The Gunners should beat Sunderland comfortably, but they could struggle in a tricky away game at the Stadium Of Light.
Sunderland lost 8-0 last weekend, and looked an absolute shambles in their game against Southampton. This should be the perfect time to play the Mackems, but Arsenal have problems of their own. Here are the five main reasons that Arsenal might lose to Sunderland.
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5) Makeshift Defence
The Arsenal defence is returning to normality, but is still very shaky with both Debuchy and Koscielny out. Chances are that Nacho Monreal will play at centre-back again, and his partner Per Mertesacker has admitted himself that he is in poor form. Playing your second choice left-back alongside an out-of-form player is a recipe for disaster.
4) Sunderland Bounce-Back
Sunderland may have been battered last week, but Gus Poyet won’t have let them get away with it. They will have been training harder than ever this week, and will be desperate to battle for a draw with Arsenal. At the very least they will be physical, a style which Arsene Wenger’s teams have historically struggled with.
3) Home Advantage
The Stadium of Light is a tough place to go at the best of times, and the crowd will be really up for it this week after last week’s debacle. Arsenal have won 3 of their last 4 away games at Sunderland, but the pressure on the squad to get a good result, combined with Sunderland’s desperation, means that it will be very hard for the Gunners to keep up their good record.
2) Tired Stars
Arsenal had a midweek game in Belgium, which is not far to go, but they were made to work right till the end by a spirited Anderlecht side. Arsenal have looked to Alexis Sanchez all season for moments of inspiration, and the pressure is starting to show. The Chilean played 90 minutes against Anderlecht, 90 minutes against Hull last week, 90 minutes for Chile before that and 79 minutes against Chelsea before the international break. Very few, if any, of Sunderland’s players have had such a punishing recent schedule.
1)Poor Form
Arsenal have won only two league games this season, one of them through a 90th minute winner against Crystal Palace, and one against struggling Aston Villa. They need big characters to turn things round, but look desperately short of performers, especially in the middle Players like Mikel Arteta and Mathieu Flamini have been playing poorly, Jack Wilshere is suspended and Aaron Ramsey’s form has tailed off dramatically since his strong start to the season.