Arsenal v Sunderland, Sunday 16th October 1.30pm, Premier League, Emirates Stadium


Back-to-back home games in the Premier League

After losing 4 of their first 7 league games, Sunday starts a great run of games in which Arsenal simply have to start winning games again. The next 6 league games for Arsenal read: Sunderland (h), Stoke (h), Chelsea (a), West Brom (h), Norwich (a) and Fulham (h) - a fantastic opportunity for the gunners to return to the right end of the table. Of course, champions league and carling cup games are sandwiched in between these fixtures but with a "big" squad as Wenger called it on Friday, there are little excuses.

Defeat could spell end of Bruce at Sunderland

Constant murmurs of Steve Bruce's reign at Sunderland coming to an end remain. The word is that a defeat at the Emirates on Sunday could see the former Manchester United defender's time at the Stadium of Light - though some suggest regardless of the result on Sunday, Bruce will resign or recieve the sack. Bruce has done a good job at Sunderland overall but poor form, a defeat to neighbors Newcastle in August and spending £28m in the summer along with loan signings such as Nicklas Bendtner are reasons for his seemingly imminent departure.

Match Facts (Eurosport)

* There have only been eight goals scored in the last seven Premier League matches between Arsenal and Sunderland.

* Arsenal have won seven and drawn three of their 10 home Premier League matches against Sunderland and the Black Cats have failed to score in their last three visit to the Emirates.

* Only one of the 13 goals Sunderland have scored against Arsenal in the Premier League era has been netted in the first half.

* Robin van Persie has scored 21 goals in 24 Premier League games in 2011 and three in three home appearances against Sunderland.

* Arsenal have won just four of their last 18 Premier League matches (W4 D7 L7).

* The Gunners have kept nine clean sheets in their last 13 Premier League games at the Emirates Stadium, including one in a 0-0 draw with Sunderland in March.

* Sunderland’s clean sheet last season at the Emirates was one of just four in their last 23 Premier League matches.

* Arsenal have conceded 16 goals so far this season, more than in any season since 1963-64 when they had shipped 20 after seven matches.

Last 5 games

Arsenal

Spurs 2-1 Arsenal (Ramsey)
Arsenal 2-1 Olympiacos (Oxlade-Chamberlain, Santos)
Arsenal 3-0 Bolton (Van Persie (2), Song)
Arsenal 3-1 Shrewsbury (Gibbs, Oxlade-Chamberlain, Benayoun)
Blackburn 4-3 Arsenal (Gervinho, Arteta, Chamakh)

Sunderland

Sunderland 2-2 West Brom (Bendtner, Elmohamady)
Norwich 2-1 Sunderland (Richardson)
Sunderland 4-0 Stoke (Bramble, Gardner, Larsson, Woodgate (og))
Sunderland 1-2 Chelsea (Ji)
Swansea 0-0 Sunderland


Team News

Arsenal

Laurent Koscielny, Sebastian Squillaci, Johan Djourou and Tomas Rosicky are all available again. Bacary Sagna (broken leg) is out until 2012 as is Jack Wilshere (ankle) but Thomas Vermaelen (ankle) and Abou Diaby (ankle) should both return in the next 2 weeks.

Sunderland

Nicklas Bendtner can not play against his parent club due to Premier League rules, he joins Conor Wickham (groin), Craig Gordon (knee) and Frazier Campbell (knee) on the unavailable list. Phil Bardsley completes a four-game ban.


Manager's Views

Arsene Wenger

"What we are hopeful for and what we can achieve is to win our next game. It is seven games played, we have had some difficult away games. I am convinced we have good potential, we have rebuilt the team and of course we were a bit disturbed at the start of the season for different reasons. But we just want to focus on short term at the moment, we are not in a position to make long-term plans. With confidence you fight to get it back. We had a good series of results just before we lost to Tottenham and from that game I think there were many positives. We have to respond quickly now because there is a big gap between us and the top teams and we want to reduce that as quickly as possible."

