This weekend sees The Arsenal return to the day job as Saturday afternoon league football action makes a welcome return with the visit of Sunderland. With all the excitement of destroying poor little Chelsea midweek, which actually reminds me, I feel I should apologise to Mr Rosenior for our players wilfully going into their half and kicking the ball in their net – I am sure it must have been traumatic but to be honest I fear it may happen again. Anyway, in all the excitement, it has been easy to forget the true business this season starts with getting another league title fairly on the books.
So, where do we stand in the league?
We stand top. Although the last 5 games have seen a return of only a paltry 8 points from a possible 15, a dire situation indeed. I had, as would any lowly hack these misbegotten days, been busily knocking out the requisite ravings of existential clickbait angst until…. a quick check on our rivals showed that in fact we had done better than them! Aston Villa have only garnered seven and Manchester City a mere six over the same period. Now, it is also true that Chelsea and Manchester United have got 10 and 11 respectively. So what, who cares? If you should find yourself approached by anyone suggesting that either of these teams are title rivals, then I would recommend a friendly nod and your most reassuring smile as you back warily away. Probably, best to put in a call to the local Rabies Control Centre afterwards too, you can never be too careful with the dangerously deluded.
What does it all mean? What should we do?
It means we are in a three-horse race and six points to the good. Simple really, but having said that, I know some of you prefer to dare the labyrinthine coils and so I think we can best elucidate a touch further by speculating that should we keep on getting a few more points than our nearest rivals we will, come May, be the champions. And there you have it, a currently fashionable Tactical Mattaclass if ever there was one. However, before too many rose petals are strewn before my ever so unworthy feet, I must admit to a strong belief that Mr Arteta may have already thought of this cunning plan.
On a more grounded note, it should be said that this weekend does represent a good opportunity for The Arsenal – a win over Sunderland will certainly put the pressure on both our rivals who face tricky away games, Villa at a recently resurgent Bournemouth, and City at Liverpool. Not only that however, it will also hold us in good stead for our next three league games. After this week’s home game, the PL have given us the mixed blessing of adding in a rescheduled trip to Wolves (due to the Carabao Cup Final) between two trips to Brentford and Tottenham – yet another away stand this season (though to be strictly fair we do have Wigan in the FA Cup at home, but I am sure you see the point). On the other hand, if we can come through those away games with a decent points haul then we will be in a really great place with 10 games to go. Top of the league and a 6/4 home / away split left to play. It’s certainly a tough league, but then I’m certainly a believer and I see no reason this Arsenal team won’t get that done.
Who will start?
Er…. good question really. Odegaard, Saka and Timber all missed the open training session this week and this has obviously raised concerns over their availability. Unreliable reports of Saka being out until the NLD have also being doing the rounds, concerning if true I suppose, but then a week or two back the press lamented the imminent demise of Kai Havertz and I must say he looked sprightly enough midweek. What would Mikel say at the presser? He was in fact oddly forthcoming this week – Timber is fine for the weekend was the good news, Martin is a matter of days and Bukayo’s hip is much better and he will be back with us very soon. I haven’t read any of the dreaded three weeks into that but I’d also guess that maybe not this game for Martin and Bukayo.
My tentative stab at an XI would be……..
Raya
Timber Saliba Gabriel Hincapie
Havertz Zubimendi Rice
Madueke Gyokeres Trossard
Of course, the players need rest but we can rest several against Wigan I hope, and I would be loath to ever change a defence that has been so effective the last two games. I expect Calafiori to be considered of course, and possibly Eze will start again instead of Kai. Regardless, it is quite likely that Mikel will also change one or two up front to even out the workload, we will just have to wait and see in what mysterious ways Mikel moves this time.
The Opposition
Sunderland were, until this season, perhaps best known for a famous FA Cup Final triumph against Leeds in 1973 and some documentaries with sad endings. This season however has seen the sad songs banished and the promoted club that were many people’s favourites to go straight back down have instead spent the season in the top half of the table. Currently 8th they seem well on a course for a decent finish and, who knows, the happy ending of European jollies next season.
