Sunderland v Arsenal Saturday 11th February 15:00

[Cripps_orig]

Biggest game of the season.

Lose this and Sunderland are 4 points behind us and with them on the up and we're on the decline, its possible they could finish above us.

Id take a point here

[Marc Overmars]

They've been very consistent under MON. It will be a tough ask to get the win.

Don't want them in the cup either, hope Boro win the replay. Otherwise it's 2 defeats in a week at Sunderland. :coffee:

[Cripps_orig]

Start of 3 away games in a row this.

2 trips to the north east regardless of who we face in the cup and in between the loss in Milan

Our powderpuff girls will need to step up and as we've seen time and time again, they arent capable

[Xhaka Can’t]

Tone the wumming down a couple of notches.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

MON is traditionally negative in these kind of matches at home thus I don't think we'll lose.

[Cripps_orig]

Sunderland v Boro is on ITV1 this wedensday should anyone want to scout the opposition.

That McLean whatever looks decent. Shame Bendtner cant play in this

[Olivier's xmas twist]

We'll win 2-3

[fakeyank]

Start of 3 away games in a row this.

2 trips to the north east regardless of who we face in the cup and in between the loss in Milan

Our powderpuff girls will need to step up and as we've seen time and time again, they arent capable

:haha:

[Olivier's xmas twist]

Start of 3 away games in a row this.

2 trips to the north east regardless of who we face in the cup and in between the loss in Milan

Our powderpuff girls will need to step up and as we've seen time and time again, they arent capable

They related to the Powerpuff Girls then ?

[IBK]

Thing about our season is that this is pretty much impossible to predict. All 3 possible results could easily happen.

[Thierrymon]

Wish we had this game when Ol Cauliflower nose was still in charge. MON is a manager that knows how to get the best out his squad and his teams always give us a tough game.

[Master Splinter]

Wish we had this game when Ol Cauliflower nose was still in charge. MON is a manager that knows how to get the best out his squad and his teams always give us a tough game.

We've actually struggled against Sunderland quite often in recent seasons.

Bruce :bow:.

[Flavs]

They've been very consistent under MON. It will be a tough ask to get the win.

consistently punt and chase with lots of cheating. Watch James McClean he plays the exact same niggly cheaty game that Ashley young did under MON.

I hope we give them a good blackburning

[Grebbo]

Hopefully Sunderland have a tough match tonight and are tired on Saturday. Can it go to extra time tonight?

We might just be able to beat them if they're tired as MON teams rely a lot on hard work/closing down etc. Something that is much more difficult to do when you're tired.

[fakeyank]

We play them twice in a week... usually when a situation like this happens, we lose the important one... so loss in FA Cup

[Flavs]

Great news for us last night that they had to go through extra time and that Sessegnon played the full 120 We should be able to out run them on Saturday now and then rest up for meelan game

[Injury Time]

Great news for us last night that they had to go through extra time and that Sessegnon played the full 120 We should be able to out run them on Saturday now and then rest up for meelan game
Ah right you mean keep posession for most of the first half then let in a stupid goal just before half time <_< chase for entire second half get fuckall other than an RvP injury? :crying: You need to work on your optimism :ilt:

[Flavs]

Ah right you mean keep posession for most of the first half then let in a stupid goal just before half time <_< chase for entire second half get fuckall other than an RvP injury? :crying: You need to work on your optimism :ilt:

Nope it hink we will beat these, beat draw at meelan, Beat Sunderland again, Beat Spurs, beat Newcastle beat Meelan at home but lose at Anfield.

[Japan Shaking All Over]

Win

[Xhaka Can’t]

I hope we have more sharpness than Sunderland.

