Alan Hansen’s Premier League Preview: Sunderland v Arsenal

Premier League top scorers Arsenal will be looking to extend their superb 13-match unbeaten run in all competitions when they travel to the Stadium of Light this weekend. However, despite scoring goals for fun this season, the Gunners face a very tough challenge in the shape of Steve Bruce’s ever improving Sunderland team.

The Black Cats have impressed me this season with their performances if not a few of their results. Their away form seems relatively poor with 4 defeats from their six matches but their last performance at Tottenham warranted at least a draw and possibly even a win. The fact that Sunderland lost 2-0 will have left the players smarting and they will be looking to bounce back against Spurs’ North London rivals. Bruce’s team will fancy their chances of something of an upset as their record at the Stadium of Light has been particularly impressive.

The Stadium of Light should see a few goals this weekend if both teams form is anything to go by. The Black Cats have scored 15 at home while Arsenal are the leading away scorers in the Premier League with 16 goals already. The loss of Robin Van Persie through injury is a cruel blow for the Gunners and Sunderland will be pleased he is missing as he’s scored five goals against them in his career. However, Arsene Wenger has a top class replacement in Eduardo to come in and behind him the most creative player in the Premier League at the moment in the shape of captain Cesc Fabregas.

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The Spanish playmaker has already created 8 goals from open-play, that’s just one less than last season’s highest total from Manchester United striker Dimitar Berbatov. Fabregas has also scored in both of his previous Premier League appearances at the Stadium of Light so will be the dangerman to Sunderland. The Black Cats have shown a real competitive edge to their game under Bruce with more fouls than any other top flight side (189 fouls) and the worst disciplinary record (23 yellows and two red) so Fabregas will have to stand up to Sunderland’s physicality.

Sunderland’s strikers will certainly give Arsenal’s defensive duo Thomas Vermaelen and William Gallas a good test of their credentials with their pace and aerial power. The Gunners have only kept one clean-sheet on the road in the Premier League, so don’t be surprised if the Black Cats get a goal. However, I find it hard to back against Wenger’s team with the quality they are showing at the moment.

Arsenal haven’t lost any of their last 11 league clashes with Sunderland (8 wins), a record that includes five unbeaten trips to Wearside. Both league clashes home and away ended in draws last season but despite both teams improvement, I feel the Gunners have the offensive edge so I’d back an away win on Premier 10 with £30,000 to be won.

Tags: Alan Hansen, Arsenal, Premier 10, Premier League, Sunderland

This entry was posted on Thursday, November 19th, 2009 at 16:00 and is filed under Features, Home Features. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can skip to the end and leave a response. Pinging is currently not allowed.