The Soccer Blog: Arsenal - Sunderland Preview

Friday, 4 March 2011

Arsenal - Sunderland Preview

Arsenal – Sunderland Preview - The Offside - Arsenal blog

« RvP Got a Dodgy Knee; Cesc Targets Barcelona Return | Home | Arsenal – Sunderland PreviewBy: Martin | March 4th, 2011
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Sunderland

Position: 8th, 9-10-9 (37 points, -2 goal differential)

Away Form: 3-5-6 (-6 goal differential)

Recent Form: WLLLL

Last Meeting: Sunderland 1 – Arsenal 1 (September 18, 2010)

Back in league action tomorrow against Sunderland.

Our previous meeting with Sunderland this season was one of the more memorable fixtures of the season. I thought Sunderland were terrific that day — they had the majority of the possession, created the better of the chances, and I really thought they kind of beat us at our own game — they were better with the ball on the ground, took care of possession, and looked very, very good.

But we still should have won. Cesc scored that fluky goal off a deflected clearance from 50 yards out, Nasri did well to draw a penalty but then, due to some superstition apparently, refused to take it, leaving Rosicky to step up and sky it over the bar. You knew it would come back to haunt us, and it did, when, in the 95th minute, on the very last play of the game, a long ball was played into the box. It came to Clichy, and all he had to do was boot it clear with his right foot, but instead he dallied and tried to transfer it to his left foot, but the delay meant he kicked it straight into the legs of Koscielny, the ricochet fell to Darren Bent, who was waiting to pounce and scored the last second equalizer. Given how well Sunderland played it was a deserved result, but given the chances we had to make it 2-0 and put it away, it was a real kick in the pills.

We’ll need to be a lot better tomorrow than we were on that day. We are really on the precipice. Manchester United lost on Tuesday. They are now just 4 points ahead of us, and this is a game in hand, so a win pulls us to within a point. And with them missing several key players, including both starting center backs, and their poor away record, dropping points again at Anfield on Sunday is a definite possibility. To put it simply, if we can take care of business tomorrow, given the difficulty of schedules over the last few months, we pull into a virtual dead heat for the league. This is a golden opportunity for us to put the disappointment of the Carling Cup final behind us, and we need to take it.

And at least on paper, our task tomorrow should be easier than it was in September. For one thing, Sunderland are a much better home team than they are an away team. They’ve lost their last 4 league matches. And they sold their danger man Darren Bent in January. So if there was any time and place to play them, it would be tomorrow at the Emirates.

Sunderland are a good side. They’re not a great attacking side, especially away from the Stadium of Light (where they’ve only scored 15 goals in 14 matches), but they’re a solid defensive side and play well together as a unit. We would do well to remember them romping over Chelsea at Stamford Bridge a few months back.

Goaltender Craig Gordon is injured and will likely not play. Fraizer Campbell and Danny Welbeck, also key players, are both out injured, which is a bit of a let-off for us. Dutch veteran Bolo Zenden and walking time bomb Lee Cattermole are also out injured in midfield.

With Gordon out, Simon Mignolet will be between the sticks, and while we’d probably rather have him than Gordon, Mignolet is a very talented young keeper and full international at 22. They’ve got solid defenders in Titus Bramble and John Mensah, and full-back Philip Bardsley as well as Anton Ferdinand, who’s ordinarily a center back but can deputize at full-back. It’s a good defensive unit that will be tough to break down.

Twenty year-old English midfielder Jordan Henderson has been omnipresent for Sunderland this season, and has been tabbed for great things in the years to come. Ghanaian midfielder Sulley Muntari, on loan to Sunderland from Inter, is a big talent who has played on the biggest of stages who can really boss the midfield, and we’ll have our hands full trying to get past him. Former Manchester United man Kieran Richardson will likely feature as well. Playmaker Stephane Sessegnon was a recent addition from PSG, and was established in Ligue 1 and will play in an advanced role. It will be interesting to see if they play 4 or 5 — if they play 5, young Egyptian attacker Ahmed Elmohomady or former Fulham and Tottenham man Steed Malbranque will likely feature as well.

