Sunderland AFC Vs Arsenal Official Sunderland Not606 Match Thread please log in to view this image Despite last week's humiliation at Southampton, don't expect too many changes to Sunderland's line-up for this one. Had Gus Poyet had another embarrassment - of riches to pick from - then he surely would have been tempted to dump more of his underachievers than the two or three maximum who will make way. As it is, largely the same players responsible for the club's joint record heaviest defeat EVER will get the chance to make amends - and they must. Who knows? They could follow Arsenal by keeping a clean sheet in their next game after shipping eight - as the Gunners did at home to Swansea following their own nightmare at Manchester United three years ago. The Black Cats' defenders and goalkeeper will come under closest scrutiny, with the man between the sticks most interesting to me. Poyet has already confirmed that Vito Mannone will keep his place against his former club, and that's probably right with the Italian having been superb for Sunderland. A penny for Costel Pantilimon's thoughts though. There's no way that he left Manchester City's bench intending to sit on Sunderland's for long, and he must at some stage this week have muttered "If I can't get a chance nowâ¦" or the Romanian equivalent. Whatever team Arsene Wenger selects, he needs it to win, as they have done so in just one of the last seven Premier League games. As has been the case with Arsenal so often in recent times, they're capable of delighting and infuriating in equal measure - although the balance is moving more regularly towards the latter. Wenger is under mounting pressure like never before in his 18-plus years in charge and at times - especially when questioned post-match - is showing it. Imagine the storm had they not saved themselves from defeat late on in both their last two games. Stadium Of Light please log in to view this image Match Apointments please log in to view this image Sunderland Team News Full-back Anthony Reveillere, who joined Sunderland as a free agent on Thursday, could make his debut provided he receives international clearance. Sebastian Coates, Billy Jones, Emanuele Giaccherini and Ricky Alvarez remain unavailable because of injury. Arsenal Team News Arsenal midfielder Jack Wilshere is suspended after accumulating five bookings, so Mikel Arteta could start. Theo Walcott is not expected to return to the squad until next weekend after nine months out with a knee injury. Key Men please log in to view this image Sunderland: John OâShea Thereâs no substitute for experience and OâShea has it in spades. Heâll need to draw on all of those reserves to inspire a group of players to get straight back out of the doldrums. After signing a new contract last week, an eight nil reverse probably wasnât what he had in mind to celebrate, but the captain was as culpable as anyone else. Yet, such a harsh defeat could work in the home sideâs favour. âBouncebackabilityâ is a term often overused but it can be perfectly applied in this case. Some good work on the training ground, and an âall for oneâ siege mentality led by OâShea, could well see the Black Cats upset the odds. Arsenal: Alexis Sanchez With five goals, two assists and two man-of-the-match awards in the last eight games, Alexis Sanchez has already gone some way to justifying Arsenalâs summer spend.The Chilean was noted for his industry and work-rate at Barcelona, and showcased the same to a worldwide audience at the World Cup in Brazil.After a relatively slow start in north London, Sanchezâs power and pace allied to his notable skill set has set supporter pulses racing.A burgeoning relationship with Danny Welbeck is also bearing fruit and with other star names dropping like flies, Arsene Wenger very definitely needs his new talisman to remain injury free as he seeks to climb back up the Premier League table. Stats & Facts Head-to-head Arsenal are on a nine-match unbeaten run against Sunderland in the Premier League and are vying to win at the Stadium of Light for the fourth season in a row. Sunderland's only win in their last 21 league meetings with Arsenal came at the Stadium of Light in November 2009, when Darren Bent scored in a 1-0 victory. However, they did beat Arsenal 2-0 at home in the fifth round of the FA Cup in February 2012. The Black Cats have only scored two first-half goals in the 26 Premier League meetings between the clubs and have never been ahead at the interval. Sunderland Sunderland's 8-0 defeat at Southampton last weekend equalled their club record defeat in all competitions. It was their heaviest loss for 32 years. However, they are unbeaten at home in the league this season with one win and three draws. The Black Cats are seven points better off than at the same stage last season, when they drew one and lost seven of their first eight fixtures. They have scored 16 own goals in the Premier League since the start of the 2010-11 season, more than any other side. Goalkeeper Vito Mannone made 23 appearances in eight years at Arsenal between 2005 and 2013. Arsenal The Gunners have won just one of their last seven league games, drawing five of the other six. Eleven points from eight games represents Arsenal's second worst league start to a season under Arsene Wenger. They had 10 points from eight games in 2011-12. If Arsenal fail to win on Saturday it will be their worst performance after nine games in the Wenger era. This is the first time under Wenger that they have won just two of their opening eight league games. However, they have come from behind to earn at least a point in a league-high five matches this season (W1, D4). Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain could make his 100th league appearance. Head to Head please log in to view this image Last Corresponding Fixture please log in to view this image Form please log in to view this image Betting http://www.oddschecker.com/football/english/premier-league/sunderland-v-arsenal/winner Links http://www.safc.com/fans/visiting-fans Streaming http://www.wiziwig.tv/broadcast.php?matchid=280503&part=sports
Our home form is good, Arsenal haven't won for 3 games ......... 1-0 to Sunderland, Vergini from inside the box
Aye some of the Soton posters were voting it the best goal of the game - I felt for the lad because he has played well for us at the the end of last season and the beginning of this one - love him to score the winner this week like
Starting the trek to the SOL soon ........ whether you're they're or not, have a great day and let's hope we can put last week behind us. Haway the Lads!!!!
Hoping for a complete exoneration of last week's score, but fear the worst because of Arsenal's fast passing style. Defence will need to be on their games to prevent crosses into the box on the deck which is Mannone's nightmare weakness as Arsenal well know.
Arsenal have been really misfiring. Let's put last week behind us and look ahead. If we believe enough we can get at least a point
Well lads and lasses, match day is here and it is time to right some wrongs...Ha'way me bonny lads......................
Come on lads, giving 40,000 people their money back will be a lot more expensive than the 2,600, so no mistakes and smash these southern fairies!!!!!
Because of all his fond memories of being 3rd choice behind two lumps of s**te? I'll take a draw now.
Changes limited by injuries, id be tempted to go; -----------------Pantilimon--------------------- Vergini-----Oshea-------Brown-----Van Aanholt -----------------Cattermole--------------------- Johnson-----Larsson----Rodwell------Wickham --------------------Altidore---------------------- Pantilimon, Johnson, Rodwell and Altidore have been missing and all have points to prove. Hernandez gave the Arsenal defence trouble last week and Jozy is quicker, stronger more mobile and direct than Fletcher. With Wickham on the pitch it will take some of the pressure off Altidore being a target man and he can consentrate on going at the Arsenal defenders. They can also interchange and he can get into positions he does for the usa.
Mannone Vergini---------O'Shea-------Brown------------Aanholt Catts Rodwell------Larsson AJ---------------------------------------Mavrias Fletcher I'm dropping the two who left our fullbacks to the dogs for 70% of the Southampton game and Gomez, though I toyed with the idea of putting him inside left due his early understanding of Van Aarnholt.
Right I'm off to the match, need to see heart today bare minimum. Enjoy the game everybody. please log in to view this image
Or tell him he's defending the goal we're actually attacking!! Not sure what to expect. As your op says bri (great work as always btw) don't expect too many changes. Will the same 11 be given a chance to earn retribution. Me... I'd drop Wickham and Buckley to the bench and start with rodwell in the centre, Larson on the wing and Johnson on the left... (How many of you expected me to say that after the amount of time I spend championing Wickham?) Not sure but think it may be same 11!!!