If you would like to know all you could ever want to know about Sunderland’s manager and players. I can only refer you to Ned’s excellent preview of our away trip there earlier this season. The only significant addition to the first team since then is the young Ecuadorian left winger Nilson Angulo, signed from Anderlecht on deadline day for around 20 million euros. Basically, Angulo is a replacement for Simon Adingra, himself only signed from Brighton in the summer but already off-loaded to Monaco. Don’t cry for Adingra, I believe the yachts are a little bigger and the water a little warmer than the Wear.
In terms of current form, the Black Cats last 4 games are, more or less, a microcosm of their season, wins at home to Palace and Burnley, losses away at West Ham and Brentford. They are not totally without resource away, having won at the bus stop in Fulham but overall are a stronger proposition at home. On the injury front it seems our old friend Granit Xhaka will be absent, probably a footballing blessing at least, he has been an important player for Sunderland this season. Based on what I have seen of them this season, I expect they will be up for the challenge, they are a tough, resilient bunch and there will be no gifts. We are better, which generally helps, but they will make us prove it.
What will happen?
Our rediscovered defensive mastery against Leeds and Chelsea has been very heartening – over three hours of barely giving the opposition a chance has made for very relaxing viewing in downtown Osaka I must say. More of the same seems to be in order this weekend, and, though I have avoided mentioning it until right at the end, just a little bit of revenge for that annoying late equaliser in the 2-2 draw at their place. 3-0 to The Arsenal and no injuries would suit me just fine and dandy. Goals from Leo, who’s due, and Noni, should he play, plus a thumping header from a corner by one of our stalwart defenders would round off my early morning!
Have a great one for those of you going, and as my Mum would say, don’t forget your warm coat, it’s brass monkeys out there. As for those of us who plan to sit and watch, may our sofas be comfortable and our drinks just right. Cheers to us all!
Cheers Matt. I’ll take your 3-0 with no injuries.
And hoping to exorcise the trauma of my last visit….
A very jolly read, OM. Like Ollie@1, I’ll happily take your injury feee 3-0.
Well previewed, OM. Confidence is key and ours appeats to be on the up so long may it continue.
Here we go again. Great preview Matt. 14 league games to go.The emotion of reaching another Wembley final is with us. Now we need three points.
Let’s do this.
COYG
Thanks Matt for the amusing and nerve-soothing preview. I am very much with you in the optimist camp.
Xhaka being unavailable for Sunderland, even though his absence should help us, must be a huge disappointment for him. Mikel used the word ‘authentic’ in describing Granit’s ability to connect with and lead the players, and despite (or maybe because of) all the ups and downs of his relationship with the Arsenal supporters, him leading an opposition team out would have had an authentic poignancy that’s uncommon in these times of manufactured emotions.
Despite the absence of their captain and midfield conductor, I am sure Sunderland would provide a tough test. Not the least because of the pack-the-defense strategy most opposition teams go for at our home to force through a draw.
I like your team but I would prefer few alterations (assuming Ødegaard and Saka unavailable):
Raya
Timber-Saliba-Gabriel-Calafiori
Havertz-Zubimendi-Rice
Madueke-Jesus-Trossard
And then bring Martinelli, Gyökeres and Eze later in the game.
3-0 would be great, but I would be happy with a clean sheet and a composed 2-0 win.
Come on Arsenal!
Cheers Matt – an optimistic preview – 3-0 would be just fine.
Any mention of Sunderland always reminds me of the introduction on I’m Sorry I Haven’t A Clue from that same place. The town was supposedly discovered and named by Viking explorers who were setting off from Scandinavia to explore the northern ocean. On realising they had accidentally entered the mouth of a river – now known to us as the Wear – when they spotted a small harbour on the bank, the captain turned to the first mate and demanded “Sun da lund ?!” which translates into modern Danish as “Who’s got the bloody map ?”
Matt
Excellent preview, upbeat and comprehensive, Thankyou .
I think 3-0 is quite optimistic but my wife and I went for lunch in London a couple
of weeks ago on the day West Ham turned the Mackems over . On the train home we were treated to their views on the Wearsiders and they were not flattering . If they can thrash them so can we . Nevertheless I think a 1 or 2 – nil victory will do us especially if Liverpool take down C115 y
And talking of them the Leicester six point deduction is about to take effect . How can they be punished while C115y have yet to have a verdict? It distorts the league not just this season but stretching back into what is now the distant past
Just a note to Dr F, unrelated to football: A few years ago, you mentioned the works of W.G. Sebald, in a preview of a game vs Norwich if I recall correctly. I’ve finally gotten around to reading The Emigrants. What a great book – thanks for the recommendation!
