Sunderland vs Arsenal Prediction, Betting Tips & Preview

Preview

Haydn Cunningham Apr 19, 2016 @ 09:05 pm

Sam Allardyce is a very experienced Premier League manager and many make Sundelrand the favourites to avoid relegation simply because of his know how of the Premier League. Successful stints at Bolton, Blackburn and West Ham in the Premier League have gave him a very good reputation and he has never suffered relegation in his managerial career. He very much took the Sunderland role knowing that proud record on his CV could be diminished if he takes them down. A recent run of four consecutive draws was ended at home to league leaders Leicester City but they bounced back with a crucial win over Norwich City. It was vital they bit their relegation rivals as they’ve now closed the gap to just one point and had they lost it would’ve been seven points to claw back from just five games.

Arsenal have a fight on their hands to finish in top four which was openly admitted by Arsene Wenger who has now conceded defeat in the title race after their recent home draw against Crystal Palace. What will be even more painful viewing for the Arsenal supporters is that their North London rivals Tottenham are enjoying one of their finest ever seasons and are the biggest threat to Leicester City for the Premier League title race. Arsenal are four points clear of Manchester United but Petr Cech’s error in the second half against Palace has made it two draws in a row and Wenger will know that his side can’t afford to concede too many points in the run in.

Sunderland have one of the worst home records in the league with just 17 points from 16 games at the Stadium of Light. Only Aston Villa boast a worse record and Sunderland now welcome a side that have the 3^rd best record on the road in the league and have also won the past three meetings when travelling up from London. The two sides met at the start of the year in the last 32 of the FA Cup and despite going 1-0 down, Arsenal eventually came back to win 3-1. Aaron Ramsey has scored four goals in his last five matches against Sunderland.

Sam Allardyce is unlikely to alter too much from the side that won 3-0 at Carrow Road on Saturday. He has a fully fit squad to choose from which could prove crucial in the final month of the Premier League. Jack Wilshere and Tomas Rosicky have returned to training from lengthy injuries and it now means Wenger is missing just Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and Santi Cazorla through injury.

Sunderland

Stats: W-7 L-17 D-9

Recent Form – WLDDD

Arsenal

Stats: W-17 L-7 D-9                                          

Recent Form - DDWWL

Head-to-head record:

Possible Line-ups

Sunderland (4-1-4-1) – Mannone, Yedlin, Kone, Kaboul, van Aanholt, Kirchhoff, Khazri, M’Vila, Cattermole, Borini, Defoe

Arsenal (4-2-3-1) – Cech, Bellerin, Mertesacker, Koscielny, Monreal, Coquelin, Ramsey, Ozil, Sanchez, Iwobi, Welbeck

Injury List/Suspended Players

Sunderland – None

Arsenal – Cazorla (inj), Oxlade-Chamberlain (inj)

League Positions