Gunners Nerve To Be Tested At Sunderland
Apr 23rd, 2016 by 'holic
I can’t say I am sorry that we are leaving this week behind. The loss of Victoria Wood and Prince, two very different but supreme talents, has left a feeling of gloom hanging in the air. For a couple of days football was quite rightly not at the forefront of the mind.
The new week will start with Arsenal’s visit to Sunderland in the early kick-off. The Mackems are desperate for the points to give themselves a lift out of the relegation places and we are in need of a win to aid our pursuit of at very least a top three berth. It won’t be a great watch for those of a nervous disposition on either side. Arsene admitted as much in his pre-match press conference, commenting on the hosts.
“When you go into the game of that intensity your focus has to be one hundred per cent because today, to stay in the Premier League, teams need to be ready for a fight. We have to prepare mentally to face a very intense game.”
I’m told that Arsenal had their full first team squad training today for the first time since 2013. Indeed the photographs of the session on Arsenal.com show Tomas Rosicky, Santi Cazorla, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, and Jack Wilshere enjoying their day in the sun. Whilst Arsene would not be drawn on the matter only Wilshere has a realistic chance of making the squad this weekend.
Does he make changes to the starting line-up against West Brom on Thursday? Most at risk may be the unfortunate Olivier Giroud, although the boss may like to retain his ‘target-man’ capability in what promises to be a tense early afternoon on Wearside.
As for Sunderland, Yedlin and Lens are doubtful but Rodwell returns after injury. Remember when he was the next best thing coming out of Goodison and signed for an unhappy spell at Manchester City? Last week they thumped Norwich at Carrow Road with goals from Borini, our old friend Defoe, and Watmore. Defoe has scored nine goals in sixteen appearances since the turn of the year.
The ‘holic pound
Our recent record at the Stadium of Light is seriously impressive. Unbeaten in five and winning the last four there including last seasons 0-2 win thanks to an Alexis brace. They may prove to be harder to break down this time and like all Allardyce teams down the years they will look to threaten at set pieces. I’m drawn to a 1-2 away win at around 8/1.
Good luck to the travelling Gooners. Sunderland is a hike at the best of times and hopefully the team will make your considerable efforts to get there worthwhile. I will be behind the sofa again, and at 2.05 pm I will only have a mug of coffee for company. Watching the Arsenal sober these days, it’s not good for the mental wellbeing.
On that note I have more Prince tracks to listen to.
Have a good one, ‘holics.
29 Responses to “Gunners Nerve To Be Tested At Sunderland”
A chewy fixture.
I thought that was the toffees? 😉
Third?
Just win Arsenal. Just win.
There’s an epic battle at the bottom of the table to avoid relegation. Benitez is really doing an impressive job at Newcastle. It was an unexpected good move by the worst owner in the league. That said I expect Allardyce to pull it once again, he really is the manager with the best record at the bottom and knows exactly what to do at the wire.
We need to win this game but if we play again with 2 midfielders and 4 attack-minded players we’ll make this harder for ourselves.
I like 1-2 but wouldn’t be surprised by a draw if I’m honest.
Speaking of epic battle the championship is tighter than la Liga at the top with 2 games to go. Burnley, Boro and Brighton all on 87 points and within 3 goals on goal difference. Their next games should be worth watching.
Hopefully it will be “When Mackems cry” but sadly Wenger is no longer a “Sexy M.F”
Nice one maestro. Welcome to the bar. 🙂
Cheers H! Hopefully see you, the neighbour and other righteous folk next Saturday.
Considering they have a CL semi final to play midweek,that was an impressive 4 zip win for City today,against an admittedly pretty woeful Stoke.
Interestingly there were plenty of empty seats at the Etihad today,as there were at the Old Toilet midweek,but of course no mention of that in the press,just the morgue at the Ems.
City,like us,know how important a top 3 finish is this season.
The Euros don’t finish till July 10th,so not a lot of pre season for some of our players.
A play off CL 2 legger would be about as welcome as another post from Cynic moaning about the serious failing’s of our in his words,
” complete twat of a manager “.
