Arsenal host Sunderland at the Emirates this evening in the penultimate league game of the season, with the knowledge that a win will secure a top three finish. Sunderland themselves have a much bigger incentive tonight, with a draw enough to secure Premier league survival for the eight successive season. That could well see Dick Advocaat’s side employ similar tactics to Swansea, who managed to frustrate Arsenal long enough to snatch a win at the Emirates last week and consign the Gunners to only their second home defeat of the season.
That Swansea game was an ‘aberration’ in the words of Arsene Wenger who believes his side must maintain a high intensity throughout the 90 minutes:
“I expect them [Sunderland] to be well organised defensively, sound at the back, and to try to use all the counter-attacks they can.
“We have to put a high rhythm into this game and play with a high level of energy to win.”
The Arsenal Manager meanwhile believes that Advocaat’s side while survive no matter what the result in tonight’s game:
“Sunderland, for a few years now, have struggled until five, six games before the end… [but] always they just find the final resources to get out of relegation.
“Advocaat has used his vast experience to give them confidence again, and to get them to play.”
Sunderland’s confidence will no doubt be boosted by an unlikely 2-0 win at Everton last week while Arsenal find themselves winless in the last two following a defeat to Swansea and Sunday’s draw at Manchester United. The performance in the latter no doubt had its exertions on the players and it would be no surprise to see Wenger rotate the side following six unchanged line-ups.
In fact, his hand may be forced if injury reports are true. Laurent Koscienly has ‘flu’ according to Wenger which could well mean a return to action for Gabriel while Mikel Arteta and Mathieu Debuchy are not fit enough to make their comebacks. Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and Danny Welbeck also remain sidelined but the likes of Theo Walcott, Tomas Rosicky and Kieran Gibbs could all be within a chance of a start.
One player likely to remain in the side however is Francis Coquelin, with the Frenchman impressing in his breakthrough season. Arsene Wenger has been foremost among Coquelin’s admirers and yesterday compared his starlet to a £40 million pound signing:
“If we had bought Coquelin at Christmas for £40m, everyone would say ‘what a signing’. I am sorry he didn’t cost any money, he is still a good player.
“What is a player worth today? Nobody knows really. I just wanted to say that if we had bought (Coquelin), nobody would complain that he was a good player.”
Wenger was also adamant that Coq would be ready for a fight should any competition be brought in:
“Nobody would dispute that his performances have been convincing and that he is ready for a fight even if somebody comes in. He has shown he has the capacity to play for us and play a big part in the success of the team. I extended his contract, that means I believe in him.”
What guise that competition takes, or if there is to be any at all remains to be seen although we can all be certain that both Wenger and Coquelin will want three points tonight.
The Match at Old Trafford kicks off a 4pm GMT on Sunday and as always we’d like you to share your predictions and thoughts on the game on twitter or in the comments below.