Welbeck, on loan from Manchester United, has been excellent for Sunderland this year, with 6 league goals to his credit, and will be sorely missed. He’s been a massive part of their attack, and looks a real player. But Ghana international Asamoah Gyan will start — he’s got 9 goals in just 13 starts this season, and as United States international fans know, he is a beast. Strong, physical, fast, and skilled, he can be a real handful, and our defenders will need to be vigilant for 90 minutes to keep him away from the goal. He’ll probably play alone up top, with Richardson and Sessegnon pushed a bit forward on the flanks, and Henderson pushed up a bit in the middle, to link him up.

In team news for us, the long-term injuries remain — Flaps, Vermaelen, Frimpong. van Persie is out for at least until early April. Theo is probably out for the same length of time. Cesc is getting close to a return, and is reportedly running without pain, but has been ruled out for this one and faces a late test to possibly play against Barcelona. Alex Song is in the exact same boat and will be out for this one. Koscielny faced a late fitness test but is included in the squad, and Rosicky may still be iffy with the concussion he sustained against Leyton Orient, although Wenger did not mention him in the injury briefing he gave the official site yesterday so I assume he will be included in the squad. Here’s my best guess at a line-up:

Wojo

Sagna-Squillaci-Djourou-Clichy

Wilshere-Diaby

Bendtner-Nasri-Arshavin

Chamakh

Bench: Almunia, Koscielny, Gibbs, Eboue, Denilson, Ramsey, Rosicky

Wojo comes back into goal, and will be looking to put the miscommunication which led to the shocking goal against Birmingham last weekend behind him. Sagna and Clichy come back into the side, as does Djourou. If Koscielny is healthy enough to start, he might, but given that he barely made it back into the squad, I think he may start on the bench; if not, it will be Squillaci.

Wilshere starts. With Song out, either Denilson or Diaby will start alongside him. I could see it going either way. I think Diaby will start — I’m just not sure if it will be withdrawn alongside Jack or in the Cesc role. I personally think he’s woefully miscast in the Cesc role, but Wenger may feel differently. If it’s not him in the advanced role, assuming Rosicky can’t play because of his concussion (and I know I’ve ranted enough about this before so won’t go into it again, but I think it would be very irresponsible to play a player 3 days after sustaining a concussion), I don’t see who it could be other than Nasri.

If Nasri doesn’t start in that role, he’ll start out wide in one of the wide roles. Arshavin will start out wide as well. And either Chamakh or Bendtner will start up front. I think Bendtner will start regardless, as he seems to have turned his form around and will be penciled into the lineup. It’s just a question of whether he starts in the wide position or up top.

Big news is that Aaron Ramsey is set to be included in the squad for the first time in over a year. I don’t think he’ll start, but it wouldn’t surprise me if he came on as a late sub at the end of the match. And if he does, he’ll get a tremendous reception from the Arsenal fans, no doubt. It’ll be a goosebump-raising moment if it happens, but even if it doesn’t, it’ll be great to have him back in uniform and on the bench.

Also, check out this interview Samir Nasri did with the Daily Mail — it’s well worth a read, and based on what he says at the end of the interview, he really wants to stay with the team long-term.

In non-football related news, some of you may have heard that The Offside and World Cup Blog have been purchased by SBNation, a multi-sport blogging network. As is expected under such circumstances, there’s a little bit of fear and trepidation for what this means — Sairax and I both feel that we’ve carved a very nice little niche for ourselves here, and don’t want too much to change. However, we are excited about the potential benefits of being involved with a larger community of bloggers. How this eventually plays out in terms of where we are located, what our status is in relation to The Short Fuse, SBNation’s existing Arsenal blog, remains to be seen.

But for the time being, essentially nothing will change. We’re still here at the Offside — you don’t need to change your URL or anything, there will be no change to content, and I can’t imagine how anyone would even notice the difference. And our new editor at SBNation, Graham, seems very accommodating and eager to work with us in my correspondences with him thus far. Obviously, if there’s any sort of changes to the blog, Sairax and I will make sure and keep you informed in these pages.

