League) v West Ham (H) DREW 2-2
27 Oct (League Cup) v Aston Villa (H) DREW 0-0 (LOST 1-3 on penalties)
24 Oct (Premier League) v Birmingham (A) LOST 1-2
17 Oct (Premier League) v Liverpool (H) WON 1-0

Arsenal

07 Nov (Premier League) v Wolverhampton W (A) WON 4-1
04 Nov (Champions League) v AZ (H) WON 4-1
31 Oct (Premier League) v Tottenham (H) WON 3-0
28 Oct (League Cup) v Liverpool (H) WON 2-1
25 Oct (Premier League) v West Ham (A) DREW 2-2

TEAM NEWS

Sunderland

Goalkeeper Craig Gordon is ruled out for around three months after suffering a broken arm in a collision with Spurs striker Jermain Defoe last time out. He joins midfielder Lee Cattermole, recovering from knee ligament damage, on the sidelines.

Defender John Mensah (calf) and winger Bolo Zenden (hip) could be back in contention, but centre-back Michael Turner is suspended, as is Kenwyne Jones.

Last starting XI (v Tottenham): Gordon (Fulop 66), Bardsley (Ferdinand 77), McCartney, Turner, Da Silva, Malbranque (Healy 77), Richardson, Henderson, Reid, Campbell, Bent.
Subs not used: Nosworthy, Meyler, Reid, Murphy.

Arsenal

As well as Van Persie, Gibbs and Clichy, Arsenal are without striker Nicklas Bendtner (groin), midfielder Denilson (back), goalkeeper Lukasz Fabianski (thigh) and centre-half Johan Djourou (knee).

Theo Walcott (knee) and Jack Wilshere (ankle) are both nearing fitness after injury, and they could be in line for a return to the squad on Wearside, as could Carlos Vela; but Abou Diaby could be sidelined with a thigh strain.

Last starting XI (v Wolves): Almunia, Sagna, Vermaelen, Gallas, Gibbs, Diaby (Song), Fabregas, Ramsey, Arshavin (Nasri 74), Eduardo (Rosicky 70), Van Persie.
Subs not used: Mannone, Senderos, Silvestre, Eboue.

PLAYERS TO WATCH

Sunderland

Darren Bent has scored eight goals so far this season, and more than justified Steve Bruce's faith in splashing the cash in the summer to rescue the striker from what had become a difficult spell at Tottenham. But he missed a penalty against his former Spurs team-mates in his last club game, and did not emerge with huge credit from his long-awaited return to the England team against Brazil. In view of that, he will be determined to re-establish his credentials against Arsenal - ideally with more goals.

Arsenal

Captain Cesc Fabregas, with nine goals so far this season, is Arsenal's leading scorer; and he was on target again for Spain in midweek. He has also supplied 10 assists in League games to date, underlining his importance to the creative element of the Gunners' game. Having developed a synergistic understanding with Van Persie since Wenger altered Arsenal's tactical formation, he will be keen to ensure he and Eduardo are on the same wavelength on Saturday. He also scored Arsenal's late equaliser in the corresponding fixture last season.

PREDICTION

This is precisely the sort of game in which Arsenal cannot afford to drop points, having climbed steadily up the table to sit nicely poised behind Chelsea - whom they face at the Emirates next weekend. But Sunderland, strong at home and backed by a passionate crowd, will provide a stern test of the Gunners' mettle - and that test will be all the harder without the goalscoring touch of Robin van Persie, and with a stand-in - possibly Mikael Silvestre - at left-back. The Black Cats, having beaten Liverpool at home, would love to add the scalp of another 'Big Four' club, so a tough encounter seems inevitable. It's a chance for Wenger's side to prove they have what it takes to push Chelsea and Manchester United all the way this time.

Sunderland 1-2 Arsenal

Graham Lister, Goal.com UK

Thank you for your comment!

Please enter your name

Please enter your location

Please share your comment!