09Feb

Crucial series against Sunderland for Arsenal

by Swaroop

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Won, drawn, lost,  drawn. Picking up five points out of an available 12 at the Stadium of Light in the last four seasons, Arsenal, in a sense, show what is preventing them from being a championship team. It has been well documented that Arsenal does not like travelling to the north of England as much as playing in the north of London. But they will have to seek form and turn recent history upside down in a crucial two-match series against Sunderland.

First up, is the league game this weekend. Martin O’ Neill’s side have been the form side over the two months; in fact it’s been an incredible few months. They toppled league leaders Manchester City, Stephane Sessegnon has emerged as a surprise outsider to be linked with the PFA Player of the Year and James McClean could be a wildcard to perform well for the Republic of Ireland come the European championships.

Things have been so brilliant for Sunderland, one wonders what Steve Bruce was doing with this team. It’s not as if O’Neill has come and changed the players, it’s the same personnel but playing with vigour, freedom and an expressiveness which was missing two months back. Arsenal will have their work cut out.

While their tormentor in chief of the past few fixtures, Darren Bent, is not in these parts anymore, expect them to concede goals. But a big part of whether Arsenal will come out on top in the Sunderland series may be directly dependant on how the club views the other series, against AC Milan in the Champions League. Two trips to the Stadium of Light is sandwiched by one trip to the San Siro. While they won against Milan the last time, both the sides sport a much changed system. Milan have slowly but gradually replaced stalwarts like Paolo Maldini and Kaka with younger prospects like Thiago Silva and Kevin Prince Boateng.

While Arsene Wenger has time and again underplayed the significance of the FA Cup with respect to the Premier League and the Champions League, do not be fooled. There will be a strong team coming out against the Black Cats on the 18 of February. One just needs to look at the team put out by Wenger against Aston Villa to know that he is taking the Cup seriously.

The Stadium of Light has not been kind to visitors since O’Neill’s arrival and I do expect them to at least get a point against the Gunners. It would be foolish to think that all is well with Arsenal after their “seventh heaven” performance against Blackburn Rovers: the Sunderland defence and midfield will harry the Arsenal passing game and things might get very ugly for one of the league’s worst travelers.

Posted by Arsenal fan Swaroop Swaminathan

Follow Swaroop on Twitter @persiesque