• The Arsenal

  • Arsenal v Sunderland | Premier League | Saturday 5th March 2011 - 15.00

I am basing it on previous Wenger history. He will gamble on us winning on Saturday without Cesc and Song and go all out to have us progress on Tuesday. Wait and see. They will both start on Tuesday.

I don't know about that.

I think he's very, very serious about both competitions this season. I don't think he'll take any chances in either game.

I could be wrong of course, but there have been no indication that Cesc´s injury is serious, and the same with Song. There have been reports, don´t know the validity of course, that Cesc could have been in the squad already vs Orient if necessary. As for Song, Wenger himself has labelled it as a minor injury. Swollen knee.

What I mean about gamble is of course not playing them tomorrow, nothing else. Gamble, being overly cautious - same, same. While on the subject, I find it strange that a sprain is keeping Walcott out this long as well...

I think that if he could start Fabregas against Sunderland with a 51% chance of the player not breaking down he would do it. I don't know if you've listened to his press conferences lately but he sounds obsessed with Premier League and the idea of catching up with Man United.

Humble Rex wrote:

While on the subject, I find it strange that a sprain is keeping Walcott out this long as well...

I read somewhere yesterday that it's been confirmed as a ligament damage, apparently. He'll be out for the Barca game and the rest of the month too.

Yes, and today he also said Cesc has more of a 'chance' at making the Barcelona game than Song does who hasn't even practiced since last Sunday.

Our next league game after Sunderland is on the 19th, away to West Brom and i think Wenger would rather have Cesc, Song and Walcott completely fit for that fixture than take a chance with any of them at the Nou Camp.

First things first though, we have to beat Sunderland tomorrow.

I believe United will beat Liverpool.

Humble Rex wrote:

but there have been no indication that Cesc´s injury is serious

Aside from the fact that he's picked up 3-4 hamstring strains that have kept him our for 2-4 weeks at a time this season? And you think it's overly cautious that he's not been brought back in after a week?

I'm not even saying your wrong by the way, maybe Cesc could have been rushed back, but claiming to be 'almost certain' is nonsense.

While on the subject, I find it strange that a sprain is keeping Walcott out this long as well...

What is he being protected for?

and sometimes an ankle sprain is worse than a broken ankle, because the sprain can linger for months. a broken bone will heal, stretched ligaments lose their strength and all that. theo's injury isn't minor.

What happened Song? Really feel for Theo. He's had a good season but whenever he gets into his stride something always seems to break down

Nice interview with Ramsey in The Independent. Great to hear him sounding positive and confident. Just can't wait to see him back playing now.

Someone as fast as Theo is always gonna get injured by bad tackles.

Win and Ramsey game time and I'm happy. Taking my old man to this for his birthday, then straight off to a meal. Got a stinking cold which was induced by last saturnites excess.

Spent 14 quid on hair wax yest too

I'm actually as nervous for this game as I am the Barca one. Win this and we're closer to winning the title than we have been in 6 years. Typing that and reading it back just made me even more nervous...

Same Gazza. Not sure ive been this nervous about a game all season to be honest. Still have this horrible feeling we'll drop points. A win today though would be massive. I'd take victory today over the next two games in fact.

Wish I was going today. Enjoy Dools!

It's just one of those games that has worry written all over it.

Sunderland will be desperate not to lose a fifth in a row, I can see them packing defence and camping in their own half.

I'm concerned about where our goals will come from.

We'll need Nasri and Arshavin to be super sharp, we'll need to put some decent crosses in for Bendtner (assuming he'll be in the right place to receive them) and we'll need to make the most of any free kicks within striking range.

Ramsey if he's ready would be a great option off the bench, it'd lift the crowd if needed plus he's got goals in him.

Hope that our defence has recovered from last Sunday and will be alert in dealing with what I'm guessing will be just a few attacks from Sunderland.
No room for mistakes or switching off.

James wrote:

Same Gazza. Not sure ive been this nervous about a game all season to be honest. Still have this horrible feeling we'll drop points. A win today though would be massive. I'd take victory today over the next two games in fact.

Wish I was going today. Enjoy Dools!

Sunderland 13/8 on the double chance. Might be worth a little emotional hedge?

I don't get this emotional hedging business
Winning money wouldn't take the edge off us dropping points would it?
Unless it was lotto level amounts.....maybe...:hmm:

Had thought about just laying Arsenal at 4/9, but that's not a bad shout either.

You and your emotional hedges, Asa.

Arsenal

* 53 Szczesny
* 03 Sagna
* 06 Koscielny
* 20 Djourou
* 22 Clichy
* 02 Diaby
* 08 Nasri
* 15 Denilson
* 19 Wilshere
* 23 Arshavin
* 52 Bendtner

Substitutes

* 01 Almunia,
* 18 Squillaci,
* 27 Eboue,
* 28 Gibbs,
* 07 Rosicky,
* 16 Ramsey,
* 29 Chamakh

Sunderland

* 22 Mignolet
* 02 Bardsley
* 03 Richardson
* 05 Mensah
* 19 Bramble
* 29 Ferdinand
* 08 Malbranque
* 10 Henderson
* 11 Muntari
* 28 Sessegnon
* 33 Gyan

Substitutes

* 01 Gordon,
* 16 Riveros,
* 25 Colback,
* 27 Elmohamady,
* 30 Knott,
* 17 Welbeck,
* 31 Noble

Expected lineup, just a case of whether Diaby is in the Cesc role or Wilshere.