[Cripps_orig]

Like Harry Redknapp at Tottenham, managing men is something that Martin O'Neill is very good at. His fabulous run as Sunderland boss continued last week with wins at Stoke and then Middlesbrough in the FA Cup, and what a fantastic run it is.
Players that wouldn't have been close to featuring under Steve Bruce are now suddenly playing for the Black Cats, who are looking as if they are Europe-bound.
But I think they might run into a brick wall in the shape of Arsenal. I really like the Gunners' forward players and the emergence of Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain has energised them all of a sudden.
I don't often get excited by young players but I think this boy is going to be a real star.
Oxlade-Chamberlain can play anywhere across the front three and he's got an extremely mature football brain for such a young guy, because he understands how to come in from wide areas to join attacks, and he can definitely score goals too. A lot of that will have come from his dad, former England international Mark Chamberlain, down the years and it is all very impressive.
Arsenal resume their Champions League campaign against AC Milan on Wednesday, which is another tricky tie but you would not want to play them when they are on their game - the front three of Oxlade-Chamberlain, Theo Walcott and of course Robin van Persie can tear you up and beat you up because of their pace.
It's at the back that they have their problems but, thoughout their team, they are more than capable of keeping hold of the ball, which is the best form of defending I've ever known.
Prediction: 1-2

Lawro optimistic about our chances

[Syn]

Looks like Gibbs is available to play. Sagna and Gibbs both set to start...fullbacks :bow:

Vermaelen hasn't been great at LB but now at least he can partner Koscielny.

Tricky decision over which CB pairing will play in Milan. Verm and Kos are our best CBs but Mertesacker might just be very comfortable at the pace the Italians play at.

[Marc Overmars]

Quite looking forward to the week ahead. Always get a sense of the business end of the season when the CL resumes.

Of course this is also the time of year we tend to flop...

[Cripps_orig]

Play the same team that played against Blackburn. No need to change anything. Yes its tempting to put Vermaelen back in the middle alongside Mertesacker as they are our 2 best CBs but would be harsh on Koscielny who's been in very good form recently plus Gibbs won't last more than 17 minutes if he starts

[Xhaka Can’t]

Presumably those who played last week would be feeling pretty food about themselves. I hope there isn't too much tinkering regardless if what the stats may say.

[Olivier's xmas twist]

Presumably those who played last week would be feeling pretty food about themselves. I hope there isn't too much tinkering regardless if what the stats may say.

Well Arshavin and Santos maybe

[GP]

Well Arshavin and Santos maybe

It's funny because they appear to be fat even though they aren't.

[Marc Overmars]

Presumably those who played last week would be feeling pretty food about themselves. I hope there isn't too much tinkering regardless if what the stats may say.

RVP has a little calf.

Oxo has played 3 times in a week. He also has a little calf.

Alex Song can also play there. He may have a little calf as well.

[Master Splinter]

Surely Gibbs won't start? He's played about 6 minutes of football in the last two years, he'll probably wilt in the warm-up. Give Coquelin another game and rest Koscielny for Milan.

It would have been nice for the Blackburn game to have preceded an away trip to Milan. Instead, we'll be mired in an attritional GHEL-fest with MON's latest hoofsters.

Some Sunderland player is sure to injure one of our front three as well.

[Olivier's xmas twist]

Play the same team that played against Blackburn. No need to change anything. Yes its tempting to put Vermaelen back in the middle alongside Mertesacker as they are our 2 best CBs but would be harsh on Koscielny who's been in very good form recently plus Gibbs won't last more than 17 minutes if he starts

Id only Change Merts with Gibbs tbh, Gibbs on the left and put TV 5 back at CB with Kos where they are best. Merts will struggle in this game tbh.

[Marc Overmars]

Hopefully Rosicky keeps his place in the team.

There's something I never thought I'd say.

Ramsey has been flogged to death this year, some time out of the team will do him good.

[alexander]

Hopefully Rosicky keeps his place in the team.

There's something I never thought I'd say.

Ramsey has been flogged to death this year, some time out of the team will do him good.

Agree with this.

