Arsenal vs Sunderland PL 15/16

Team news:
Sunderland: Defoe (hamstring), Larsson (knee)

Arsenal: Wilshere (ankle), Welbeck (knee), Rosicky (knee), Coquelin (knee), Arteta (calf), Alexis (hamstring, Cazorla (knee)

Sam Allardyce and Arsene Wenger press conferences

Scouting report by Michael Cox

When Sam Allardyce took charge of Sunderland, they hadn’t won or kept a clean sheet in their opening eight games of the season.

In his first six games, Sunderland have won three, kept three clean sheets, and already hauled themselves out of the relegation zone. It’s been typical Allardyce stuff - deep defending and long balls - but it’s proved extremely effective. Sunderland will have barely any possession on Saturday, and like Norwich last weekend, will attempt to frustrate Arsenal with their deep defending.

Allardyce has sprung a slight surprise, however, by switching to a system featuring three centre backs. Although this proved disastrous in a 6-2 defeat to Everton, he’s used a 5-3-2 system for victories over both Crystal Palace and Stoke City in the last two games, and therefore it’s highly unlikely he’ll change much here. The wing backs drop alongside the centre backs, which will allow Arsenal’s full backs plenty of time and space.

Costel Pantilimon - the Premier League’s tallest player - is protected by a three-man defence which appears organised and effective in the air. John O’Shea plays between right-sided Sebastian Coates, who has impressed this season, and Younes Kaboul.

The wing backs are natural full backs rather than wingers, but are suited to the job. On the left, Patrick van Aanholt is an excellent technician, scored a fine long-range opener against Stoke last weekend, and will cover plenty of ground on the left and be assured in possession.

On the right, Allardyce has used either the hardworking Billy Jones or the incredibly quick but somewhat raw DeAndre Yedlin. If Arsenal use the ball quickly and attack in behind these players, Sunderland’s centre backs will have problems covering the wider areas of the pitch.

Allardyce uses three solid players in the centre of midfield. Yann M’Vila is a hugely talented defensive midfielder who can also move forward in possession and knock good passes out wide, while Lee Clattermole offers something similar to his left. Both are somewhat indisciplined, however.

Ex-Arsenal midfielder Sebastian Larsson moves into wider positions to combine with the overlapping right wing back, and is capable of providing good balls into the box from both open play and set-pieces - a key part of Sunderland’s game plan.


Up front, Allardyce has used a classic little-and-large combination of Jermain Defoe and Steven Fletcher. Sunderland hit lots of long passes towards the front two, and try to collect the second balls.

Defoe has been struggling with a hamstring injury, but Allardyce has good options - Jeremain Lens is the obvious replacement. Adam Johnson and Duncan Watmore have both impressed in substitute cameos and could theoretically used in a floating role behind Fletcher - but as natural wingers, they’re the big losers from Allardyce’s decision to play a 5-3-2.

Read more at http://www.arsenal.com/news/features/20151203/arsenal-v-sunderland#i7kZ48wPcTEUoKyG.99

Stats Zone

Read more at http://www.arsenal.com/news/features/20151204/arsenal-v-sunderland

Good work Urban.

Whats the worst that could happen?

Glad Theo is back and hopefully Wenger not risking him right away.

Urban



We are going to lose this 3-0

Lets get smashed by these guys

You'll win this, right?

RIGHT?

Hapless_Hans wrote:You'll win this, right?

RIGHT?

Not interested in who wins, more interested in who will get injured and how many?

My guess is no more than 3 will get injured.

Alexis Sanchez 'could have been killed', claims Arsene Wenger... as the Arsenal boss slams Norwich City's Ryan Bennett

'He could have killed him. First, of all it's dangerous to have a camera there; secondly, he didn’t need to push him like he did.
'When he was pushed into the boards on the side of the field that did not shock anybody, the injury can come from that as well.'

It's not funny, really. Being killed is unlikely, but nonetheless it was fortunate Alexis didn't end up in that pit or smashing into the camera or cameraman. Remember how Debuchy dislocated his shoulder last season when Anautovic pushed him into the advertising boardings?

Still can't believe the ref didn't do anything about that. No, wait, I can, because this is the Premier League.

But he did end up in the pit Thankfully though nothing serious happened. Agree it was reckless by Bennett and unforgiving by the referee.

MUST WIN TODAY.
Come on Arsenal!

Hopefully Ox comes in and starts scoring and creating better from now on in. This is the time! This is when we need him! Come on Oxy lad.

Team news:

Cech; Bellerin, Mertesacker, Koscielny, Monreal; Flamini, Ramsey; Campbell, Ozil, Chamberlain; Giroud

Subs: Ospina, Gabriel, Debuchy, Chambers, Gibbs, Iwobi, Walcott

Big game for Ramsey and Ox, interesting to see how they do today especially Ox

After City's defeat, it's yet another chance for us to gain some ground on the top. The WBA and Norwich results don't leave my feeling very confident about today, though. Feels like a 0-0.

On home soil, the Gunners are yet to lose to the Black Cats in the Premier League (W9 D5), although four of the last seven top-flight meetings at the Emirates have ended 0-0.

Sunderland line up looks awkward

COYG

It's got a scrappy 2-0 or 2-1 written all over it with Giroud scoring two

The return of Ramsey-Özil-Giroud

Flamini's challenge

we look very shaky defensively, two chances for Sunderland and they aren't even trying to attack

Awful start from us. Should be a goal down, and don't look threatening at all.

Koscielny being our best player at home vs Sunderland sums up our form pretty well.

Nothing up front at all. Sunderland's defenders stepping up and intercepting everything.

Saw this coming.

ramsey is a very stupid footballer, he's decision making is awful, every time he makes a pass its too predictable.

Campbelllllllllllll 1-0

Another Ozil assist

we are sooooooo lucky we have ozil, soooo lucky..only intelligent footballer there. wow

Ozil's pass my my

Ozil