English Premier League Preview: Sunderland v Arsenal
Sunderland are set to welcome English Premier League giants Arsenal at the Stadium of Light this Saturday, but will have to make do without their suspended captain Lee Cattermole for the match.
Cattermole has been at the centre of media attention over his disciplinary record so far this season, as he has been sent off twice in three appearances. After being dismissed in the opening day match against Birmingham City, the midfielder was red-carded
in the clash with Wigan Athletic last Saturday for two bookable offences.
Sunderland will certainly miss the combative 22-year-old as they will be up against one of the most talented footballing teams in the league.
Strength in depth
Arsenal can boast a squad with strength in depth, which should be enough to cover for the absence of fleet-footed winger Theo Walcott, who was injured when he played in England’s UEFA 2012 European Football Championship qualifying win over Switzerland last
week, as well as Robin van Persie who is also on the sidelines with an ankle injury.
The Gunners have a potent attacking force at their disposal, but the main key to their ability is the midfield partnership between Andrei Arshavin and Francesc Fabregas.
Arshavin, who may be deployed in one of the striking berths to cover for the absence of Van Persie and fellow injury victim Nicklas Bendtner, is regarded as one of the most skilful attacking midfielders in Europe. His linking play and close control of the
ball have seen him become a menace to defences throughout Europe with both Zenit St Petersburg and Arsene Wenger’s side and he will be hoping to add to his tally of two goals in four league games so far this season on Saturday.
World Cup-winner
Fabregas, meanwhile, has developed under Wenger to become one of the most revered central midfielders on the planet. The 23-year-old, who provided the assist for Andres Iniesta’s winning goal for Spain in the 2010 FIFA World Cup final, was at the centre
of a very public bid by Barcelona to bring him back to the Camp Nou this summer. However, Wenger’s ability to hold on to Fabregas may well prove to be his best piece of transfer business this year.
The midfielder, who is renowned for being able to dictate play and his range of passing as well as his ability at set-pieces, has played in three of the club’s EPL games so far this season and already has two assists to his name.
One of the goals he set up was for Marouane Chamakh, who arrived from Bordeaux on a free transfer this summer. The Morocco international has already played an important part in Arsenal’s campaign so far, having scored two goals already. He also played a
key role in the equaliser in the 1-1 opening-day draw with Liverpool when his headed attempt at goal bounced off the goalpost then rebounded off Reds keeper Pepe Reina into the back of the net.
Despite Arsenal’s considerable attacking weapons, Sunderland still have the chance to pick up points at the Stadium of Light as they have their own attacking force capable of causing damage to just about any defence.
Lethal striker
Darren Bent was the club’s leading goalscorer last season as his 25 strikes across all competitions helped to secure another season in the top flight for the Black Cats. He has scored two league goals already this season, but the pressure for him to deliver
in front of the opposition goal has become a little less intense for the England international with the arrival of Asamoah Gyan.
The Ghana striker was signed from Rennes for a club record fee of £13m before the transfer window closed. He has already begun to repay Sunderland boss Steve Bruce’s faith in him after he scored in the 1-1 draw against Wigan.
Though Sunderland can boast a pair of quality strikers, they will struggle to pick up any points against one of the league’s big guns this weekend.
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