Next up for Arsenal is the trip north to face Sunderland at the Stadium of Light. And you could be forgiven for thinking that this is the perfect time to face Gus Poyet and his team, as they are still reeling from their worst ever defeat in the Premier League, an 8-0 battering at the hands of high flying Southampton.
But it would be dangerous to assume that the Black Cats are going to be just as bad against the Gunners on Saturday. For one thing, they are at home and will surely put on a better show in front of their own fans. And you can bet that their outspoken manager Gus Poyet has had plenty to say to his players during the week, after describing their defeat last weekend as the most embarrassing day of his football career.
But I still think that Sunderland will be there for the taking by Arsenal. After shipping eight goals they will surely focus on defending, working hard and staying compact. That actually plays into our hands because we want to take as much pressure off our own struggling back four.
But with Laurent Koscielny due to return, that defence should be stronger and so Wenger should be able to start with the more creative Mikel Arteta in the centre. So it should really be a matter of us finding a way through, and we surely have the players to do that. As long as the Gunners remember that Sunderland have had some good results as well this season, including home draws with Man United and Tottenham, and we don’t take the game for granted, I expect us to pile on more misery for Poyet. What do you think Gooners?