Sunderland vs Arsenal Preview, Predicted line up and score by KJ
We’ve struggled to pick up points against the smaller teams with two disappointing draws against Hull and Leicester. We also just about managed to beat Palace at home thanks to a last gasp Ramsey winner. We have to make a statement in this game that we’re going to destroy the smaller teams to ensure that we at least make the top 4 this season.
We still have a catalogue of injuries to contend with and now it looks like Koscielny is out for a month and Diaby unsurprisingly has picked up another knock. We should still beat Sunderland comfortably but the same should’ve been true against Hull and Anderlecht and we all know how those games went (I know we won against Anderlecht but it was anything but comfortable).
Quick passing from the off is going to be key. We need to overwhelm Sunderland and to actually dictate the game rather than playing in front of Sunderland and allowing them to break on us with ease. I’m hoping Arteta will start as Flamini is doing very little at the moment to prevent teams from hurting us on the counter.
Line up:
Szczesny
Chambers – Mertesacker – Monreal – Gibbs
Arteta
Sanchez – Ramsey – Cazorla – Chamberlain
Welbeck
I expect Monreal to play CB again and he’ll obviously be targeted by Sunderland as the weak point in defence. Chambers will also need to improve as he’s looked very rigid at RB this season.
Jack Wilshere is banned for this game and he could probably do with a rest anyway. Cazorla in central midfield seems good but he needs to step up as he wasn’t good enough against the Belgian side mid-week.
Finally, Welbeck will be playing a former club (on loan) so I’m hoping he’s looking forward to the occasion and can net us a goal in the process.
I hoping this is the game we finally click and I’m expecting a 3 – 1 win to Arsenal.