Sunderland make the long-trip south to take on Arsenal at the Emirates in North London today.
The Black Cats will not be looking forward to taking on the Gunners today, having already endured relegation, and with their fans having booed their players off the pitch at half-time in their previous match.
Sunderland have only two wins in 2017 so far, with one of those coming after their dreaded fate had been sealed, and confidence must be extremely low at present.
Arsenal on the flip-side are in a rich vein of form, and after a new lease of life following a formation change, come into this game brimming with confidence.
Arsene Wenger’s side have won six of their seven matches since adopting a new 3-4-2-1 formation, scoring 13 goals in the process, including wins over supposed ‘bogey’ sides Stoke City and Southampton away from home.
Our boys will also be thriving on their weekend’s 4-1 victory, in which we ran Stoke absolutely ragged, and the prospect of continuing that goalscoring prowess against a downbeat Sunderland side is very possible.
Hector Bellerin returned to the first-team with Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain sidelined, and the former Southampton star remains out. Santi Cazorla is the only long-term absentee, but Laurent Koscielny and Alexis Sanchez will likely be rested tonight, with the pair currently carrying knocks, and two big games coming up in the next fortnight.
Predicted XI:
Cech
Holding Mustafi Monreal
Bellerin Xhaka Ramsey Gibbs
Walcott Ozil
Welbeck
Our guys should have their heads up high following a near-perfect run of form of late, and I can’t see anything but a confident win today, as reflected in the odds, which have us unbackable at as short as 1/12 with some bookmakers.
We only conceded at the weekend thanks to Peter Crouchadona’s hand-ball, and I don’t expect to concede again today. Walcott has provided us with plenty of goals this term, and I expect him to get the nod should Alexis be left out, although Lucas Perez may be in with a shout also. This side has goals in it whichever players are fielded, and I’m going all out with a dominating 4-0 win.
Are you as confident as me today? Or could it all seem too good to be true?
Pat J