We travel to the Stadium of Light tomorrow to take on Sunderland, in what could be a huge game for both sides.
The Black Cats are scrapping for their Premier League life at present, with two of Norwich, Newcastle and Sunderland expected to drop down into the Championship. There is only two points separating the trio, although our weekend’s opponents have played a game less.
Sunderland won 3-0 last weekend away to fellow relegation-threatened Norwich City, in what was a must-win game, and they will be keen to replicate that performance this weekend at home, and their manager has already confirmed he will be setting his team up in the same way.
The home side will be built to counter attack according to Sam Allardyce, in hope of picking holes in our defence, and we will have to be wary of their in-form striker Jermaine Defoe, although he does not have a great record against us. The 33 year-old has scored in two of his 20 Premier League matches against us, but comes into the match with three in his last 5 outings.
I expect the majority of our starting line-up from last weekend’s match against Crystal Palace to start, without Gabriel who has been criticised for his appearances of late.
We made a number of changes to play in midweek, with Arsene Wenger attempting to keep his players fresh having to play on Thursday quickly followed by tomorrow’s match, and it makes it difficult to get his thinking spot-on, especially without knowing the fitness levels of players following the midweek match.
I expect Ramsey to retain his place in the starting XI from Thursday, with Francis Coquelin and Welbeck highly likely to return to the side having been rested against West Brom. It is difficult to predict any of trio Mesut Ozil, Alexis Sanchez or Alex Iwobi to be left out, but I assume the latter could be given a break.
Predicted line-up:
Cech
Bellerin Mertesacker Koscielny Monreal
Coquelin Elneny
Sanchez Ozil Ramsey
Welbeck
Ramsey on the wing again .
Oh no.
Wenger should go with the same team that beat westbrom bar giroud
Ramsey on the left do me a favour, good job you don’t pick the team. Awobi on left with Ramsey in for Ellerny who has done very well and to rest him. Ramsey did well and it is his best position, and no way to move Sanches to left side again as its his worst position. He has scored now every game from being right side as the poor chap can’t kick with his left,why I don’t know hope in off season he gets in some training big time for his left,then he would be up there with Messi. CB
You are right in saying this is a huge game for both managers. And I also agree the manager will probably start Welbeck seeing that Sunderland can’t afford to sit back they will be a bit more expressive creating bit of space for counters.
This a massive game
so we need to bring
out all the super
weapons to beat the Kittys.
Ospina
Debuchy Giroud Flamini
Wilshere Arteta Rosicky
Campbell Cazorla Wellbeck
Sanogo.
Subs.
Macey Djourou Santos Eboue Diarby Girvinho Chamakh
Would that be the same Ospina who last season had the best stats in the PL by a long way. Almunia would be a better choice
Forgot to mention Gibbs CB
Sunderland will be up for this one. They are currently 18th and fighting Newcastle and Norwich for 17th and pl survival
I agree with gooner tetra
If fit play iwobi/Campbell and Welbeck instead of Ramsey and Giroud
I would go for
Cech
Bellerin/Gabriel/Koscielny/Monreal
Coquelin / Eleney
Iwobi / Ozil / Alexis
Welbeck
You putting Sanches on the left means you don’t know much CB
Nope………Not Just Ramsey on the wings
But for eff sake……Ramsey in place of an excellent Iwobi????…… We can’t be serious!……we can’t
This is the problem Ramsey brings to this team….. Gives us no sense of Balance whatsoever
pff
Wenger loves Ramsey
Wenger played Ramsey on the right regularly when Cazorla was playing B2B
It’s like Ozil first two seasons when Wenger would play him quite often on the left wing.
It’s so frustrating
Players who are in form like iwobi and Campbell should play over players who are not like Ramsey, Walcott