[Japan Shaking All Over]

Play the same team that played against Blackburn. No need to change anything. Yes its tempting to put Vermaelen back in the middle alongside Mertesacker as they are our 2 best CBs but would be harsh on Koscielny who's been in very good form recently plus Gibbs won't last more than 17 minutes if he starts

Good attempt at a WUM there. . .almost caught me out

There is no way Kos should be/will be dropped if Verms is put back into the centre

[Olivier's xmas twist]

Only 1 change apprently Sagna comes in for Coq at Rb

[Cripps_orig]

Team in full: Szczesny, Sagna, Mertesacker, Koscielny, Vermaelen, Song, Arteta, Rosicky, Walcott, Oxlade-Chamberlain, Van Persie.

Substitutes: Fabianski, Gibbs, Coquelin, Ramsey, Arshavin, Benayoun, Henry.

[LDG]

Strongest team we have atm.

AOC :bow:

[Rors]

David Miliband
@DMiliband
Following

Conflicting emotions today: red vs red at Stadium of Light. But you can't be Vice Chairman of club and not want the win! #SAFC

[Cripps_orig]

Whos David Miliband?

[Rors]

Sunderland's Vice Chairman.

Oh yeah, the Labour MP for South Shields. Former Agriculture Secretary/Foreign Secretary. I think he has a brother.

[Cripps_orig]

Ah politics

Couldnt care less tbh

[Rors]

Ah politics

Couldnt care less tbh

Having not heard of David Miliband, that needed to be said.. :lol:

[Cripps_orig]

Sunderland: Mignolet, Bardsley, Turner, O'Shea, Richardson, Larsson, Gardner, Colback, McClean, Sessegnon, Campbell. Subs: Westwood, Bridge, Wickham, Ji, Meyler, Kyrgiakos, Elmohamady.

Arsenal: Szczesny, Sagna, Mertesacker, Vermaelen, Koscielny, Arteta, Song, Rosicky, Walcott, van Persie, Oxlade-Chamberlain. Subs: Fabianski, Henry, Ramsey, Arshavin, Gibbs, Benayoun, Coquelin.

Referee: Neil Swarbrick (Lancashire)

[Marc Overmars]

We'll draw and draw well.

[Japan Shaking All Over]

Makes sense. . .would have been pointless to change the team suppose. . .Black Cats have speed up front so looking for Kos to single handedly. . .

[Cripps_orig]

Cant concede any free kicks within shooting range.

They have the best in England in Larsson and we have the worst keeper in saving them in SirChesney

[Olivier's xmas twist]

http://www.atdhenet.tv/43522/watch-sunderland-vs-arsenal

Stream for anyone who wants one

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Come on Arsenal. :bow:

[Master Splinter]

Kyrgiakos :bow:.

[Japan Shaking All Over]

Rosicky looking to shoot a fair bit recently

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Rosicky looking to shoot a fair bit recently

Wish he wouldn't.

[Master Splinter]

This kit is awful.

[Japan Shaking All Over]

Pitch is awful

[GP]

http://www.atdhenet.tv/43522/watch-sunderland-vs-arsenal

Stream for anyone who wants one

Thanks.

Although it looks like it's being filmed with a potato

[fakeyank]

Pitch is awful

We got a good excuse if we lose :good:

[Master Splinter]

Theo losing the ball every time he touches it.

[mickymcg]

http://premiergamess.blogspot.com/2011/09/channel.html

[Cripps_orig]

Ox having a shocker so far

[Cripps_orig]

Richardson booked

Sagna down

Out for the season

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Richardson booked.

[Marc Overmars]

Come on Arsenal.

[Japan Shaking All Over]

We got a good excuse if we lose :good:

Dont tell Wenger tho

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Just wide from Theo, great move.

[Master Splinter]

Close from Walcott, across goal.

[Cripps_orig]

Theo just wide.

