Arsenal Vs Sunderland Official Sunderland Not606 Match Thread please log in to view this image Emirates Stadium please log in to view this image Preview Arsenal host Sunderland on Wednesday, with the Black Cats needing a solitary point to secure their status in the top flight. Dick Advocaat's team are on track for their second consecutive great escape as they sit 16th - three points above Hull, who currently occupy the final relegation spot. The visitors have lost only one of their last six matches - a 4-1 defeat to Crystal Palace. The Gunners secured their passage to next year’s Champions League group stage with a 1-1 draw with Manchester United at Old Trafford on Sunday and second spot is still possible if they win both remaining games and Manchester City fail to get anything at home to Southampton on the final day. The hosts will be keen to put in a good performance as they look to show Arsene Wenger they are worth a starting spot at Wembley, ahead of the FA Cup final on May 30. Match Appointments please log in to view this image Team News Arsenal Arsenal are likely to be without Laurent Koscielny as the defender recovers from a bout of the flu so Brazilian defender Gabriel could start alongside Per Mertesacker in central defence. Mathieu Debuchy is not expected to return to full training until Friday and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and Danny Welbeck are also unavailable. Theo Walcott, whose deflected strike earned the Gunners a point in Manchester, may feature from the off. SunderlandDefender Billy Jones and Midfielder Liam Bridcutt have become the latest injury problems for Sunderland after the goalless draw with Leicester. Wes Brown, Jordi Gomez and Ricky Alvarez all remain sidelined through knee injuries’ while Jack Rodwell Could return to the line up in place of Liam Bridcutt Facts and Stats Arsenal have won seven and lost none of their last 10 Premier League matches against Sunderland. Sunderland have alternated between defeats and 0-0 draws on their seven visits to the Emirates Stadium. Olivier Giroud has scored three goals in four Premier League games against Sunderland. Lee Cattermole received his 14th booking of the season on Saturday, the joint-most in a PL season, level with Mark Hughes, Robbie Savage and Cheick Tioté. All 14 have been for fouls. 34 per cent of the goals Arsenal have conceded this season have been from headers, the highest proportion in the top flight. Head to Head please log in to view this image Form please log in to view this image This Season's Reverse Fixture please log in to view this image Last Corresponding Fixture please log in to view this image Betting http://s30.postimg.org/mjx837s69/arse_lastcorresponding.jpg 5/1 on the Draw!!!!!!! Streaming http://xn--frstrowsports-39b.eu/
I'd start aj as one if the attacking three fir Defoe Orr Wickham as neither have particularly impressed me recently. Wickham is better defensively so Defoe on the bench to replace DG second half? I'd happily forget the game and watch coronation street up tomorrow night if you offered me a draw now Edit: great thread as always @Funky Dick
Thought we would win our last two games but I'm quite happy to let Arsenal have the point to secure third CL place.
Could do with a 5 man midfield but options are limited. I'd still go Pants Rev------------Coates-------O'Shea----------------PVA Catts-------------Rodwell Johnson---------------Larrson-----------------Conner Graham If Giacc is fit enough he'd get the nod but I don't think he will be fit enough to start so Conner.
Who is this new player Larrson? From what i can guess eggnog will do, it will be the same starting 11, but with Rodwell instead of Bridcutt
I think AJ will start somewhere, Dick has been saying he wants to play him. Arsenal is perfect, half the crowd are tourists who won't know who the **** he is.
AJ certainly made a difference when he came on saturday, or it might gave been Bridcutt going off? I reckon the proverbial bus will be packed a la Swansea rather than play 4 forwards
I said the same to my brother yesterday. Johnson to start on the tight of the front 3 and drop Defoe to the bench as an impact sub if things go tits up
I think so too. Arsenal will want that point first and foremost so I doubt they'll commit as many players forward to guard against any counter threat. I don't think we'll see a full on arsenal assault. Providing we can keep tight and mistake free I think both teams could be getting the point we need.
If I had suggested keeping Danny Graham on the pitch ahead of Defoe a couple of months ago, I would have gone straight to A & E and asked for psychiatric treatment, but again DG put in a shift Saturday so deserves to keep his place in the starting line up IMHO.
What a truly incredible thread, it's only a matter of time before Funky is snapped up by Sky or someone. It humbles me to be able to post on such a thread, I almost feel as if I'm trespassing ........ it's like walking over a priceless Persian rug in pit boots. This is the kind of thread we'll all be telling our grandkids about for years to come. It's an honour and a privilege to be able to post on here, some of us lot aren't fit to look at it never mind post. How I'll get through the summer without these threads is hard to contemplate ........ Sunday's will bring a tear to many an eye I'm sure
Think it'll be just a case of Rodwell in for Bridcutt. Id go something a little different -------------Pants------------- Jones---Coates---Oshea---Pva ------Rodwell-Seb-Catts-------- ----Johnson--Graham--Defoe---- Wickham and Bridcutt were shambolic against Leicester so hopefully Johnson and Rodwell would improve our play. Fancy Rodwell to score a header and Defoe to ping one in the top corner. Haway the lads!
Nice one FunkyMonkey. As good as ever. That said, After seeing our record against them, my arse has started twitching a bit.....i just hope Arsenal are not going to need to prove themselves ahead of the final. Can't believe i have to wait 24 hours for this game to start.....jeez. I'm supposed to work tomorrow with this on my mind? Fooking come on lads.
Hahaha you sarcastic bastard! Funk I think Gary Neville is safe for now at least. Mind you, it's a step up from MOTD!
I agree about Wickham and Bridcutt... I think Wickham and Defoe were as bad as each other TBH. The only reason I'd play Wickham instead of Defoe is he offers far more defensively than Defoe. Defoe couldn't trap a bag of cement against Leicester. Nor could Wickham mind but he's ear better defensively (as I already said) Defoe has disappointed me in a lot of games. I was over the moon on the deal we got on him but even been generally disappointed. West Ham was a pivotal one. A 1v1 chance blazed high and wide? V Southampton as well he may have got the penalty but he should've scored that chance. Poor touch. Just an opinion though. I JUST DONT HAVE THE OPTIMISM IF HIM PINGING ONE IN THE TOP CIRNER FROM WATCHING HIM PLAY
0-0. I really believe we'll get a result tomorrow! Don't know if it's misplaced enthusiasm, cockiness or just pig ignorance! I just don't see us losing! Just hope to god I'm not giving the lads the kiss of death! Edit: well done Funky, usual great thread, cheers mate.