Words do fail me sometimes.
Sunderland won’t be easy,with mad Sam in charge,he knows where our weakness is,so expect plenty of long balls into the box and an afternoon of head tennis.
Despite that,we are a class above them,and if the referee allows us to play football,we should knock them off.
Up at crack of sparrow’s to head up the A1. Had to miss WBA as I was on a plane back from Germany. Let’s hope Sanchez can keep that form going against the Mackems, and that my aging body can get up the 12 flights of stairs to the top of the SoL.
Come on Arsenal. With Alexis seeming to pick up some steam, we might be tough for the Mackems to stop if we can match their application. Big if but maybe Arsene can see to it.
Nice post as ever H! I fancy 2-1 to us as a very decent bet but if we can score early as we did against West Brom I think we might do better. They will be very nervous and as Clive says we should have too much class for them. I think it will be interesting to see if he brings in Coquelin or leaves Ramsey and Elneny in place. Jack should be on the bench. Sadly Man Yoo are flying now do we do need to keep winning . Hopefully we will.
With only one win the the last 24 meetings of the clubs, not to mention their relative positions in the Prem, it’s hard to imagine Sunderland making it two. But then many things have been hard to believe this season, so one more wouldn’t be a shock, just another fkg disappointment.
Fingers crossed we aren’t completely embarrassed with worse than a draw, and ever hopeful we’ll put half a dozen past them as we really should IF a player or two remembers to pack their shooting boots.
I’d keep OG up front and hope to see Jack subbed on – preferably when we’re comfortably ahead (if anything is ever comfortable with our defence).
1-3.
Michy Batshuayi. Pick him up before the Euros!
I would start with Per and Giroud as Sunderland are so dependant on set pieces for X their goals.
Mike Dean is officiating so a draw at best. All I hope for is that the right Arsenal turns up and plays with commitment.
Cheers H.
The last 2 games I have seen any of were Manure and Palace. Just a warning as i’m likely to see some of this one too and the omens aren’t great!
My money is on Iwobi to score first in a 4-3 victory. It’s about time we were involved in a silly scoreline. I’m looking for 2 crap defences, alright lads?
UTA!
Fat Sam’s record against Arsenal/AW may be less impressive than many remember: P30 W5 D7 L18.
I doubt that it will be a pretty game. Sunderland will be set up to scrap and frustrate and will look to score on set-pieces. We’ll do a lot of tippy-tappy, but must do it a pace and with purpose. Would be happy enough with 1-2 but three points anyhow is the order of the day.
Nice preview Guvna.
This is going to be one hell of a scrap. It’ll bring flashbacks to some of those brutal games at Bolton. There will be elbows flying, feet left in and shirts early ripped off, not to mention arms round necks and a few Cattermole two footed lunges.
I was hoping that we would get a strong referee who will ensure that Sam’s thugs stay within the laws of the game but the news that it’s going to be Mike Dean mean we will have to be strong, resilient and lucky to get 3 points from this game.
Nonetheless we have to. So, go win Arsenal.
COYGs
Cheers ‘h!
A truly horrible week were so much talented longevity has been lost.
COYBG!
A truly horrible “year” thus far, where so much talented longevity has been lost.
More talent than longevity sadly. Many have been taken far too young
TTG,
Over 40 years of longevity in talent in the case of Prince, and still had alot more to offer. RIP the Purple One and Victoria Wood…
0-0 60 minutes in. This is the gang that can’t shoot straight, or don’t shoot when they should, or when they do shoot straight it’s a meek one right at the keeper.
Awful game to watch we are struggling at best
We are shit today. No plan or penetration and no one knows how to shoot. Will we stay in the top four this year, not on this performance.
This is a very competitive league. It’s by no means certain that the bottom sides won’t get wins in their final games. But Sunderland played like this against Leicester and Leicester overcame them because they had Vardy. We had Giroud- a big difference. We need a better striker next season. Let’s hope it’s to play in the Champions League!
Nice to see Jack back in action. Top 4 trophy hunt is on.
Not too sure after watching today.
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