Great break

Started from Rosicky :bow:

Ramsey :wave:

[Japan Shaking All Over]

Theo losing the ball every time he touches it.

he is the best player in the world. . .(is that good enough Ach?)

[hymppi]

first decent shot from walcott. come on you arsenal!!!!
daddy needs new shoes.

[Marc Overmars]

Hey Mac, why are you so against even alluding to what might be going on elsewhere? :lol:

[Japan Shaking All Over]

Theo just wide.

Great break

Started from Rosicky :bow:

Ramsey :wave:

Commentators said Theo was crossing. . .so actually he fucked up. . .sell him he's shit

[Cripps_orig]

Ox starting to get in to the game and looking good

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Hey Mac, why are you so against even alluding to what might be going on elsewhere? :lol:

This isn't the thread for that, that's why. Plus it might spoil results for those who don't want to know about other scores.

[Master Splinter]

Good tackle on RVP in the box from Turner.

[Master Splinter]

Theo :haha:.

[Japan Shaking All Over]

Walcott showing he knows when to shoot and when not to :doh:

[Olivier's xmas twist]

Theo :haha:.

Can't even say he is having a shocker anymore, its more a normal tbh.

[Japan Shaking All Over]

Game is shaping up for a RvP half chance special

[Master Splinter]

Rosicky :doh:.

Always bottles it when he has a decent opening.

[fakeyank]

I thought rosicky is allowed to shoot.. Bitch needs to get shooting boots on.

[Master Splinter]

Can't even say he is having a shocker anymore, its more a normal tbh.

"a normal" :haha:.

Charlie :bow:.

[Cripps_orig]

Ox gone back in to his shell

Seems like he isnt even playing

[Japan Shaking All Over]

Can't even say he is having a shocker anymore, its more a normal tbh.

Go on. . .say it! pint says Ach answers you in fewer than 5 posts

[Marc Overmars]

Rosicky will never score a goal again.

[mickymcg]

this match is there for the taking, sunderland are doing nothing, surely its only a matter of time before we break through

[Japan Shaking All Over]

Good ball Kos. . .he really is a good plsyer now

[Marc Overmars]

this match is there for the taking, sunderland are doing nothing, surely its only a matter of time before we break through

That's usually the circumstance to which we concede.

[Master Splinter]

Mertesacker playing on the right wing. Sums it up.

Sunderland to pub one in any minute now.

[Japan Shaking All Over]

That's usually the circumstance to which we concede.

Wonder goal stylie

[Asthmatic Kitty]

sunderland playing for a 0-0, can't see us breaking them down atm

[Japan Shaking All Over]

Second never a pk. . .Merts not intentional

[Cripps_orig]

No way was that deliberate handball

[Japan Shaking All Over]

Second never a pk. . .Merts not intentional

Saying that Dowd would have given both!

[Master Splinter]

Rosicky shot blocked.

[Cripps_orig]

Rosicky shot blocked

Well worked free kick

[Japan Shaking All Over]

No way was that deliberate handball

Seen them given, usually by a prick like Dowd or Dean

[Olivier's xmas twist]

Theo :doh:

[Japan Shaking All Over]

Ref, best Arsenal player on the pitch!

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Freekick to us, dangerous area.

[Cripps_orig]

Campbell booked?

Free kick. Dangerous area for a right footer

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Arteta hits the wall. :faint:

[Asthmatic Kitty]

can we borrow larsson for this free kick please? give him back afterwards

[hobson's choice]

Not a single decent freekick from Arteta this whole season

[Dennis Bendtner]

Campbell booked?

Free kick. Dangerous area for a right footer

So not very dangerous for Arsenal.

[Cripps_orig]

Arteta :rolleyes:

I remember when he used to be quite good at free kicks.....at Everton

Joins Arsenal and hes shite

[McNamara That Ghost...]

0-0 HT.

