So this weekend sees in-form Arsenal against a Sunderland team that seem to be gelling into a powerful and effective unit. We have often heard that the Gunners do less well against the physical meat and potato teams of the North, as Bolton were called when Allardyce was their boss a couple of years back. And that ongoing spat, handbags at 5 yards, between Big Sam and the more urbane Arsene Wenger this week helps to add spice to the Premiership. Blackburn definitely have meat and potatoes tendencies, unlike Sunderland.
But we are not here to discuss Lancashire teams, this is a clash between the Lads and an Arsenal side who won 6-0 in midweek, playing the way that Wenger wants and demands. There was even a star performance from Wilshere, a Brit! I have previously bemoaned the lack of English players in the Arsenal side, and the fact that Wenger seems to feel that the proximity of the Emirates to the Channel Tunnel is the key factor behind Arsenal’s “success”. But we are also talking several barren years without trophies; nice football without a cutting edge may lead to a lot of plaudits, but in years to come, what will people actually remember? Nice one-twos and passing, like we saw in the midweek Champion’s League win, or trophies?
Last season Sunderland pulled off a 1-0 win over Arsenal without having to play that well, but they put in the sort of effective, focused home performance that also saw off Spurs, Liverpool and Birmingham, for example. Sunderland this season has emerged as a more cultured team, with several players that are very comfortable on the ball, such as Al Muhammadi and the rapidly improving Jordan Henderson. And who can not be inspired by the upfront pairing of Darren Bent, now recovered from his North London nightmare, and the charismatic Asmoah Gyan, who started so stunningly last week.
So I am going for a home win, 2-1, with a sellout crowd. And when Arsenal concede the inevitable penalty or decisive free-kick at the edge of the box, Arsene will avoid any talk about the preceding foul, saying “I did not see it”! Some things do not change.
©Lars J.S. Knutsen
Comments
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Posted by mitch on 09/17/2010
You're wrong mate. Arsenal are gonna win 3-1.
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Posted by Anonymous on 09/17/2010
Wake up. stop dreaming, it will be a one way traffic. Gunner for life
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Posted by gunmanA on 09/17/2010
There is one way to find out; 'wait and see', nevertheless, I go for a 3-1 Arsenal win.
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Posted by Ramos. on 09/17/2010
U can't Arsenal 4 last season 2 dis season so Arsenal wil beat dem 3 - 1
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Posted by spyda on 09/17/2010
Well we wil just hav 2 wait and see about that mate!.
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Posted by true gooner on 09/17/2010
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Posted by Adam on 09/17/2010
I hope not. Arsenal to win 3-2.
And the lack of English players has nothing to do with the channel tunnel, but everything to do with the lack of skillful English players at reasonable prices. He saw straight away that he would have to get them young and grow them himself. You'll see the effect on the England team in years to come.
I can't wish you good luck in this game, but hope you guys do well in the rest of the season, I've always liked Sunderland for some reason.
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Posted by gopi on 09/17/2010
On the other hand i foresee a real thrashing of Sunderland...
Posted by Brad on 09/17/2010
There was no compelling argument on why or how Sunderland might win. They won last year, you are a Sunderland fan and hate Arsenal because of lack of English player and hence Sunderland will win.
If you really believe this, I suggest that you can try to make some money this weekend by placing a bet. You will be surprised that for once you will find yourself in a rarefied atmosphere.
Posted by Norman on 09/17/2010
If the Arsenal center backs finally get their act together, then Arsenal will win, perhaps 2 nil. But if they continue to make the kind of mistakes they have made this season and got way with them, then the home team has a real chance of a win.
Posted by sam on 09/17/2010
Unless Sunderland go so physical, it will be an Arsenal win.
Posted by Coin on 09/18/2010
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Lars Knutsen was born in Sunderland of Norwegian parents across the Wear from the SSOL back when shipbuilding not car manufacture was the city’s main industry. His first game was in 1968 and he has followed the Black Cats since then, with great memories of the 1973 FA Cup. He hopes the “yo-yo” days are over and defines supporting a team by whether the result affects your mood (but maybe not in the way portrayed in the book “Fever Pitch”!) so has been cheerful recently. He endured school in Newc**tle, has a Ph.D. in Chemistry, a Professorship at Drexel University College of Medicine in Philadelphia, and works in the Pharma industry as a consultant Medicinal Chemist.
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