Arsenal 4 Sunderland 1 Match Thread : FT!

Welcome to Tiki's Match Thread : LIVE!

Live @ http://www.ja606.co.uk/articles/viewLiveArticle/256091
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BARCLAYS PREMIER LEAGUE

Venue: Emirates Stadium

Date: Saturday, 22 February

Live Scoreboard:

Arsenal - 4 - Giroud 5', 31', Rosicky 42', Koscielny 57′

Sunderland - 1 - Giaccherini 81′

Arsenal Line Up:

Szczesny, Sagna, Mertesacker, Koscielny, Monreal, Arteta, Rosicky, Wilshere, Cazorla, Podolski, Giroud.

Subs:

Fabianski, Jenkinson, Flamini, Oxlade-Chamberlain, Gnabry, Sanogo, Bendtner.

Sunderland Line Up:

Mannone, Bardsley, Ki, Johnson, Colback, O'Shea (c), Altidore, Bridcutt, Vergini, Alonso, Borini.

Subs:

Larsson, Gardner, Celustka, Giaccherini, Cuellar, Scocco, Ustari.

TEAM NEWS:

Arsenal defender Kieran Gibbs will miss the visit of Sunderland with the hamstring injury he picked up during the defeat by Bayern Munich.

Olivier Giroud is expected to return to the side after the striker was rested for their Champions League match.

Striker Steven Fletcher could return for Sunderland after missing the last three games with an Achilles injury.

Defender Carlos Cuellar may also feature after a hip problem, but Wes Brown is suspended.

MATCH PREVIEW:

A statue of Dennis Bergkamp will be unveiled outside the Emirates before the game to join those of Tony Adams and Thierry Henry - and legendary manager Herbert Chapman.

It should serve as a timely reminder to Mesut Ozil as to how Arsenal treasures those who become greats for the club.

There is little doubt that the German has the talent to reach that status, but it is also plain that his form has been in decline for some time.

Following his weak penalty effort and poor overall display against Bayern Munich in midweek he might even be 'rested' for this one - a fixture that could remind us of just how good Ozil is, given his sparkling debut at the Stadium of Light in September.

Of course, much has changed at Sunderland since what proved to be Paolo Di Canio's final home game in charge - and almost all of it significantly for the better.

This trip to London will understandably be seen by many as one to get out of the way before half of Wearside gets aboard the 'Gus Bus' for Wembley next weekend, but that's certainly not the view of head coach Poyet himself.

There may be a first major cup final for 22 years round the corner - and a place in the FA Cup quarter-finals too - but on being reminded of Sunderland's own statue tribute to cup-winning manager Bob Stokoe last week, Poyet brushed off ideas of being cast in bronze with "I don't want any more people knowing me...I would prefer to stay in the Premier League".

A point here would help, but Poyet insists he will be going for the win - as of course will Arsenal, whose next home victory will be their 150th at the Emirates.

Whether this season stretches the Gunners' run to nine years in a row without a trophy or not, there will surely be a statue of Arsene Wenger outside one day. If there is still room.

MATCH FACTS:

Head-to-head:

Three of the last five league meetings at the Emirates between these sides have ended in a goalless draw.

Sunderland have won just one of their last 20 league games against Arsenal. The last time they won at the Gunners in the league was in November 1983.

Arsenal:

Arsenal have 56 points from 26 Premier League matches this season - eight points fewer than at the same stage when they last won the title in 2003-04.

Arsene Wenger's side have not conceded at the Emirates Stadium for five league matches. They have kept nine clean sheets at home this season, more than any other team in the division.

They have gone on to win all 10 league games in which they have been leading at half-time, the best record in the league.

The Gunners have failed to score in the first half in their last six Premier League home matches since Nicklas Bendtner's goal in the second minute of the 2-0 win over Hull City on 4 December.

Sunderland:

Sunderland have gone six successive away matches without defeat for only the second time in the Premier League. The previous occasion was between August and November 1999.

Gus Poyet's side have kept four clean sheets in those last six away matches.

They have only lost two of their last 10 league games (W4, D4, L2), with both defeats coming at home against Hull and Aston Villa.

As a player for Chelsea and Tottenham, Poyet was never on the winning side in 11 Premier League matches against Arsenal (D6, L5).

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COYG!