[Olivier's xmas twist]

Arteta :rolleyes:

I remember when he used to be quite good at free kicks.....at Everton

Joins Arsenal and hes shite


Wengeritis :bow:

[Cripps_orig]

What a shite ass half that was

The stream didnt die once :(

Yet it died fuck knows how many times last week when we played well

[Master Splinter]

Campbell was booked for complaining, rather than the foul.

We're completely in control. The wingers need to offer much more. Rosicky our best player.

[Marc Overmars]

Scrappy 0-1 in the 2nd half hopefully.

[hymppi]

What a shite ass half that was

The stream didnt die once :(

Yet it died fuck knows how many times last week when we played well
my laptop switches off every time i accidentally remove the power cord. fml.

[Joker]

Not enough creativity in our midfield again. Say what you will about Ramsey, at least he tries to create openings and join in with the forward players. Arteta's too conservative, especially in a game like this when Sunderland are playing quite deep.

[gunsofashburtongrove]

Sagna is back, defence in control. Apart from Rosicky and Arteta not many making an impression

[hobson's choice]

Sagna is back, defence in control. Apart from Rosicky and Arteta not many making an impression

Sagna being back is good and all, but in a game like this where they are happy to sit back. We need Fullbacks who are good in the attack. And Sagna is useless going forward.

[gunsofashburtongrove]

Sagna being back is good and all, but in a game like this where they are happy to sit back. We need Fullbacks who are good in the attack. And Sagna is useless going forward.
Against a team that's parking the bus and looking to attack on the counter, and over enthusiastic full back can be dangerous. Sagna keeping Mclean calm. Wingers poor for us

[Cripps_orig]

2nd half on

[Marc Overmars]

Come on Arsenal.

[Master Splinter]

O'Shea clears one for us.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Theo. :lol:

[Cripps_orig]

Get Arteta off ffs

Had enough of his sideways/backward passing

Bloody hell Mert, calm down

[Cripps_orig]

Song with a poor ball

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Complete domination.

[hobson's choice]

Get Arteta off ffs



Who's gonna replace him?

[Cripps_orig]

We have the ball for god knows how long, do f all. Sunderland get it and within seconds have it in our box and play it across our goal and have a corner now

[Master Splinter]

What a save from Szczesny :bow:.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Good save by Sjznaneney.

[Young Guns 11]

Is the BBC Sport page still being really shit for everyone else or just me? :unsure:

[McNamara That Ghost...]

And again from Sznananay!

[Master Splinter]

Another save from Szczesny!

[Cripps_orig]

Sunderland have hardly had the ball and have created better chances than us

Wengeritis has done its work well today

[Master Splinter]

Henry coming on.

[Cripps_orig]

Henry is due

Last match in this country

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Oxocube off, Henry on

[Cripps_orig]

AOC hauled off

Very poor today

Henry on

[Olivier's xmas twist]

Not 1 of ox is better games tbh

[McNamara That Ghost...]

1-0 McClean.

[Asthmatic Kitty]

how does this shit happen

arsenal defending :crying:

[Marc Overmars]

:(

[Olivier's xmas twist]

Edit

Soz did not reliase he went down injured, fecking TS

[Grebbo]

:haha:

Why is Merts even playing?

[Cripps_orig]

FFS

Mertesacker looks hurt

[Master Splinter]

He went down injured actually.

We're cursed.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Mertesacker off injured, Ramsey on.

[Master Splinter]

O'Neill is quite the lucky bastard.

Surely it has to run out for him soon?

[GP]

Merts :doh:


:haha:

Why is Merts even playing?

:doh:

[hobson's choice]

And of course Chelsea are losing too, even more perfect

[Asthmatic Kitty]

RAMSEY!

[Master Splinter]

Ramsey!!!

[McNamara That Ghost...]

RAMSEY!!!

[hobson's choice]

yay

[Marc Overmars]

Get in!!

[Olivier's xmas twist]

Ramsey :bow:

Ramsey Haters :pal:

[GP]

Awesome goal Rambo!

