Sunderland vs Arsenal preview: Who will take advantage of injuries? Plus favourite line-up
After the last International break I was surprised at the way many were still upset about them. I mean back then, they were World Cup games, hence important fixtures, and (if I recall well) five Arsenal players found the back of the net, something which ultimately was indeed beneficial as after that, we had a brilliant run of form.
This time around it’s different. Even if Ramsey, Fabregas and Eboue scored, we of course suffered injuries and are waiting on how fit Arshavin is for the game. I understand the play-offs but I don’t agree with friendly Internationals before November and December, two crucial months in English football.
Sunderland
As I said last week, this game goes from tricky to very difficult. Even if there are players ready to come in for the injured ones, you can’t hide the fact that we need to replace one of our best players of the season so far and that whoever will fill the Clichy gap at left back will be Wenger’s third choice for that role.
Also, Sunderland are not shy to prove a point against big teams. Having defeated Liverpool at home and snatched an important 2-2 away win against Manchester United, they will want to grab all three points on Saturday, especially since that Liverpool win was their last win in the Premiership.
Darren Bent is of course one to watch. With eight goals, he’s up there in the top scorers table alongside the best strikers in the domestic league.
Favourite line-up
Ah. How much speculation there was during the last seven days on who should replace van Persie, who should replace Gibbs and who should start in midfield with Song missing Chelsea if booked.
Well, I would start with these eleven:
Sagna – Gallas – Vermaelen – Eboue
Song
Ramsey – Fabregas – Nasri
Eduardo – Vela
First of all, Emmanuel Eboue can play at left-back. I don’t remember the game but when he played there last season, I was impressed. Two, I would be a fool not to consider Aaron Ramsey now that he hit top form and score that magnificent goal scored against Scotland, which you can watch here.
I didn’t include Andrey Arshavin. The Russian looked tired even before leaving for International duty, let alone after two stressful back-to-back games with his National side. Believe me, we need him fit and ready for Chelsea, where I repeat, he will be the man of the match.
I’m also not including Denilson as even though he’ll part of the squad, I believe it’s too early for him to make a comeback. Finally, Eduardo and Vela are the two I would start with up front.
Pre-match Interviews
Wenger is a genius. Sunderland manager Steve Bruce was full of praise for the Frenchman ahead of the game, declaring how he will always be grateful to Wenger for the loan of Bendtner, Muamba and Larsson when he was coaching Birmingham.
Bruce told the Sunderland Echo:
I get on well with Arsene and, of all the managers, he’s probably helped me the most.
He helped me get promoted with Birmingham by giving me three players on loan in one season – Nicklas Bendtner, Fabrice Muamba and Sebastian Larsson – and I’ll always be grateful for that.
They were arguably my three best players that season, so they had a massive influence on getting the club up.
Arsenal are an exceptionally young, gifted team and the fella in charge is bordering on a genius. He’s produced team after team, sold player after player and yet always managed to find other players to take their place.
He’s quite an incredible manager and, with his current crop of players, the future looks very, very healthy indeed for Arsenal.
He’s got to be up there with the greats because of how his teams play and the way he keeps on producing players and teams.
Arsene Wenger was relieved that Robin van Persie and Kieran Gibbs will be sidelined for less than initially thought. The Dutchman and the young Englishman both suffered injuries when on duty with their respective National sides.
The Frenchman told Arsenal TV Online:
We knew that when Robin came out with this injury, that he would be out for a long time. But frankly I feared it would be more because the first news was very, very bad. So it was a relief that he would be out for six weeks.
Of course it is a disappointment and something we did not want but I feel we have enough strength to compensate for his absence for a while. It will also allow him to be fresh for when he comes back.
[As for Kieran], our medical staff called me saying he was in hospital in Lithuania with a suspected broken metatarsal. Later on it was much better news. He will still be out for Sunderland but maybe we could have him back for Standard Liege on Tuesday.
The Gunning Hawk Coverage
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This is what we’ve been talking about the whole season. Arsenal having a lot of depth, now it is time for our bench players to go out their and rise to the ocassion !
I think arsenal will be alright tomorrow. The only thing they need is to be focused and commited to the game. Arsenal can do better without RVS though it’s a blow on us.
Eduardo hatrick tomorrow eh? Then vela to add the 4th and captain to add 5th and 6th! go go gunners!
you are nuts…
I would go with almunia, sagna, gallas, vermaelen and eboue.
I might want to rest song and start with denilson, as song will miss the chelsea game with another booking and also denilson needs game.
I would start with ramsey since diaby is out now and of course fabregas. Ramsey to take a more defensive role.
Up front eduardo will be the main striker flanked by nasri on the left and rosicky on the right.
I would bring on walcott and arshavin if we are chasing a game or need fresh legs. Vela might also play a part depending on the score. Senderos and Silvestre on stand by just in case we need them. Traore will be on the bench with mannone.
Yes.
I believe Sagna will be rested in the Champions League, where I believe he has always been on the bench this season.