Nice interview with Granit on the Beeb.
https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/articles/c801z394lr1o
Thanks for the link Ollie, it is a good interview though I didn’t
believe that he was surprised when someone told him the other
team’s players don’t like him!
Thanks Matt
Sunderland are overrated and over hyped.
Let’s smash them 4-0 please.
UTA
True, Matt, I suspect it would be a well-known thing.
Caution would be advisable for our defenders this afternoon.
The referee will be Sam Barrott who I think is probably the best one on PGMO’s current list. His only red card this season was actually issued to Sunderland’s left-back Reinildo Mandava. He has though issued six penalties, a tally only exceeded by Michael Salisbury.
Guess who is today’s VAR …… Michael Salisbury. They have hopefully been warned.
Romero sent off again and out of the NLD.
Not sure if that’s good or not really as he seems a
liability half the time
Cheers Matt.
Trev at 13, Sunderland will have to get in our penalty area which will be no mean feat with all 11 playing in theirs.
Raya
Timber Saliba Gabriel Calafiori
Rice Zubi Kai
Madueke Jesus Leo
Kepa, White, Mosquera, Hincapie, MLS, Eze, Norgaard,
Martinelli, Gyokeres
Nocely predicted starting XI, Dr. Faustus @5. Come on Jesus and Calafiori (and the other nine players who OM correctly predicted!)
Yeah, a tip of the hat for the good doctor, nicely named
Dr. F knows!
OM: A belated thanks for the h/t on their squad run-down in the preview for the home game. One addition the Black Cats made in the transfer window to watch out for is Nilson Angulo, an Ecuadorian left-winger bought from Anderlecht. He is 22, has 12 caps and is quick. This will be his first match-day squad. Although he is starting on the bench, I would expect to see him brought on at some point for his debut.
Zubi comes through again!
Cracking strike really, always looks good off the post and in
We’re getting too tight and they’re using our bodies to turn – then cos we’ve been turned behind them we have to grab shirts.
Drop 1/2 yard and Nick the ball as they turn
Vik and Gabi M on for Jesus and Noni.
Hope we can put this to bed
They must have heard me! 2-0 Gyokeres
Did well considering he was falling over…
Kai and Cala subbed immediately after that
goal, managing their returns well
That looked dodgy, fingers crossed for Leo.
Hopefully just precautionary as he has gone straight to the bench
not down the tunnel
I do believe I nailed the score at the death there!
Victor Gyokeres, take a bow son.
Made us work for it as expected but got the job done and
9 points clear
That was just the sort of hard-worked home game against a mid-table side that you would expect us to win, but that we haven’t always in recent seasons. Two proper, burly centre-forward goals from Gyökeres, too — goals we have lacked in the past.
Congrats to OM for forecasting the score. Fingers crossed for Trossard, who had an excellent game.
Wot the man from Osaka said.
An excellent trip and match, much better than last time.
With the added pleasure of bumping into C100 and son after the match!
Unless Liverpool get a result tomorrow they could be chasing Everton in the table within a matter of days. Just saying.
Ollie it was lovely to see you. I think we both looked very happy. We played so well! More thoughts tomorrow.
One of the lovely things today was the sight of Dads with offspring attending their first game. I believe Btm had the very considerable pleasure of taking his granddaughter to her first game . And that is how new Arsenal fans are born.
They saw an entertaining game which we managed well. The referee was quite good. Sunderland are a decent side and it was nice to see Gyokeres playing very much better .
Huge props also to Declan and Leo
Barney Ronay on our big Vic, fast becoming a fan favourite.
https://www.theguardian.com/football/2026/feb/07/gyokeres-gifts-of-bundling-and-poaching-suggest-arsenal-have-found-the-real-thing
Looks like lots of ‘Holics at the game yesterday, I envy you all 😃
Thanks for the link C100 @37.
Definitely a large 🥃 on the bar for Viktor but I thought Leo
had a great game too, and I loved the recent return of the clean sheets.
C100@37: And a bit overly bro big on Calafiori, too.
It is all quite positive from Ronay and why not as we’re 9 points
clear at the moment.
