After the midweek exertions in Naples, Arsenal are thrust straight back into action away at Sunderland in the Premier League in a tricky looking fixture, especially given the difference in rest periods between the two sides.
The match
Arsenal dropped points in the same fixture last season and I’m sure Mikel Arteta will be using the ‘fire in the belly’ analogy to get the players going for this one. To be honest, just using the carrot of what another win would mean to this (so far) really good start to the season should do it, as Arsenal have swept aside all in their path until this point.
Sunderland pose a different challenge to most we have met before though, so it’s going to be interesting to see how Arsenal deal with Sunderland’s ‘mid-block’ and also the physical side of the Black Cats game, as they are one of the only teams in the league with players of similar stature to Arsenal’s.
The lineup
Arsenal rotated, I’d say medium heavily, in midweek with four players switched out and I expect them all to come back in for this one. Bruno Guimaraes must be hammering on Mikel Arteta’s door to start his first Arsenal match, but the form of Myles Lewis-Skelly is without question and I don’t think you can drop the Hale Ender on this kind of form. Therefore I expect the exact same lineup as last week at Chelsea.
Predicted lineup:
Raya
White
Konsa
Gabriel
Calafiori
Rice
Lewis-Skelly
Odeggard
Saka
Havertz
Tzolis
Subs:
Arrizabalaga
Hincapie
Zubimendi
Merino
Guimaraes
Madeuke
Eze
Gyokeres
Dowman
Prediction
Feels huge this one. A win would be absolutely massive and on early season form, I have to back the lads to get this one over the line. 2-0 to The Arsenal.
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