Sunderland vs. Arsenal Preview

With five victories from their last six domestic outings, Sunderland sit top of the Barclays Premier League form standings and they will be gunning to stay their when they host Arsenal at the Stadium of Light on Saturday February 11.

The Black Cats sterling run of results since the turn of the year has seen them rise to eighth in the table proper, just three places and seven points behind Arsene Wenger`s side who have, by contrast, suffered a rapid deterioration as the campaign has progressed.

Nevertheless, the North Londoners managed to stop their rot in emphatic style during their most recent Premier League fixture against struggling Blackburn Rovers, from which they ran out convincing and stylish 7-1 winners.

But it is Sunderland who have carried and demonstrated a greater amount of substance over the past few weeks and they can use that momentum to further dent Arsenal`s slim hopes of reaching the top four.

Manager Martin O`Neill continues to have a massive effect on the Wearsiders who demonstrated their newly instilled grit and steel when recently grinding out a superb 0-1 success away against a tough Stoke City outfit who are notoriously difficult to beat at the Brittania.

On paper, Sunderland`s squad may still fall short of their forthcoming opponents in terms of quality and finesse however their strengths lay within their physicality, drive and teamwork which can sink a Gunners team who cannot consistently attain any real rhythm or purpose.

Arsenal have failed to claim three points at the Stadium of Light on their previous three visits and it looks as if that trend may continue – especially considering how disappointing and often toothless Wenger`s men have been on the road.

Their Blackburn mauling may be able to pave over some of the cracks in the minds of the supporters yet it is hard to get away from a number of Arsenal`s surprise failings this season.

Fulham and Swansea are just two of the teams who have had home joy against the Gunners and Sunderland are bang in contention to experience the same feeling as they are without doubt currently the highest performers in the league outside of the top three.

At 5/2, the bookmakers are clearly respecting a resurgent Sunderland and the fine work which O`Neill has done at the club in such a short space of time.

Pre-Christmas the hosts would easily have been double such odds for the task at hand however there is still a great deal of appeal about what is on offer with regards to how they have hit the upgrade.

Arsenal do look vulnerable in this fixture and are likely to be out battled by their opponents in a hard, scrappy affair. Sunderland can land the odds if such a scenario plays out and close the gap further on an Arsenal side that just cannot be backed away from the Emirates at present.

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06/02/2012     © Frixo 2024