Steve Bruce

"We are all open to criticism because of the job we are doing, but Arsene Wenger and what he has achieved, to criticise him is, for me, ridiculous. He has had a poor start for the first time in 20 years, is it? Certainly, he has qualified for the Champions League in the last 14 or 15 and produced great teams. As I have said many times when we have played Arsenal, I think he has been to the detriment of the young British manager because clubs have looked at the job Arsene Wenger has done. Let's be fair, it was one of those when he walked in, people said 'Arsene who'?"

Great job Sam, love the preview and what Steve Bruce said about Wenger.

Any heads-up on the (shameful) planned "Wenger out" protests?

Really looking forward to the game. It is a great chance to get back on track.

Great work

Cant wait for the match, its been ages.

You beat sunderfail and we beat Spurs.......

deal?

Immaculate_Mole wrote:You beat sunderfail and we beat Spurs.......

deal?

LMAO - I don't have anything against this

Please demolate Sperms and prove the haters you belong in Top4.

expect a draw...something like 2-2

gunnerlistick wrote:expect a draw...something like 2-2

LOL, trust me we will win by 4 goals.

Guys we win on Sunday an we will be 5 points off 4th place, come on Arsenal lets take our place back.

Immaculate_Mole wrote:You beat sunderfail and we beat Spurs.......

deal?

Would be great.

Immaculate_Mole wrote:You beat sunderfail and we beat Spurs.......

deal?

I would prefer a draw.

Raptorgunner wrote:

gunnerlistick wrote:expect a draw...something like 2-2

LOL, trust me we will win by 4 goals.

You said the same thing about us beating Spuds :p You kinda curse arsenal by saying so

Im expecting big game from Gervinho. I know its a new league and all that but he needs to Settle in now.

Theo will be up against Larson and Richardson. He will have a difficult match. And i worry about Jenkinson's confidence. It must be pretty low atm

I personally think Rvp isnt getting support from Midfield. He isnt used to play all alone upfront, despite having wingers next to him on either side. His gameplay requires a CAM behind him to play either through balls, or one two's

I want Arteta, not ramsey to be the CAM but i doubt it.

Sunderland wont have bendtner and Wickham, so they cant play long balls unless its for sessegnon who is quite pacy n tricky. But yea mertesacker will win the headers anyways.

I dont see them scoring, touching wood. But i dont see us scoring many either.

2-0 ? i think so

although dont be surprised at 0-0

It's imperative we win tomorrow, no excuses. Sagna, Vermaelen and Wilshere may be out, but 8 of the first choice 11 you would say will be starting so we simply have to win.

Sunderland have had a poor season, they are below us for a reason.

I am sticking with my 3-1 prediction.

djoe26 wrote:

Raptorgunner wrote:

gunnerlistick wrote:expect a draw...something like 2-2

LOL, trust me we will win by 4 goals.

You said the same thing about us beating Spuds :p You kinda curse arsenal by saying so

I am going to even it up.

IT'S TODAY?
*falls off chair*
I thought international break would be loooooooooooooonger ._.

I'm not sure where Sunderland's goals would come from. Ji is a completely unproven striker, and there's no goal threat at all in that midfield. I suspect Sunderland may come here and play for a point.

I don't think Jenkinson will have much trouble with Larsson. Jenkinson's main weakness seems to be pacey players and Larsson is one of the slowest players around. Chances are Larsson will probably be occupied with tracking Walcott back, too. So it's not a bad game for Jenkinson to play in.

Whether we'll actually score or not is a different matter. There's certainly enough there to get a goal or two, but all things considering it really would not surprise me if this turned out to be a dull 0-0.

if bendtner was available they would play early crosses into the box but now i expect them to just play balls over the top for ji & and rely on sessegnon trickery and for majority of the match play with most players behind the ball

so with no dominant targetman if we manage to press their defence and for them not keen to play it long we can easily regain possesion

Arsenal must win this game . LOL

Well a honest ? ..who g.me plus1 to my post about Vermaelen(injury thrd)...pls...i'm soo curious to know !

I think Sunderland will defend with 10 man and try to counter-attack us. They don't have pacey wingers so Jenkinson will be OK imo. Hope Gervinho will help us break the defence with his directness.

@boss - I didn't

@urbanPLISI-lOOl shame on u then...ha haaa ( i thought shame on him who ! coz i was a bit harsh in a way-trololol) just kidding

@beatboxer-I rec. the same message (are u ) Lol