As I said earlier, the importance of this match is easy to see. We’re banged up, we’re probably still a little down over the Carling Cup final. But this is a chance to make a statement of intent, that we’re in it to win it this season. A win means Manchester United can hear our footsteps creeping up behind them, and a legitimate battle for the league title over the final months of the season. I think that’s something this team, these players, and all of us as fans desperately want and need at this point. So let’s make it happen.

Come on Arsenal.

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Category: Arsenal News, Fixtures, Premiership, Preview, Sunderland

Tags: Arsenal News, Fixtures, Premiership, Preview, Sunderland
Tweet « RvP Got a Dodgy Knee; Cesc Targets Barcelona Return | Home | C Campbell1000Arsenal is one of the best teams in the world.....who agrees with me fine.....if you not then you have no choice than to accept it. we moving forward and never backward. the "Gunners" as you can see means a lot. If you try to play any tricks game with us,then you looking for your death. Its a warning. A word for the wise man is just enough. have a nice day everyone.Gigi_manMAn, I was not nervous til I read you...whats going on? Your articles were supposed to calm me (ah no yeah, thats for after a defeat, my bad haha).
But yeah, didnt realize how huge it was I guess.
Bent sint there, but this is a good team, tight imo. But I wotn say anything else because when I do the players of the other team go and do exactly what I said....noit this time!
This time go and do it without me saying so on your own!!Darren_VThat Sunderland game was strange all around. Sunderland pressed us and dominated most of the game, some fluke goal and injury to Fabregas. Then Song goes off and I am really worried, and suddenly they couldn't get the ball off our players.
Stupid missed PK, and stupid conceded goal. Ugh...Homey_MillsAnd the Martin decides it would be a good idea to show a photo of the Bent goal. Well done, Martin.MartinI think I'm going to start going by "the Martin" from now on.Homey_MillsOops. Typo. I meant to write "And then Martin..." But if you want to be "the Martin," that's fine with me. Sounds pretty cool.Gigi_manHaha, I figure ut was a typo, but I agree, sounds super cool, way to go The Martin, writing for The Arsenal, who is the biggest fan of The Dane!AMapsAnyone think we should play 4-4-2 with Chamakh and Bendtner up front? That worked pretty well against Leyton, and it suits Nick's style more (he scored a hattrick remember?). Also, he looks lost whenever he's played on the wing, I'd much rather set Nasri to play there.MartinI still don't actually think we were playing a 4-4-2 against Orient. I think we were playing a 4-2-3-1 with Bendtner on the right, but Bendtner realized pretty early on that Orient weren't much of a danger down the flanks, so it didn't really matter for us defensively if he stayed in position or not, so he could just run around wherever he wanted to in the attacking third.

There are some good arguments for playing a 4-4-2, but at this point I think the players are so accustomed to the 4-2-3-1 that Wenger won't change it even if it's a better fit for the personnel on hand.SairaxYeah, I'll be honest. I try to look up formation stuff for games using ESPN heat map and average position stuff, but it wasn't available. A lot of people were saying we were 4-4-2 so I just kinda went with it. lol I'm such a proDarren_VThey were only doing that because Fox said it was a 4-4-2 to start the game, which was blatantly incorrect.Gigi_manYahoo sports online also had Nick and Chamakh as strikers not as MF nor wingers. And then 4 MF and 4 Def.
They do not know that Nick was used as a winger maybe and concluded that AW was suprising the rivals...? AW a chess player...?Homey_MillsI'm glad I'm not the only one who has trouble at times figuring out what formation a team is officially playing. I don't feel quite as unsophisticated as before.Gigi_manWhattt??? you didnt know that for example Almunia also plays as striker?? :PMartinYou're definitely not alone. Bendtner, Diaby, and Eboue don't understand what a "formation" is, either....WolffyDo you think Miguel could get a start? I know he is young, but everytime Squizz plays he looks terrible. I just hope that Kos is healthy enough to play.MartinI can't see Miquel starting. Squillaci has actually been okay when paired with Djourou, and maybe it was just me, but I thought Miquel was much less impressive in the second Orient match than he was in the first one -- what really jumped out at me was just how slow he is -- he makes Senderos look like Theo Walcott.Wolffyhaha nice senderos metahporblog comments powered by Disqus