{"id":12793,"date":"2026-02-06T15:36:45","date_gmt":"2026-02-06T15:36:45","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.goonerholicsforever.com\/?p=12793"},"modified":"2026-02-08T17:26:29","modified_gmt":"2026-02-08T17:26:29","slug":"the-case-for-not-resting-the-defence","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.goonerholicsforever.com\/?p=12793","title":{"rendered":"The Case for not Resting the Defence"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
\"20,291
Image courtesy of Vera Volkova | Dreamstime.com<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

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 \u2013 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. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

So, where do we stand in the league?<\/strong>  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/s> angst until\u2026. 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. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

What does it all mean? What should we do?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

On a more grounded note, it should be said that this weekend does represent a good opportunity for The Arsenal \u2013 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\u2019s 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 \u2013 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\u2019s certainly a tough league, but then I\u2019m certainly a believer and I see no reason this Arsenal team won\u2019t get that done.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Who will start?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Er\u2026. 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 \u2013 Timber is fine for the weekend was the good news, Martin is a matter of days and Bukayo\u2019s hip is much better and he will be back with us very soon. I haven\u2019t read any of the dreaded three weeks into that but I\u2019d also guess that maybe not this game for Martin and Bukayo.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

My tentative stab at an XI would be\u2026\u2026..<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Raya<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Timber Saliba Gabriel Hincapie<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Havertz Zubimendi Rice<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Madueke Gyokeres Trossard<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Opposition<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\u2019s favourites to go straight back down have instead spent the season in the top half of the table. Currently 8th<\/sup> they seem well on a course for a decent finish and, who knows, the happy ending of European jollies next season.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you would like to know all you could ever want to know about Sunderland\u2019s manager and players. I can only refer you to Ned\u2019s excellent preview of our away trip<\/a> 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\u2019t cry for Adingra, I believe the yachts are a little bigger and the water a little warmer than the Wear.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

What will happen?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Our rediscovered defensive mastery against Leeds and Chelsea has been very heartening \u2013 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\u2019s 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!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Have a great one for those of you going, and as my Mum would say, don\u2019t forget your warm coat, it\u2019s 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!<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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 […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":10,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[5],"tags":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.goonerholicsforever.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/12793"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.goonerholicsforever.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.goonerholicsforever.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.goonerholicsforever.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/10"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.goonerholicsforever.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=12793"}],"version-history":[{"count":4,"href":"https:\/\/www.goonerholicsforever.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/12793\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":12805,"href":"https:\/\/www.goonerholicsforever.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/12793\/revisions\/12805"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.goonerholicsforever.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=12793"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.goonerholicsforever.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=12793"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.goonerholicsforever.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=12793"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}