An opportunity for Arsenal to strike first!

Morning all.

Still smiling after our defeat of Chelsea? Well, I’m still smiling from the first leg let alone the second. Meanwhile, Chelsea fans, a number of pundits too, must be gutted. I’m kind of in the Paul Merson camp re Tuesday’s game, if you’re going down, do so with a fight rather than a whimper. I honestly cannot recall seeing such a negative approach to a game as Rosenior’s, especially when they were a goal down in the tie. I expected them to come out all guns blazing. It’s funny really because Rosenior put more energy into his post match whining  than his team put in on the pitch. 

Man City knocked Newcastle Utd out of the competition last night so Mikel Arteta will go head to head with old mate Guardiola in a battle for the first pice of silverware on offer this season. This is a competition which Guardiola has taken seriously throughout his City career but, when the final comes around, who knows what factors will come into play. Injuries, fatigue, suspensions, even League/Champions League positions could make a difference to who Guardiola and Mikel Arteta selects on the day.

The weekend before the final, we play Everton at The Emirates, Man City travel to London to face West Ham. I think there will be a Champions League fixture on the Tuesday/Wednesday before the final too.

The final isn’t until next month so we can forget about it for now. Same with the Champions League as that doesn’t get going until the second week in March so for the next few weeks Mikel Arteta and his players can focus on the league and FA Cup fixtures.

There are five fixtures left for Arsenal this month.

• Sunderland H
• Brentford A
• Wigan H (FA Cup)
• Wolves A
• Totts A

The away fixture against Sunderland was disappointing. Surrendering a late so late in any game is frustrating but in the 3rd minute of added time is darned annoying. There’s nothing we can do about that or any other negative result but we can do something about what happens from here on in. Stating by beat Sunderland this afternoon.

Adrian Clarke, writing in the official matchday programme:

Sunderland had been rotating between a 4-4-2 and 4-2-3-1, but against Burnley they opted for a fluid, attack-minded 5-4-1. Le Bris is not wedded to one shape or system, however, the success of playing three centre-backs in that comprehensive 3-0 win may persuade him to keep that formation.

From a tactical perspective, the Black Cats are good enough to play through the lines but longer passes worked well against us at the Stadium of Light. In addition, long throw-ins, aggressive turnovers and fast breaks will all be methods that the visitors try to hurt us.

They don’t need a lot of possession, averaging just 44%, but we should not underestimate their technical ability, with high levels of creative input coming from the gifted Enzo Le Fee and Chemsidine Talbi, while Brian Brobbey’s physicality means he is a handful for defenders to contain. Only two top-flight outfits have won more aerial duels than Sunderland, who will back themselves to win headers inside both boxes.

Nordi Mukiele is the key man though. He can play as a central defender or as a right back, is a good crosser, and his long throws are also a tremendous weapon for the team.

Brobbey was the player who snatched a point at the Stadium of Light. He may not be tall but he’s strong.

At home, Sunderland remain unbeaten this season but away from home, winning hasn’t come easy. In fact they haven’t won any of their last seven. Make it eight today Arsenal!

Sunderland have had a pretty decent January as far as results go although they did get hammered by the Hammers a couple of weeks ago before thrashing Burnley at home 3-0. They have taken points off City, Totts, Palace and Everton but were well beaten at Brentford. Maybe they don’t like playing in London. Granit Xhaka is ruled out for tomorrow’s game which is a shame for him as I suspect he was looking forward to this fixture. Tough eh.. Arthur Masuaku and Bertrand Traore are ruled out too.

Sunderland added two players to their squad last month, winger Nilson Angulo and Jocelin Ta Bi but the latter is struggling to be fit in time for this one.

Mikel Arteta is probably without Bukayo Saka and Martin Odegaard but definitely without Mikel Merino and Max Dowman.

With us kicking off at 3pm, it’s an opportunity to put a little pressure on Man City who play Liverpool at Anfield tomorrow afternoon. Villa kick off at the same time as us with a tricky fixture against Bournemouth on the south coast. Yes, I’ll be opening my back door and cheering on the Cherries loudly.

Anyway, let’s hope the players dish out a similar performance to the one we saw at Leeds. Convincing, clinical and three more points at the end of it.

Catch up in the comments.