Arsenal vs Sunderland preview-21 Feb, 2009
Posted on | February 20, 2009 | No Comments
Game : Arsenal ( 5th-44 points) vs Sunderland ( 11th-30 points)
Competition : English Premier League
Venue : Emirates Stadium
Kickoff : 15.00 GMT
Date : Saturday, February 2009
Andrei Arshavin is expected to make his Arsenal debut when the Gunners take on Sunderland this weekend at the Emirates Stadium.
The Russian playmaker, who completed a deadline day move to the Emirates Stadium from Zenit St.Petersburg did not feature against Tottenham Hotspur last week, but could start against the Black Cats on Saturday. Croatian forward Eduardo, who was instrumental in the Gunners’ FA Cup win over Cardiff City, is out with a hamstring injury. Tomas Rosicky, Cesc Fabregas and Theo Walcott remain injured. Emmanuel Adebayor, Gael Clichy, Abou Diaby and Mikael Silvestre are also injury doubts.
Arsenal form- last five games- all competitions
Arsenal 4-0 Cardiff City ( Eduardo*2, Nicklas Bendtner, Robin Van Persie)
Tottenham 0-0 Arsenal
Arsenal 0-0 West Ham
Everton 1-1 Arsenal ( Robin Van Persie)
Cardiff 0-0 Arsenal
Fancy Arshavin to score on his debut? The playmaker is at 8.100 at 10Bet to score first in the game, and at 3.100 to score any time in the game.
Sunderland are currently sitting in a comfortable mid table position, but the performance of the remaining teams this season could see the Black Cats slip close to relegation if they happen to lose one too many. Phil Bardsley is suspended. Finnish midfielder Teemu Tainio could return to the squad after missing the last three games with a knee injury. David Connolly and Russell Anderson are long term absentees, but we could see Paul McShane return.
Sunderland form- last five games- all competitions- Sunderland scorers in brackets
Sunderland 2-0 Stoke City ( Kenwyne Jones, David Healy)
Blackburn 2-1 Sunderland ( David Healy)
Newcastle 1-1 Sunderland ( Djibril Cisse)
Sunderland 1-0 Fulham ( Kenwyne Jones)
Sunderland 0-0 Blackburn
When these two teams met the Stadium of Light in October, Sunderland put in a determined defensive performance and took the lead through Grant Leadbitter in the 86th minute before Cesc Fabregas dashed their hopes with a late equaliser.
The last four times Arsenal have hosted Sunderland, the Gunners have scored exactly three goals.
Prediction :- Arsenal 2-1 Sunderland ( Van Persie, Gallas/Jones)
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- Arsenal vs West Ham preview- Jan 31, 2009
- Stoke vs Arsenal betting preview- 2011
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- Man Utd vs Sunderland preview
- Marseille vs Arsenal preview- Champions League
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