This match won’t be an easy one for Arsenal
Last updated: November 30, 2015 by Leon Marshal
Game details
. .
| Kick-off: | Saturday, 3pm |
| Venue: | The Emirates Stadium |
| Coverage: | Sky Sports 1, BBC 5 Live |
| Home form: | DWLDL |
| Away form: | WWLLW |
| Last season: | 0-0 |
| Competition: | The Premier League |
The Gunners surely won’t have a pleasant afternoon at The Emirates Stadium against The Black Cats. Maybe if both teams had met a month ago we could easily predict an Arsenal win with no pressure, but now The Black Cats have won 3 of their last 5 Premiership games and seem to be super confident before their visit to London. In addition, Sunderland prefer playing on the counter-attack which is better when playing against a stronger opponent.
Furthermore, Arsenal’s players aren’t on their best form. For instance, The Gunners have won only 1 game in their last 5 matches (all competitions). Moreover there are 7 injured key players for Arsenal and 2 players are on Sunderland’s injury list.
But, history is on Arsenal’s side. The Gunners have won 36 of 68 home games against Sunderland. The Black Cats haven’t achieved a victory in London since 1983, when they won 1-2. Since then, Arsenal have won 11 home games and have finished with a draw on 5 occasions. The question is can Sam Allardyce’s team take home all three points from The Emirates Stadium?
Team News
Jermain Defoe, who left the pitch against Stoke in the 31st minute will surely miss the match vs. The Gunners.
Seb Larsson is the other big omission in Sunderland’s squad. The Swedish international player has recently received an injury and won’t take part in the match.
‘The heart’ of Arsenal’s midfield – Francis Coquelin has received a knee ligament injury and will be fit in February. His injury is one reason for Arsenal’s poor results.
Alexis Sanchez is having a hamstring problem and will be absent for the match against Sunderland. The Chilean has scored 6 goals this season and is one of Wenger’s key players.
Quotes of the week
Arsene Wenger (Arsenal) :
“His (Alexis’) style is an explosive, committed style.”
Sam Allardyce (Sunderland) :
“We might be out of the bottom three, but it’s still relegation (in terms of) points per game played and we have got to make sure we continue to lessen that gap.”
Expected line-ups:
| . | |
| Arsenal (4-1-4-1): | Cech, Gibbs, Monreal, Koscielny, Mertesacker, Flamini, Oezil, Oxlade-Chamberlain, Campbell, Cazorla, Giroud. |
| Subs | Ospina, Ramsey, Chambers, Bellerin, Debuchy, Gabriel, Iwobi |
| Injured: | Rosicky, Wilshere, Welbeck, Arteta, Walcott, Sanchez, Coquelin. |
| Doubtful: | — |
| Not available: | — |
| . | |
| Sunderland (4-4-2): | Pantilimon, Kaboul, Coates, O’Shea, van Aanholt, Lens, Cattermole, Johnson, M’Vila, Watmore, Fletcher. |
| Subs | Mannone, Rodwell, Borini, Jordi Gomez, Jones, Matthews, Toivonen |
| Injured: | Defoe, Larsson |
| Doubtful: | — |
| Not available: | — |
Key Battle
 |
Cazorla this season | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Games | Minutes | Goals | Shots per game | Assists | MotM | Yellows | Reds | |
| 14 | 1205 | 0 | 1,6 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 1 | |
 |
Fletcher this season | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Games | Minutes | Goals | Shots per game | Assists | MotM | Yellows | Reds | |
| 8 (5) | 810 | 4 | 1,5 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | |
So far this season
| . | . | . |
|---|---|---|
| Arsenal this season | Sunderland this season | |
| 4 | League Position | 17 |
| 3 (5) | (at home) Wins (away) | 2 (1) |
| 5-2 vs. Leicester | Biggest win | 3-0 vs. Newcastle |
| 2 (1) | (at home) Draws (away) | 2 (1) |
| 1 (2) | (at home) Losses (away) | 3 (5) |
| 0-2 to West Ham and Chelsea | Biggest Defeat | 2-6 to Everton |
| Giroud (7) | Top scorer | Defoe, Fletcher (4) |
| Oezil (11) | Assist Leader | M’Vila (3) |
| Y15, R2 | Discipline | Y29, R2 |
| 3 | Failures to score | 5 |
| 6 | Clean Sheets | 3 |
| 6 | Both Teams to Score Games | 6 |
| 7 | Over 2.5 Games | 7 |
| 7 | Under 2.5 Games | 7 |
- Sunderland won in two consecutive Premiership games (1-0 vs. Palace and 2-0 vs. Stoke). Moreover, The Black Cats kept a clean sheet, which shows a great improvement in their defensive play.
- Arsenal haven’t lost a home Premiership match since the opening day of the season, when The Gunners lost 0-2 to West Ham.
- The last match between these two teams finished with a 0-0 draw at The Emirates Stadium. There has been 16 more draws in the history of the ‘Head to Head’ matches.
- Sunderland have lost 5 of 7 away games this season. Their biggest defeat was against Everton, when The Black Cats lost 2-6.
Head to Head
| Last 5 meetings between the two sides | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Date | Competition | Game Result | First Goal-scorer |
| 20/05/15 | The Premier League | Arsenal 0-0 Sunderland | — |
| 25/10/14 | The Premier League | Sunderland 0-2 Arsenal | Sánchez 30′ |
| 22/02/14 | The Premier League | Arsenal 4-1 Sunderland | O. Giroud 5′ |
| 14/09/13 | The Premier League | Sunderland 1-3 Arsenal | O. Giroud 11′ |
| 09/02/13 | The Premier League | Sunderland 0-1 Arsenal | Cazorla 36′ |