Arsenal v Sunderland: the Arsenal team

By Bulldog Drummond

Picking a team for tonight’s game does involve making a few choices but much of the line up is replicated among the various media that offer predictions.  The one outlier however is the Mirror that tells us

“Arsenal youngster Charlie Patino, who has previously been compared with Manchester City star Phil Foden, could make his debut appearance for the Gunners this week.

“The 18-year-old central midfielder has never played competitively for Mikel Arteta’s side, but he could be involved in the north Londoners affair with Sunderland.”

Moving on, we don’t often cite the Sun newspaper on these pages not least for the reason that they rarely have anything coherent enough to quote but they do today offer an Arsenal line up for tonight’s game, so here we go…

Leno

Cedric   White   Holding   Tavares

Maitland-Niles   Elneny

Pepe   Smith Rowe   Martinelli

Lacazette

Squwaka however recall that Eddie is still with the club as is Balogun while Martinelli is now clearly a fixture in the first-team squad for league games.  They kindly tell us also that Arsenal will win 3-0 and the team that will achieve that is…

Leno;

Cedric, Holding, Chambers, Tavares;

Elneny, Maintland-Niles;

Pepe, Smith Rowe, Nketiah;

Balogun.

The Short Fuse find yet another variation

Leno;

Cedric, Chambers,  Holding,  Tavares;

Maintland-Niles,  Elneny,

Pepe, Odegaard,  Smith Rowe,

Nketiah

They also tell us who is lurking on the beach…

1. Aaron Ramsdale
2. Kieran Tierney
3. Gabriel
4. Ben White
5. Granit Xhaka
6. Thomas Partey
7. Bukayo Saka
8. Alexandre Lacazette
9. Gabriel Martinelli

This vast array of potential substitutes (to give them their proper name since there is no bench at Arsenal Stadium, just a set of rather comfy chairs) is due to another rule change.   The Athletic set it out:

“The EFL has announced that teams will be allowed to make up to five substitutions from the next round of the Carabao Cup onwards…

“Sides had previously only been allowed to make three substitutions in normal time. The move is aimed to help allay concerns around fixture congestion by allowing key performers to play fewer minutes.

“In a statement today, the EFL said: ‘Following a proposal from 14 of the 16 clubs remaining in this season’s Carabao Cup, the EFL can confirm clubs will be permitted to make five substitutions from the nine they nominate for the remainder of the 2021-22 competition’.”

PainintheArse have noted that Arsenal have put out the same side in the Premier League for four matches running for the first time since May 2015 – suggesting Mr Arteta “is confident his team has the squad depth to rotate heavily for this match and still win.”

And so they offer…

Leno;

Cedric, Chambers,  Holding,  Tavares;

Smith Rowe, Maintland-Niles,  Elneny,

Pepe, Nketiah, Balogun

The Radio Times however feels there is always a place for Lacazette

Leno;

Soares, Chambers, Holding, Tavares;

Maitland-Niles, Elneny;

Pepe, Smith Rowe, Nketiah;

Lacazette

The Radio Times also gives us a run down of how the game will pan out…

“Expect a tight first half. Sunderland will hope to dig deep and weather any initial storms before Stewart and Broadhead begin to see more of the ball. At that point, Arsenal are likely to turn up the heat and should find a way through the spirited League One unit.

“Our prediction: Arsenal 2-0 Sunderland”

Rather curiously although the BBC are broadcasting a radio commentary on Five Live they have not put up a page discussing the match or offering a possible team, although if they do I imagine it will appear here.

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