About three months from now will give us all a better idea of
the summer arrivals of course, they have all had their ups and downs
so far – just as you’d expect I suppose.
In further good news for Big Vik.
He has now scored more league goals for
The Arsenal than Hawley, Hankin and Chapman combined 😉
Thanks for 41 Matt
Maybe some, even on here, may give him a bit more slack now – perhaps not,
UTA
Hi everyone, really sorry – it’s my turn to write the match report, and a combination of personal commitments and the weather in US northeast I am running behind, significantly, and the report would be a bit delayed. My fault entirely.
Potsticker — glad you loved The Emigrants. The book you remember being mentioned — The Rings of Saturn — is wonderful as well, as are his other works like Austrelitz etc.
NBN, bt8 & Matt — thank you!
Good luck, Dr F.
No problem Dr F 👍
Take care
Mike McDonald’s
Thanks C100,
Loved the bit at the end about the Sunderland coach with a sense of humour
😂😂
Good stuff as usual from Mike.
Shock horror! For the first time in a very long period I saw a worn part of the Arsenal pitch! Both goalmouths are quite significantly worn – possibly because the ladies have added to the number of games played, possibly because there is such a rigmarole when taking goal kicks which churns up the pitch ,
It’s not horrendous damage but it might cause variable bounce in the six yard area and discomfort goalkeepers
Wonderful preview, Matt, presaging a challenging encounter against a team that has surprised many on their successful return to the Prem. They impressed me. After a rocky start in which Havertz might have headed home within 60 seconds Sunderland grew into the game well. In comparison to many they came to the Emirates to play. The first half was winding toward oranges and 0-0 at half time before Zubi’s sensational strike, which, in turn, was followed by a superb curler from Kai which might have put us on easy street at 45 minutes plus. Sunderland started the second half well and the contest had potential to finish as a nail biter until MA8’s superb subs (tactical masterclass, yada yada…..) and Victor’s killer brace. In a game that we might well have won by six goals, part of me felt that 3-0 (superb prediction from Osaka) flattered Arsenal on the day.
I had the wonderful pleasure of introducing granddaughter Stella to her first men’s PL game. She’s a very little lady, and is somewhat nervous in big cities, underground trains and big crowds! We enjoyed a wonderful day together, by the end of which she was singing the Gyokores song very happily. One of the few great blessings of growing ‘more mature’.
BtM,
Thanks and it’s always nice to welcome a brand new Gooner to the fold 😃
Excellent preview and prediction, Matt!!
Say, you wouldn’t perchance know the upcoming lottery numbers would ya?!?!
I’ve never heard the “it’s brass monkeys outside” admonition. What does that mean?
Great result. 13 PL games remain. Run through the tape.
MCMBD
OM @ 50.
Took it right off me lurking toe. Good one!😁
MCMBD
A common British saying LG.” It’s cold enough to freeze the balls off a brass monkey. “
An outbreak of woossiness determined that I didn’t attend yesterday, brought on by brass monkeys weather the night before watching the U-21’s. That’ll learn me…..
TTG@48 – interesting that you note the scuffing around the goal areas yesterday. 21CG said he noticed it in the Chelsea game and I can see it, watching the Ladies game now. I can only imagine the near biblical rainfall we’ve had in the UK over the last few weeks – Amazon UK are close to running out of arks – has made maintenance very difficult.
Well-in for the half-ton, OM
On the TV broadcasts, the bare patches in the goal mouths at the Ems have been noticeable for a few games now. There also appear to be some yellow spots elsewhere on the pitch. Where the assistant referees run, the grass is also gone; it is a strip of mud. Overuse preventing maintenance may be the issue, but the line that goalkeepers scuff out across the front of their goal cannot help either. Nor can the fact that every time we win a corner, the six-yard box has the equivalent of a herd of elephants charging across it.
CER@54: Hope your cold head has warmed up, and that you are back up to snuff.
BtM@49: I commend your responsible grandparenting in passing the flame. It is important that the next generation is raised in the right traditions.
Dr. F@43: I feel your pain. It’s minus 24 C with the wind chill here and there is still at least a foot of frozen snow on the ground, so it must be even colder in Boston. Brass monkeys indeed.
@53, Cheers, C100! “The more you know”😁
MCMBD
I’ve stepped in to write the report
It us with our techies
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