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Arsenal takes on Sunderland following the International Break in a Must Win Fixture

Samrin Hasib, October 14 2011,
Sunderland is never easy to play. At the moment, for Arsenal, even a championship side from England would be a challenge.
Wenger left frustrated at White Hart Lane.
Wenger left frustrated at White Hart Lane.
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If any team needed an international break, it would be Arsenal. Having equalized against Spurs in the league, they managed to lose the match by squandering some great chances and giving away some glorious chances at the opposing end. Aaron Ramsey, who did score the equalizer, had too much too handle in the match and gave the ball away very often.

This week, the challenge comes in the form of Sunderland. Looking at the table, this battle can certainly be said to be one of equals. Arsenal sits in fifteenth, a point and a place ahead of Sunderland.

Also, Arsenal players will find a familiar face in the Sunderland ranks in Nicklas Bendtner. Bendtner scored in midweek for Denmark- the goal turned out to be the one which saw his side qualify for the European Championships automatically ahead of Portugal.

The team news for Arsenal ahead of this one isn’t too bad. For once, Arsenal did not pick up a red card in a game they lost. Thus, suspensions will not be a headache for Wenger. He has a full strength squad to choose from with the exception of four players- Jack Wilshere, Bacary Sagna, Abou Diaby and Thomas Vermaelen.

Tomas Rosicky picked up a knock in mid-week but is fit enough to play. Diaby is about ten days away from making a comeback according to Arsene Wenger while Vermaelen is about two weeks away from making a return. Johan Djourou and Laurent Koscielny both seem prepared for the weekend.

What Arsenal can take away from the Spurs match and use in this one is that they actually played well in that match. Despite showing the usual problems at the back, they were on top of Spurs for quite a while in the match and should have scored.

Gervinho and Robin Van Persie formed a stellar combination in pre-season and can perhaps try to switch it on in the Premier League as well. These two should feature in the match. Arsene Wenger also has the mid-week Champions League game against a very tough Marseille side to think about. Marseille has been the pace-setter in that group.

He doesn’t have the luxury of resting players at the moment due to his side’s precarious position in the league. A win against Sunderland is a must considering that his side is only four points ahead of the bottom side in the table, Bolton and two points ahead of the relegation zone. A loss could leave his side in the bottom three.

Wenger does not want to put too much pressure on Alex Oxlade Chamberlain and platy him in every match as he revealed:

“He is ahead of schedule. Overall I think he has to add some ingredients to his game that will be absolutely necessary at the top but he has the basic talent - nobody can dispute that.”

Arsenal vs Sunderland

Date: Sunday, 16 Oct 2011
Time: 08:30 ( US/Eastern )
Competition: England Premier League
Live/Repeat: Live
Venue: Emirates Stadium (London)

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