Arsenal vs. Sunderland

leninbenjamin

3pm, 20th February
Setanta Ireland

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Arsenal (from): Almunia, Fabianski, Sagna, Song, Campbell, Vermaelen, Clichy, Denilson, Rosicky, Walcott, Fabregas, Nasri, Eboue, Bendtner, Vela, Mannone.

Sunderland (from): Gordon, Fulop, Bardsley, Hutton, Turner, Ferdinand, Mensah, Kilgallon, Da Silva, Cana, Zenden, Richardson, Campbell, Bent, Jones, Benjani, Liddle, Noble.

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This could be an interesting match. Arsenal find themselves having to win practically all their remaining matches if they are to maintain a title challenge. Yet Sunderland won the reverse fixture (their most recent win in the Premiership) and play a direct style of football Arsenal are notorious for their inability to defend against. After their poor run of form the past couple of months Sunderland too desperately need a result.

DenMan

Going to be tight i'd say. An early goal is crucial for Arsenal and i'd say we'll get it.

Going for 2-0 Arsenal with Nasri and Bendtner to score.

leninbenjamin

Can't see Arsenal keeping a clean sheet tbh. I'd fancy Bent to score against us given how we struggle defending against strikers with a lot of pace and power like him. We shouldn't have too many problems scoring though, given how leaky Sunderland's defence has been of late. 2-1 would be my prediction.

manutd

Going for 2-2 draw.

greendom

leninbenjamin wrote: »

Can't see Arsenal keeping a clean sheet tbh. I'd fancy Bent to score against us given how we struggle defending against strikers with a lot of pace and power like him. We shouldn't have too many problems scoring though, given how leaky Sunderland's defence has been of late. 2-1 would be my prediction.

Another game without Gallas is bad news defensively

L'prof

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Almunia
Sagna Vermaelen Campbell Clichy

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Song

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Ramsey Fabregas
Rosicky

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Nasri

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Bendtner

Subs: Fabianski, Denilson, Walcott, Eboue, Vela + 2 young fellas

That's what I'd like to see, Almunia is only 50/50 so Fabianski may start. Denilson will prolly get the nod ahead of Ramsey and Eboue or Walcott may get the nod ahead of Rosicky or Nasri.

Not a bad team really, we'll miss Diaby though in what will be a tight game. I fear a draw but, I'm hoping to nick it by a goal.

Johner

4-0 Arsenal.

L'prof

Johner wrote: »

4-0 Arsenal.

I doubt it, cheers for the optimism though. You trying to blight us?

Fuzzy_Dunlop

Almunia is back anyway according to BBC, whoop de doo!

Pepe LeFrits

Almunia,

Eboue,
Silvestre,
Vermaelen,
Clichy

Song
Ramsey
Fabregas

Nasri
Bendtner
Walcott

L'prof

playa3 wrote: »

Almunia is back anyway according to BBC, whoop de doo!

Tweedledee or Tweedledum? Much of a muchness!

L'prof

Pepe LeFrits wrote: »

Almunia,

Eboue,
Silvestre,
Vermaelen,
Clichy

Song
Ramsey
Fabregas

Nasri
Bendtner
Walcott

Christ...

Johner

Johner wrote: »

4-0 Arsenal.

Pepe LeFrits wrote: »

Almunia,

Eboue,
Silvestre,
Vermaelen,
Clichy

Song
Ramsey
Fabregas

Nasri
Bendtner
Walcott

With this team? I doubt it.

Fuzzy_Dunlop

rarnes1 wrote: »

With this team? I doubt it.

I'm quite happy with that team(apart from Silvestre obviously). Ramsey instead of Denilson, and Eboue has looked good lately. Also great to have Song back.

[edit] not that I think they'll win 4-0 of course!

Johner

jasonorr wrote: »

I doubt it, cheers for the optimism though. You trying to blight us?

Nah I think it will be pretty easy for Arsenal today for some reason.

cashback

I think maybe 2-1 Arsenal. Could be hanging on by the end.

leninbenjamin

Silvestre starting. ****! ****! ****!

I kind of wish Wenger would put him on the left, drop Song back to CB and play Clichy in the LWF position. Although I suppose to be fair to Silvestre he hasn't been too bad this season when he's been called upon.

magma69

Arsenal will bounce back today. I can see them winning comfortably by two or three goals. Fabregas will run the show. The Emirates stadium is not where you want to be if you are on the back of several dreadful results.