[fakeyank]

Pump that pussay!! Lets beat these shitheads

[hobson's choice]

Haha Sunderland's shit pitch got em, if that pitch was decent he would'nt have scored.:haha::haha:

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Vermaelen booked.

[Olivier's xmas twist]

:doh:

i know corrected it

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Chaos in our area. :lol:

[Asthmatic Kitty]

jesus theo, just stand there like a lemon why don't you

if they'd scored then.... :fury:

[Marc Overmars]

Come on you Gunners!

[GP]

Colback moving gingerley

[Master Splinter]

Henry's pace :bow:.

[Japan Shaking All Over]

We can win this. . .come on Arsenal

[Japan Shaking All Over]

Reeeeeef

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Poor pass from Theo.

[Japan Shaking All Over]

Shit by Theo. . . .Arteta shoot

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Theo off, Arshavin on, soon.

[Japan Shaking All Over]

Arshavin coming on for Theo by the looks

[Cripps_orig]

Arshavin is due

Theo will go off

[Japan Shaking All Over]

Cant be too hard on Theo, he played his one good game a month last week

[Marc Overmars]

We need Gervais back.

[Cripps_orig]

Arshavin on for Theo

[Cripps_orig]

Campbell hauled off for Sunderland

Park lookalike on

[Olivier's xmas twist]

Campbell hauled off for Sunderland

Park lookalike on

Racist

[McNamara That Ghost...]

RVP header, comfortable for Mignolet.

[Cripps_orig]

4 mins added

[Cripps_orig]

Sunderlands Park :lol:

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Four added minutes.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

HENRY!!!!!!

[Master Splinter]

Henry!!!!!!!!

[Cripps_orig]

HENRYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYY

[Japan Shaking All Over]

Yeeeesssssssssssss all the way from Japan

[Marc Overmars]

HE'S DONE IT!!!!!!!!!1

[Asthmatic Kitty]

woohoo!!!

well done arshavin! henry signing off in style :)

now let's just hope we don't blow it in the last minute!

[Marc Overmars]

What a way to sign off. :bow:

So much for the loan being pointless.

[Olivier's xmas twist]

get in

[GP]

Sign him up!

Arshavin assist :bow:

[Cripps_orig]

Brilliant from Arshavin

Always been a fan

Arshavin haters :pal:

[hobson's choice]

We on our way to 4th place:jumpnana::jumpnana::jumpnana:

[Japan Shaking All Over]

Whos Henry winding up? Fucking legend

[Master Splinter]

Ref to add on five mins?

[Marc Overmars]

The only downside is that Chakma will now be coming on instead if we need a goal in future.

[Olivier's xmas twist]

Stays like this were in 4th

[McNamara That Ghost...]

1-2 FT. GET IN! Henry. You. Legend. :bow: :cloud9:

[GP]

:scarf:

[Dicks and chicks]

Wenger out.

[Marc Overmars]

What a win!

Henry. :bow:

[Master Splinter]

O'Neill :haha:.

[GP]

More importantly...


Lawro :haha:

[Olivier's xmas twist]

Wenger out.

Yep we should have scored more goals

[The Wengerbabies]

Henry :bow:

What a man.

Please don't go :(

[hobson's choice]

Wenger's subs:bow::bow:


MON:pal:

[gunsofashburtongrove]

:patrice:
Against a tough well set up opposition, and against some very bad luck. Some of the players who were under the kosh stood up to be counted Rosicky, Ramsey, Arshavin.

We should get a Henry statue GIF on here. The legend the King

[mickymcg]

great result, although only an average perfomance, song,walcott, oxo and arteta were all poor, rosicksky was excellent, worked hard right up till the final whistle, magic cross from arshavin for the goal, maybe it will set him up for a good end to the season, good strike from ramsey for the equaliser, at last the substitutions worked out.
Henry proper legend