Preview: Arsenal visit fourth placed Sunderland
Few would have had Sunderland hosting Arsenal as a top-four clash at the start of the season, but the Black Cats’ excellent start has them about halfway to safety only 10 games into the campaign.
By Karl Matchett
Tricky road starts now
Régis Le Bris and his team might be preaching about either surviving or thriving behind closed doors, but it’s really only the latter which matters in reality. Two years running, the promoted teams have gone straight back down again but at least one of the trio to come up last year looks capable of bucking that trend. Even with an excellent spine put together – goalkeeper Robin Roefs looks a steal, Omar Alderete has performed well in defence and Granit Xhaka has brought nous and quality on the ball in the centre – there will be an acknowledgement around the club that the early fixture list was kind. Now starts a much bigger test of their top-flight credentials, but Sunderland face it with all the confidence built up over the past three months: Arsenal today, then the other members of the top five – Bournemouth, Liverpool and Man City – within the next four weeks or so. How many points they take in this run, before several stars depart for the AFCON, might be very telling.
Back line puts Gunners in all-timer territory
Quite aside from the fact Arsenal are simply a very good team, there’s a key reason they win so many matches. No, not the set pieces – well, yes, that too – but their defensive resolve. José Mourinho’s 04/05 vintage Chelsea conceded 15 goals in a single season, an average of 0.4 per game and the long-standing Premier League record in that regard. Arsenal have currently seen just three in ten get past them – a 0.3 average and, extrapolated over the season it would be just 11 or 12 conceded all year. That same Chelsea team conceded nine away from home; Arsenal have let in only two thus far. Still, you need a title to go with the numbers, which means the emphasis for Mikel Arteta’s men remains on winning, not just not conceding or losing.
Recent form
Sunderland have lost just one of their last eight matches, a superb run pushing them into fourth place. Following a home draw with Everton last time out, they’ve won two of the last three. Arsenal give that some perspective though: ten straight wins in all competitions after an easy Champions League win in midweek.
Team news
Habib Diarra is out and the aforementioned Alderete needs to be assessed following concussion.
For Arsenal, the attacking absences continue to grow with Viktor Gyökeres now sidelined too, in addition to Noni Madueke, Kai Havertz, Gabriel Jesus and Martin Ødegaard.
Key player
With Gyökeres missing, if this isn’t to be a battle between two of the league’s most impressive goalkeepers this term then someone must step up at a key moment. Declan Rice often takes that mantle for the Gunners and with two goals and two assists he’s joint-most productive for Arsenal in the league. He’s above 94% of midfielders for xA per 90 this term and 75% for xG per 90.
Prediction
A narrow but again solid away win, probably involving a corner: Sunderland 0-2 Arsenal.
(Cover image from IMAGO)
You can follow every game from the Premier League with FotMob this season – featuring deep stats coverage, xG, and player ratings. Download the free app here.