Arsenal vs. Sunderland - English Premier League match preview
Arsene Wenger’s Arsenal will take on Steve Bruce’s Sunderland in a Premier League encounter at the Emirates Stadium on 5th March. Arsenal will be looking to capitalise on Manchester United’s 2-1 defeat against http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Chelsea-c38786 in the midweek and close
the gap to just one point with a win.
Arsenal
The Gunners are currently placed second on the Premier League table after a string of consistent performances since this January. The title crown now looks like a two horse race between them and Manchester United, as other contenders Chelsea and Manchester
City look out of contention after they dropped points recently.
The Gunners have played 14 games at the Emirates so far this season and they have come out victorious on 10 occasions. The last five Eglish Premier League (EPL) games against Sunderland have not been so fruitful for the Gunners, as they have won only once
in their last five meetings.
Sunderland
Sunderland had a decent start to the 2010/2011 season as they established themselves as the giant killers. They beat Manchester City and Chelsea earlier this season, while drawin against Manchester United, http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Liverpool-c39809 and Arsenal.
Their recent form has been really poor and they have picked up only one win in their last five matches. The Black Cats will be hoping to rediscover their lost form in hope to secure a UEFA Europa League spot.
Team News
Arsenal
With UEFA Champion’s League second leg tie of last 16 round around the corner, Arsenal will not be risking their skipper Cesc Fabregas who is struggling with a hamstring problem. Prolific striker http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Robin-van-Persie-c31380 is ruled out for three weeks and will be
replaced by http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Thomas-Vermaelen-c35002 are also sidelined through injuries.
Sunderland
Sunderland are struggling with a host of injury concerns ahead of this tie. http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Boudewijn-Zenden-c7926 will also miss the game after he picked up a calf
injury in the last week’s defeat against Everton. There is some good news for Bruce, as Manchester United loaner, http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Danny-Welbeck-c10233, is expected to feature after an injury layoff. Welbeck has been a revelation for the Black Cats this season and he has scored six
goals this season.
Players to Watch
http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Samir-Nasri-c32360
The Frenchman has been in superb form for the Gunners during their campaign. All the responsibility will rest on his shoulders in the absence of Fabregas. The midfielder has scored nine goals for the Gunners in the EPL this season and has been a dominant
figure behind their success.
http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Asamoah-Gyan-c6791
After the departure of Sunderland’s prolific goal scorer, http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Darren-Bent-c10358, to Aston Villa in January, Gyan will be the main player for the Black Cats. He needs to take the goal scoring responsibility and lead from the front. The Ghanaian international signed
for Sunderland in August 2010 and since then he has scored nine goals in the league and has also contributed with four assists.
Prediction
Arsenals have played well at the Emirates so far this season and despite their injury concerns, the Gunners are expected to nick a close win.
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