This was not what I was expecting. In my preview yesterday of Arsenal’s trip to Sunderland I said that this was a trap game with the Champions League and Chelsea on the horizon, but that I thought the Gunners team had matured enough where they would be able to grind out a victory. I was wrong!
This was the kind of game that Arsenal has lost in the two or three years and while I would have been disappointed in these years that Arsenal lost, I would not really surprised. I was confident that with the improvement the team has been showing this season, that they were now mature enough to go to places like The Stadium of Light and get all three points. That they could not, and play the way that they did, was shocking to me.
The loss puts Arsenal 8 points behind Chelsea (albeit with a game in hand) and makes next weekend’s game almost a must-win game for the Gunners. Arsenal cannot afford to drop 11 points behind Chelsea, at that point, the title race will be all but over.
With Van Persie injured, Arsene Wenger decided to go with Eduardo up front and Rosicky and Samir Nasri in support. Arshavin was on the bench, having not recovered from Russia’s international game in midweek.
Arsenal started well and almost scored in the 5th minute when Sunderland goalkeeper Marton Fulop did well to keep Tomas Rosicky’s effort out. Cesc Fabregas saw a great shot fly just over the bar in the 13th minute and then Song and Eduardo had combined to carve create a great chance that ran agonisingly just wide of the post.
Sunderland got the breakthrough they were looking for in the 71st minute when Darren Bent’s header from a Reid corner cannoned back off Frazier Campbell’s legs at the far post and fell perfectly for Bent to smash it home before Almunia could get there.
Wenger brought on Theo Walcott and Vela for Rosicky and Eduardo, but it was Arshavin (who had earlier replaced Ramsey) who came closest to getting the goal that Arsenal needed.
All in all a pretty bad day. Now the Gunners need to pick themselves up before Tuesday’s Champions League game against Standard Liege.
{ 14 comments… read them below or add one }
Wenger did a bad job with selection, He played Midfielders as Strikers when we had Three nature strikers on the bench(Vela, Theo Walcott,and Arshavin)…. Eduardo had no support from Nasri and Rosicky which was very disappointing to me. there was a big change and we create more chances when Vela, walcott and Arshavin came in. if they had started to came in sooner we would had won the game
Good point John about starting the game with one up front and leaving three natural forwards on the bench
We had no idea in attack, we had possesion but no finish. Eduardo was lonely in attack. Sagna and Traore were bad today. Song and Vermaelen were good. Rest of the team was solid. I hope we will win Chelsea. GO GUNNERS!!!! sorry for my english
Wenger lost the macth, he should have fielded players that will balance out, playing with on 1 natural striker and 5 midfielders was not an attacking setup more of a defensive setup even if 4 out attacking midfielders. That was why there was a dribble too many from rosicky and nasri.
Its tough to get to attacking away from home Charles
I am frustrated & disappointed with our display. I had a feeling that when we chose Eduardo as the front man we were going to have problems. I had watched him a couple of times recently and he wasnt sharp and kept loosing the ball. We need another striker to win the title as we do not cover as some of our front men are prone to injuries eg Walcott , Van Persie
All I know is these team are not league materials ..they lack the fighting spirit needed to challenge for the league title..will always fail when it matters most ..courtesy of Mr Wenger
I don’t think that I am that negative. This Arsenal team does have the quality to compete for the title. What it is missing is that little bit of experience . Players who have been through these events before and can help the younger players. This is what Man Utd have done with Giggs and Scholes. Arsenal are missing that bit of institutional experience
how can you people say that the boss got the team selections wrong sagna played for france full 90 minutes with extra time along side gallas, cesc played a full game away, so did arshavin away to slovenia, eduardo also played, so most of our experienced players played difficult international games so obviously it will be a difficult game especially away to a tricky game aswell.
if you think about almunia, sagna, gallas, vermalen, traore, song, cesc, ramsey, nasri, rosicky, eduardo is a very good strong team with incredible attacking players HOW CAN A TEAM LIKE THIS BE A WRONG TEAM WITH ROBIN AND NIKLAS OUT), just lacked that sharpness in around the box, the final deliveries. Had this game been at home we would’ve won it united, chelsea, liverpool all at home, we’re away to difficult sunderland, am i disappointed YES, standard liege in the champions league and chelsea next sunday at home ARE MUST WIN GAMES NO IF’S NO BUTS! NO LESS THAN 3 POINTS POINTS COME ON YOU GOONERS! KEEP THE FAITH!
It was my birthday today. Gutted!!
Still. Happy birthday Hamad
I agree wenger got it wrong tactically today and brought on vela and walcott a little too late. I would have preferred to start with either vela or arshavin wide left, or even switched to 4-4-2 to get some support for eduardo – he really had nothing to go on for most of the game. He played ramsey further forward than cesc seemingly which didnt make much sense to me given the form fabregas has been in, and the fact ramsey has such a good engine..
To be fair to our manager, he’s been spot on in every match this season so far. We’ve deserved to win every game till today (this is the 1st result I really cant blame on the ref).
The international break always seems to mess us up somehow. It came just when we were in full flow, and now we have to rebuild again.
Also, I thought traore did quite well. Could have offered a little more going forward, apart from some early runs, but looked strong and kept his concentration defensively which was his main problem before I think. Not as good as gibbs currently but much improved imho.
my week was amazing with my country qualifying 4 the world cup in a massive play off game in neutral country up till today 5pm i was flying. we missed abou badly today his kind of game i had a bad feeling about that game though. ps is it a new rule that AFC should never get a pen?
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