Sunderland v Arsenal Saturday 11th February 15:00

[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

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.