Pepe LeFrits

Ugh, ****e streams today.

magma69

What a beautiful pass from Fab. Perfectly weighted.

magma69

Pepe LeFrits wrote: »

Ugh, ****e streams today.

http://tv.indonewyork.com/soccer1/index.html

Its a small screen but a decent quality feed.

When an ad comes up you must refresh.

Souless

Pepe LeFrits wrote: »

Ugh, ****e streams today.

http://hqsportz.net/chan1.html This is a good one as well.

Can't believe walcott didnt do something with that

ctrl-alt-delete

McCartney is lost when Walcott comes anywhere near him, this is where it's gonna be won, the other Arsenal players need to forward with him and get in the box for him!

Very close there, off the bar. Looking ominous

L'prof

Tearing Sunderland apart, they'll score now!

Mr Alan

lol at eboue.

magma69

Only a matter of time before Arsenal score. They still got to be careful they don't get caught out on the counter attack.

L'prof

Nasri dead now? Great!

Bukman13

Sunderland defending like animals. Arsenal playing good.

MementoMori

Arsenal looking very Arsenalish

Loads of the ball but need to actually put the ball into the back of the net.

Bendtner constantly dropping way way too deep for a centre-forward.

Fabregas looking very lively.

ctrl-alt-delete

MementoMori wrote: »

Bendtner constantly dropping way way too deep for a centre-forward.

Was thinking that myself, then he gets as forward as he can get away with for that one 1-0

Souless

great run from Eboue, thought he was gonna lose it, tap in for Bendtner

MementoMori

Ha Bendtner with a 6 yard tap -in

Too easy.

Could well see the floodgates opening here.

Be a surprise if Arsenal don't score 2 or 3 more.

magma69

Woeful defending. Let the annahilation commence!

L'prof

Looking very good for us today, great for Bendtner to score

Mr Alan

wat happened to sunderland this year?

paul150

Eboue is been decent for a change good to see bendtner get a goal aswell,should help the confidence

DenMan

Looking good. Well played Eboue. Bendtner in for the tap.

1-0

Redzer7

Eboue :eek: your changing my thoughts Eboue keep going buddy :P.

Pepe LeFrits

Jesus Lou Macari is an awful moany bollix.

ctrl-alt-delete

Mr Alan wrote: »

wat happened to sunderland this year?

At the moment they have no confidence what so ever, and that is playing a big part. The longer it continues the harder it gets to get out of it.

Their early success was based on Cattermole and Cana, but with injuries and the inevitable suspensions they have rarely featured together. Cana has been one player who has dipped most in form. Reid and Malbranque were lethal early on, but now they have no in form quality wingers to call on.

It is getting worse and worse, i've seen them the past 2 games at home and the basics are not even there anymore.

Am expecting a thrashing today once goal 2 goes in.

Redzer7

Pepe LeFrits wrote: »

Jesus Lou Macari is an awful moany bollix.

Worst commentator ever tbf.

L'prof

Pepe LeFrits wrote: »

Jesus Lou Macari is an awful moany bollix.

Always has been.

mayordenis

must be red must be

Souless

mayordenis wrote: »

must be red must be

should of been what a wreckless tackle, two footed!

Redzer7

2 footed tackle ref,
C'mon for fcuk sake call the game off..

ctrl-alt-delete

mayordenis wrote: »

must be red must be

Red would be harsh, but given the intent was there he mightnt have had many complaints,

10th yellow card of the season so another 2 game ban for him, he is a liability for Sunderland.

MementoMori

mayordenis wrote: »

must be red must be

Could well have been if it weren't for the attack going on.

Walcott has been utter dire today - doesn't look remotely like a footballer.

Redzer7

MementoMori wrote: »

Could well have been if it weren't for the attack going on.

Walcott has been utter dire today - doesn't look remotely like a footballer.

Like that all season tbf.

mayordenis

Cana doesn't want to play or something? doing his best to get out of this game.

L'prof

Redzer7 wrote: »

Like that all season tbf.

Been injured all season tbf!!!

mayordenis

Fluffwyn Flufferson and fluff brigade