Saturday 18 August 2012

Match Preview: Arsenal vs Sunderland

Arsenal begins their campaign with a home game against Martin O'Neill's Sunderland. In the corresponding fixture last season, Arsenal emerged 2-1 victors with Robin van Persie goals winning the day for Arsenal either side of a Seba Larsson free kick. 

Arsenal are without Bacary Sagna, Tomas Rosicky, Emmanuel Frimpong and Jack Wilshere for the foreseeable future, though all are back running in training. 

Laurent Koscielny and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain are out with calf and ankle problems respectively. Wenger suggests that both should be ok for the visit to Stoke next week. 

Theo Walcott and Santi Cazorla will be assessed. Cazorla played 90 minutes in Puerto Rica on Wednesday whilst Walcott pulled out of the England squad as a precautionary measure owing to a bruised thigh. 

Cryptically, Arsene says Alex Song, who is expected to move to Barcelona next week has 'a little knock.' Mikel Arteta is fit. 
Arsene Wenger has choices to make with the impact of midweek international friendlies: 

"We have to assess some players this morning because some have been away, like Cazorla in Puerto Rica. Some others are out like Koscielny, because he had to pull out of the national team with a calf strain, and Chamberlain, for an ankle problem." 

"We have to assess Walcott, who pulled out of the England squad. He has a test but I believe he will be fit. With everybody else, apart from the long-term injuries, it will just be a selection problem." 

Before adding, 'Sunderland is always a challenge.' 

Meanwhile, Martin O'Neill said he was looking forward to a challenging opening fixture, "Training has been good this week and we will look to do a few things better than we have done so far in pre-season. 

"It's going to be a difficult game but playing Arsenal is always a difficult game. 

"I don`t think the departure of Robin van Persie puts any more pressure on Arsenal but that`s not my concern anyway, there is enough pressure on us without worrying about the position. 

"I am just keen to get on with it now and look to start getting points on the board." 

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