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Preview: Arsenal vs Sunderland

October 15, 2011 19:18 GMT (UK), by

Preview: Arsenal vs Sunderland


Preview: Arsenal vs Sunderland

Both teams are in dire need of a win after poor starts to their respective seasons. Eyefootball discusses how the teams will line up, their form and their historical record against each other.

LINEUPS

Laurent Koscielny makes a welcome return for the Gunners and should pair Per Mertesacker in the centre of defence. Bacary Sagna is out injured with a broken foot and Kieran Gibbs is missing as well. This should mean that new boys Carl Jenkinson and Andre Santos fill in at full-back. The rest of the team should remain the same as in previous weeks with Arteta and Ramsey pulling the strings from midfield and Walcott and Gervinho supporting van Persie from the flanks.

Arsenal Possible Starting XI (4-3-3): Szczesny, Jenkinson, Koscielny, Mertesacker, Santos, Song, Arteta, Ramsey, Walcott, Gervinho, van Persie



Will we see van Persie score again?


Arsenal loanee Nicklas Bendtner will be missing from the Sunderland squad due to an agreement with Arsenal when he signed on loan, with Ji Dong-Won most likely to take his place in the starting line up. Titus Bramble and Phil Bardsley are both suspended, and hence Steve Bruce could use a predominantly ex-Manchester United defence, with Wes Brown playing with Micheal Turner in the centre of defence, and John O'Shea and Kieran Richardson playing as full backs.

Sunderland Possible Starting XI (4-3-3): Mignolet, O'Shea, Turner, Brown, Richardson, Cattermole, Gardner, Sessegnon, Larsson, Elmohamady, Ji Dong-Won



Or will Wes Brown roll back time and get back to his best?


FORM

Arsenal come into the match having won three and lost two of their last five games. Their latest result was a loss against traditional rivals Tottenham, which is most likely to have taken some confidence away from the team. Prior to that were three wins against Olympiakos, Bolton and Shrewsbury Town respectively.

Sunderland's have won only one game in their last five, drawing two and losing two in the process. Their last result was a 2-2 draw against West Bromwich Albion, with their only win this campaign coming in the 4-0 rout of Stoke City on 18th September at the Stadium of Light.

The teams' head to head record is unimpressive. The last five matches between them have yielded one Arsenal win, one Sunderland win and three draws with only five goals scored totally.

THE EYE SAYS

We believe that Arsenal desperately need a change of formation. van Persie isn't physically the strongest and has often showed that he easily gets outmuscled. He also gets isolated at times up front and isn't the strongest header of the ball.

Reverting back to a traditional 4-4-2 with Chu Young Park getting his first start seems like a viable option considering Arsenal's dismal form. Wenger should also think of getting Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain involved at some point of the match as he has the pace and trickery that might give Arsenal that extra edge during the closing stages of the match.

FINAL PREDICTION

ARSENAL 3-1 SUNDERLAND

Sunderland have been in dismal form and are missing many players. Although Arsenal are facing a crisis too, we just don't see Sunderland mounting a serious challenge. We expect Sunderland to camp themselves in their own half for most of the match, trying to play on the counter (and failing in the process).



Arsenal should take this one easily