Sunderland vs Arsenal: Match Thread

Any news on whether Sessegnon is injured for them? He really is a key player in this match up...

 

The 120mins could be a very big factor in this. Arsenal will be so much fresher (phresher?) than the Sunderland lads. Over the full 90 that should tell. I'm much more confident of a result after that. They had to work very hard for the result.

 

Agree. They will still probably press with a high tempo at the start but I doubt they can sustain it after playing 120 mins three days before. We need to get through the tough period in the game then take advantage.

 

My team vs Sunderland, bearing in mind Milan on Wednesday:

------------------Szczesny-------------------
--Sagna--Mertesacker--Koscielny--Vermaelen--
-----------Coquelin--------Arteta-------------
-------------------Rosicky--------------------
-Chamberlain-------------------------Arshavin-
--------------------Henry---------------------

and Milan:

--------------------Szczesny-------------------
--Coquelin--Mertesacker--Koscielny--Vermaelen--
---------------Song---------Arteta-------------
---------------------Ramsey--------------------
-Walcott---------------------------Chamberlain-
-------------------v.Perisie---------------------

 

Not the way we have played since MON came in. We seem to defend from the start. Basically try to stop the opposition playing first and frustrate, catch teams on the break. (I don't think we have had 50% of the possession in every game so far) Not really the way I favour playing but who am I to argue with the points we have picked up.
Here's to a good game and a home win (or a draw)

 

interesting Moorsley!! Do you think Sunderland will be more expressive at home and try to play more attacking football?

It could be a great, open, attacking game, or it could be a terrible game with both teams wanting to play on the counter and there being a decisive lack of creativity.

 

why would we (arsenal) want to play on the counter? thats not how we play the game...

 

Arsenal obviously play possession, but fast counters with Theo & Oxo are a great opportunity, especially away from home. The possession game has been tricky this season without Fabregas to find those killer passes. That's why I'm really hoping that Rosicky plays. He seems to have found his creative side again

 

Cym - you are clearly too old and gnarled, and smell of sheep-dip. Now Piskie's a different matter - he probably makes a tasty pasty?

 

No mate these days we sit back and hit teams on the counter. Should be a very good game

 

I don't smell of sheep dip,lanolin maybe

 

My apologies - hands that do dishes can be soft as your face.....

 

So Gibbs should be back. Should Wenger start him? TV has done an OK job at LB but we have missed the attacking qualities of a proper LB.

 

(a bit late I know) Very worried about Arsenal. If we sit back as we have done for past few games and encourage you to come at us I think we are in big trouble.
We have never been beaten by more than 1 goal in any defeat but we have big injury problems (5th choice CH, no Cattermole, Vaughan) so this is a game I hope we change out tactics and get stuck in from the start. Over the moon if we get a point.

 

My son in law was in the same class at school as Vaughan

 

and....

 

I was just making polite conversation

 

that fell on stony ground. At least we have a laugh with you, you old sheep chaser.

 

I'm not ****ing old and i have no need to chase sheep

 

It's called Sheep whispering these days