Thanx Chris nice job.I wouldnt play Song because of the Chelsea game its time we got risky Denilson needs to start and Rosicky needs to play more games to be sharp. Eboue playing on the left side of defence that i like,thats al keep the faith gunners
Pliz wenger buy players we need win and fabrigas pliz remain with the team dnt go my ismail busia kenya
Arsenal will win with 4 goals to one arshavin,fabrigas,nasri,galas, me afey busia kenya
my lineup:
Almunia
Sagna – Gallas – Vermaelen – Traore
Song
Fabregas – Nasri
Rosicky/Walcott Eduardo Arshavin/Vela
The only reason I am not going for 100% with Arshavin is that he might be very disappointed still with the exit of Russia from the WC. In that case, he might just need a break and come back with full spirit for the Chelsea match. Anyways, it might be tricky or even difficult … but we should be able to win this match without a lot of trouble …. Go Gunners.
rosicky needs to play in this game as we need him to start playing regularly. hes the reason why we struggled so much last season. it should be him before ramsey and nasri. also i dont think its a good idea for eboue to play as left back. if i remember correctly, that woeful game he had last season when he was booed by our fans, he played as a left back. i think he had a bad game because the left back position is unnatural to him.
is theo available for sunderland
Yes sir.
great…i bet most of the Chelsea fans will be sweating right now…..
almunia
sagna gallas vermaelen silvester
song
fabrigas denilson
rosisky eduardo nasri
if diaby is not play denilson must in
Sagna, Gallas, and Arshavin will be rested I guess.
Almunia
Eboue, Senderos, Vermaelen, Traore
Cesc, Song, Ramsey
Rosicky, Eduardo, Nasri
Subs : Mannone, Silvestre, Sagna, Denilson, Wilshere, Walcott, Vela
0-3 to Arsenal !!!
i heard rosicky is injured, dunno if it’s true. i would play song for the first 60 minutes or take him off if we get a few clear goals on them. resting sagna might be a good idea and arshavin, although we have to keep enough experience in the overall team to ensure victory. dropping points in this game would be a disaster when we’ve done so well to get close to chelsea. gotta find a win from anywhere against these weaker teams and keep the momentum where in previous years it has often been lost. any complacency and i can see us drawing stupidly (like west ham). stay concentrated and take them seriously and we’ll take those all important points!
This is actually a very valid point I would have loved to point out in the article.
It’s been Chelsea, Chelsea, Chelsea for the last weeks or so but we forget that if we lose tomorrow and then next week, it would mean 0 points whilst if we go out there focused – tomorrow – get three points and then lose next week, well, at least it would mean 3 points out of six.
I understand the ideal scenario is 6 points out of six, but we can’t take Sunderland for granted because Chelsea are next.
I think that if we rest any of our key players 2morrow we wont win, remember, sunderland are a good team. We only just managed to scrape a draw last season so I think its important that we do not under estimate them. If we do lose or get a draw it will give man u a chance to overtake us and the team will become very unsettled ahead of the chelsea game. I would play
almunia
sagna gallas vermaelen traore
song/denilson
nasri
fabregas
rosicky(walcott 60 min sub) eduardo arshavin
Im unsure what i would do about song, it would be risky to play him because if it causes him to miss the chelsea game then it would be disastorous. On the other hand, if he doesnt play then lorik cana might dominate the midfield with his bullying tactics.
Gallas and sagna played 120 Mins on Wednesday night, so I assume would be very tired.
I’d stick to 433 because it’s been working well so we shouldn’t upset the rythem.
So id go with this:
——–almunia
eboue-senderos-verm-traore
fab-denilson-Ramsey
rosicky-edu-nasri
It all depends on how gallas is feeling if he is ok then we are in luck, but I can’t imagine sagna being fully fit.
Arsh has been hit and miss this season and if he played this game somehow i feel like it wud be a miss.
y would gallas be ok but sagna wouldnt? didnt they BOTH play 120 mins :s
Because CBS dnt run as much as fullbacks (hence greater rotation for that position).
I am from India and unfrtunately match will not be telecasted in India today. So please, if any one has game streaming please provide it…..
Hi Kedar.
As always, The Gunning Hawk will provide streaming links, if any, 45 minutes before kick-off.
Cant believe pple are even thinkin of resting Gallas,rest him during the week against Bent and Campbell i wouldnt want to take any chances for real so no changes wouldnt even think of having Silvestre at Left back put Traore in there his speed will get him outta trouble
________________Almunia
Sagna___Gallas___Verma___Traore
____________Song_____________
_______Cesc______Ramsey_____
Nasri__________________Arshavin
__________Eduardo____________
Have a feeling Arshavin will be sulking so if he plays up we will have Rosicky or Eboue or Walcott come in for them i am feeling a bit panicky about this game but 3 points any which way will be welcome
Gallas,Sagna and Arshavin are all rested so that changes the complextion of the game.Gallas and Vermaelen have played all our league games(I think) so Senderos and Silvestre and Eboue will come into the defence.Eduardo as a lone striker is not ideal, but maybe Vela will start with Rosicky(if fit)cesc,Song and Denilson. Theo on the bench.Would love to see Merida play,but more importantly I hope the team are focused to win and not play for the draw,as we obviously have limited options today.I doubt this will be the case,though Sunderland will be very physical and currently hold the record for the most fouls and yellow cards.
Probably our biggest game of the season so far. If we draw or lose then it will make it extremely difficult to make up the points.
Pretty sure Wenger will play Eboue on the right of the front 3 like he has done before this season. I think he’ll go with this:
Al
Sagna Gallas Verminator Silvestre
Song
Fabby Ramsey
Eboue Rosicky/Nasri
Dudu
Personally i’d have Vela in there!
vela will use the spotlight against standard to claim an important role in the team.
him and eduardo make a good duo
both will get 2 goals
with a 5th by nasri