Sunderland will be looking to recover from the 8-0 thrashing at Southampton last week when they face Arsenal at the Stadium of Light on Saturday. The Gunners are the first of the Premier League's big teams to visit the Black Cats and the visitors are coming with good confidence after the great comeback against Anderlecht in the Champions League this week.
However, Arsene Wenger still has to deal with lots of absences in his squad. Mesut Ozil, Laurent Koscielny, Olivier Giroud, Mathieu Debuchy, Theo Walcott, Yaya Sanogo and David Ospina all remain sidelined through injury. Calum Chambers will make his return from suspension, but now Jack Wilshere is banned. Chambers should take his place at right back while Wojciech Szczesny will retake his place between the sticks after missing out on the Champions League match through suspension.
Last time out Arsenal were held to a 2-2 draw at home by Hull City, a result which left the Gunners in seventh place after winning just two of their opening eight games. Despite the heavy defeat last weekend Sunderland are just three points behind Arsenal. Manager Gus Poyet will probably make some changes after the humiliation at St Mary's Stadium. Costel Pantilimon could replace Vito Mannone in goal while Anthony Reveillere could reinforce the defence after joining on a free transfer on Thursday.
Probable starting line-ups:
Sunderland: Pantilimon - Reveillere, Brown, O'Shea, Van Aanholt - Cattermole, Larsson, Rodwell - Johnson, Wickham, Fletcher
Arsenal: Szczesny - Chambers, Mertesacker, Monreal, Gibbs - Flamini - Oxlade-Chamberlain, Ramsey, Cazorla, Sanchez - Welbeck
My prediction: Arsenal to win 2-0.
Here are the odds for the match at Bet365:
Sunderland win - 9/2 Draw - 14/5 Arsenal win - 8/11
mico.femic.1 9 years ago
arsenal has always been among the best , although the previous season was not really shining on the ground. I hope that this season to show his best and to show that they play quality football , because I like the team and the players are good. may need to introduce some reinforcements and to work on it to be even better...
arsenal has always been among the best , although the previous season was not really shining on the ground. I hope that this season to show his best and to show that they play quality football , because I like the team and the players are good. may need to introduce some reinforcements and to work on it to be even better and stronger opponents . Sunderland is not a team .
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Daniel Anderson 9 years ago
Yer John you are right.If you want to win a title,you have to won matches even if you are not playing good.Arsenal in that way won against both Anderlecht and Sunderland.Wins like this often boost confidence of the players.They keep winning three points for a match,and that is the thing that really matters,
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John Andrew 9 years ago
This is great for Arsenal, they must to won matches like this. I expect from them just better and better games, especially when they will be complete. Every years they have a problems with injury, and I hope in next period that they will solve this problem. That would be great for football, because Arsenal plays the most...
This is great for Arsenal, they must to won matches like this. I expect from them just better and better games, especially when they will be complete. Every years they have a problems with injury, and I hope in next period that they will solve this problem. That would be great for football, because Arsenal plays the most beautiful football on the island.
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Milaneli 9 years ago
Arsenal played really good yesterday. Alexis Sanches shows that he is the bigest player of the PL right now, noone can stop him.. Arsenal needs those small wins if he wants to stay in the top of the table. We all know how well they do in derbys.. I am expecting 4th place this season.
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madzgos 9 years ago
Because they won matches like this, I love them. They aren't like a Liverpool or Manchester united, Arsenal against "small" teams usually wins. But in big clash they not have a enough strong team, like a Chelsea or City... And they always have a problem with injuries. For me, definitely they would be second or third this...
Because they won matches like this, I love them. They aren't like a Liverpool or Manchester united, Arsenal against "small" teams usually wins. But in big clash they not have a enough strong team, like a Chelsea or City... And they always have a problem with injuries. For me, definitely they would be second or third this year.
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milanChoka 9 years ago
I think this is just a bad period for Sunderland. But we must be objective and say they played against two very strong team. For majority, the loss from Southampton 8-0 mean they are very bad team, but that is not true. Southampton is now club for respect in Premier league. Second place is not coincidence. Sunderland will...
I think this is just a bad period for Sunderland. But we must be objective and say they played against two very strong team. For majority, the loss from Southampton 8-0 mean they are very bad team, but that is not true. Southampton is now club for respect in Premier league. Second place is not coincidence. Sunderland will continue to play Premier league.
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timidi 9 years ago
no big suprise here. Sunderland continue bad streak and now they look very poor with small chanse to play next yer in premier league. They have one win against stoke at home, but on the road they look like worst team in the league and if they want to stay clear of relegation they should do something about that, still it...
no big suprise here. Sunderland continue bad streak and now they look very poor with small chanse to play next yer in premier league. They have one win against stoke at home, but on the road they look like worst team in the league and if they want to stay clear of relegation they should do something about that, still it isn't too late
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Daniel Anderson 9 years ago
This match was not as interesting as I expected it to be.Arsenal easy won,only because of really big mistakes by Sunderland players.They made some errors,liket they are an amateurs.Alexis was only right player on right place,it was not too hard for him to score.Sunderland is in bad form,they must wake up.
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Daniel Anderson 9 years ago
Ambitions of Arsenal are big,sto they must start winning matches like this regularly.There is no more excuses for Sunderland ,after a disaster we saw last weekend ,they must start doing the things for what are they payed.They must fight and play football like a real men.Hope to see lot of goals today.
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madzgos 9 years ago
I agree with Daniel about prediction... This match is in good time for Arsenal. Match against Anderlecht increase their confidence, while Sunderland looks very poor. Match like that, Arsenal must to win if they want to be on the highest at end of season.
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Daniel Anderson 9 years ago
@Franjo Yeah,return of Woiciech Szczesny is a verygood thing for the Gunners.He is bery good goalkeeper.Podolski managed to score decisive goal in Belgium ,so we might see him in the starting line-up.I think Arsenal with beat Sunderland in match with over 2.5 goals.My preddiction is 1-2 win for Arsenal.
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Franjo ?iDo 9 years ago
I agree with you, Johnny, I think that Arsenal should win this one. They were very good in Champions League, they have won in very imporant match in Belgium, here in Sunderland they will play with better players, Scenzy is back on the goal, that is very important, their attack is very good, I like this squad, they can win...
I agree with you, Johnny, I think that Arsenal should win this one. They were very good in Champions League, they have won in very imporant match in Belgium, here in Sunderland they will play with better players, Scenzy is back on the goal, that is very important, their attack is very good, I like this squad, they can win easily against Sunderland, they are solid team, but nothing special, quality is on away side...
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Daniel Anderson 9 years ago
This can be very interesting match.Sunderland lost last match 8-0 against Southampton ,so they will be very motivated in front of their fans to try to prove that they only had a bad day againt Southampton.Arsenal,otherwise,won in Belgium against Anderlecht in last minutes,but in Premier League they are struggling.
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