please log in to view this image please log in to view this image please log in to view this image Venue: Emirates Stadium Saturday, December 5th 2015 KO TIme: 15.00 BST please log in to view this image Head to Head Against Sunderland: Played: 142 Wins: 56 Draws: 40 Losses: 46 Goals For: 225 Goals Against: 194 Goal Difference: 31 Last 6 Meetings: Arsenal 0-0 Sunderland Sunderland 0-2 Arsenal Arsenal 4-1 Sunderland Sunderland 1-3 Arsenal Sunderland 0-1 Arsenal Arsenal 0-0 Sunderland please log in to view this image Arsène Wenger has revealed the latest team news ahead of Saturday's Premier League game against Sunderland: on the team news... We will make a decision on Saturday on Koscielny and Walcott, they could both make the squad. Gibbs is available again for the weekend. on Alexis, Cazorla and Arteta... At the moment on Alexis, Santi and Mikel, we don't know how long they will be out for.
Walcott expected to be on the bench. Cazorla stated as a doubt for Olympiakos so Ramsey central if that's the case.
Our injury crisis is biting us in the ass, since we have been hit, we have only won 2 games during that period, Swansea away, and Zagreb home, other than that, we got destroyed 5-1 by Munich, drew with Spurs at home and were quite lucky as they were the better team, lost to West Brom, and drew to Norwich.
Sunderland are dire and this is a game that nothing less than 3 points would be acceptable. Trouble is we said that about Norwich and looked like we could have lost that game at times. Our injury crisis is impacting on results and this might be a game that we just have to grind out a result in. Without Sanchez and Cazorla our creative play will be limited, so we are relying solely on Ozil to pull the strings. Fortunately he looks like he's in a rich vein of form
Wow, even Cazorla is out. Yeah, that's basically us done for. There is no chance in hell we are going to cope with all of these key players missing from the team. Sad really, that our season is going to come to nothing because of injuries.
Never known a season this bad for injuries especially this side of Christmas. Have we no youngsters who might seize a chance?
Has to be Ramsey alongside Flamini in midfield. The Ox and Campbell on the wings. Giroud up top Ozil behind. Defence Gabriel comes in. Not much else we can do. Giroud is not on form, but we have no one else. Possibly drop Bellerin who was poor against Norwich, but besides that what can we do? Hope they play better this time out. and no one gets injured. we all know what big Sam's teams are like
They should start making bets on which players are going to get injured during our games. So any takers? I say Flamini and Giroud next, or Ozil.
Yea its all a great shame as the title is there for the taking this season but at the moment it looks like we ain't gonna be the takers.
3 clean sheets and 9 points from the last 5 games. We're not as dire as we were. In fact we've been bang solid at the back and pretty clinical on the counter. With your injuries I think it's as good a chance as ever take a something from the game. If we can keep you from scoring for an hour I'd fancy us to nick it.
Even with your injuries you have to realise that the team that you put out will outclass us all over the pitch. Your main concern should be the attitude of both players and management to the game. Ozil, for example, is even more crucial to you and must stay fit for your champion's league game. Knowing this, will he be as creative in your midfield this weekend if he finds Cattermole in close proximity. How many of your players may shy away from any 50-50 challenge? Arguably, you could treat this game as you usually treat league cup games. It is of far less importance to your season than the Olympiakos match, but if your players adopt that attitude then we have the chance of getting something from this game - or we could still get stuffed.
I'm hoping the bromance between Flamzil means the angry pointy Frenchman will keep that horrible twat Cattermole away from Mesut. We have more than enough quality to win this match two times over, my concern is mroe whether we have the right mind set.
3 of our last 5 trips down here have finished 0-0. With your injury list, I wouldn't be surprised to see this game finish that score.
Wenger has publicly said the Sunderland game is more important than the CL tie, so I'd imagine our players will be thinking the same. So the opposite of what you've suggested
Arsenal substitutes: Ospina, Gibbs, Gabriel, Iwobi, Walcott, Chambers Arsenal team to play Sunderland: Cech, Bellerin, Mertesacker, Koscielny, Monreal, Flamini, Ramsey, Oxlade-Chamberlain, Ozil, Campbell, Giroud Team is out - great news that Kos is back. Hope Ramsey and Flamini can provide the protection we need in the centre
Sunderland substitutes: Jones, Rodwell, Johnson, Gomez, Lens, Graham, Mannone Sunderland team to play Arsenal: Pantilimon, Van Aanholt, Borini, Kaboul, O'Shea, Toivonen, M'Vila, Coates, Yedlin, Fletcher, Watmore Sunderland team above. No Cattermole which is excellent!
