This weekend, the Gunners begin their defence of the FA Cup title. Their first opponents of the competition are Sam Allardyce’s Sunderland, who currently sit second from bottom in the Barclays Premier League table, four points adrift from safety. The Black Cats have endured a tough season so far and so they will be looking to find some solace in the cup, and there would be no better way for them to make a point than to defeat the reigning champions this early on.
One of Sunderland’s most impressive players this season has been Patrick van Aanholt. The former Chelsea left-back has not been the most consistent of performers for the Black Cats since his move last season but when he plays at his best, it is easy to see why Chelsea once coveted him. The main threat that the Dutchman poses is his long-range shooting. Obviously, playing as a full-back, he doesn’t rack up many goals, but those that he has scored have been fairly impressive. As such, the best way for the Gunners to deal with Van Aanholt is to close him down quickly. Obviously, showing him onto the outside is essential so that he is forced to aimlessly punt a cross into the box. However, if the Arsenal midfield can stop him from having too much time on the ball then it limits his chances to take a pot shot. If he doesn’t shot from distance, then Petr Cech won’t have anything to worry about.
The other man that may cause the Gunners some concerns is Steven Fletcher. The Scotsman has been a fairly solid player for Sunderland over the years and can be relied upon to score important goals for the side. The main issue that Fletcher poses is that nobody can predict what he is going to do. He is the typical fox in the box striker; popping up wherever he can to snatch a touch on the ball and poke home. However, Fletcher is equally deadly with his head as he is with his feet. Therefore, it is essential that the Scotsman isn’t allowed too much space because if he is, then he could punish the Gunners dearly.
However, this game won’t present itself as too much of a challenge for the Gunners, who are looking to win the competition for the third successive season. The Gunners are currently at the peak of the Barclays Premier League table after a nervy 1-0 win over relegation-threatened Newcastle, however, they looked more than composed the last time that they faced off against Sunderland.
Now, against Newcastle the Gunners looked slightly off the mark, having not really made an impact in the game until the second half, however, with Mikel Arteta returning to the side and the Gunners possessing renewed confidence from keeping hold of the top spot in the league, it is more than likely that they will overcome Allardyce’s side.
