Martin Wanless predicts…
Score prediction: Sunderland 1 Arsenal 1
Sunderland’s first goalscorer: Ballard
This is a game that most definitely says ‘we’re back in the top flight’ and it’s going to be a huge test.
If we play like we did
in the first 30 minutes against Everton we’ll be dead and buried, but you feel lessons will have been learnt.
Arsenal apparently have a few injury concerns and that could give us a chance to get something – a point would be fantastic, I’d snap your hand off for that now.
I reckon Ballard’s due another goal soon, so why not today?
‘The Champion’ Malc Dugdale predicts…
Score prediction: Sunderland 0 Arsenal 0
Sunderland’s first goalscorer: No scorer
The lads got a well earned point against The Toffees last time around, and arguably could (and with a borderline penalty shout, maybe should) have had more of a reward with the dominance they showed after a poor first 25 mins, especially in the second period.
This evening, we will have to be on our absolute best form with every aspect of our game to even get a draw, but there is no reason that we cannot get something, and if we play like we did away to Chelsea, then we may well grab more than that. This is at home, so the home fans need to make the difference too.
This is a battle of two of the best defences in the league, with Arsenal only letting in 0.3 goals per game, and us in joint second place in the best defence table, with only 0.8 per match so far. Both teams will need to be clinical to impact the scoreboard, based on that.
I’m backing the lads to be solid at the back and to play on the break, and if we can soak up the pressure from a somewhat injury impacted Arsenal side, we could threaten. But, I am not sure we will have enough to go up the other end and nick a win without risking a loss too much, should we craft a chance or two.
I see this being honours even and potentially goalless after 90 mins. Anything which resembles a bloody good effort and ideally at least a point will do for me, but if we lose and give it all in the process, that’s a stepping stone we may have to navigate and accept.
This team prove me wrong all the time though, so bring on the Arse, and lets see how we fair.
Jack Howe-Gingell predicts…
Score prediction: Sunderland 1 Arsenal 1
Sunderland’s first goalscorer: Wilson Isidor
I’m really excited to welcome the first “big team” back to the Stadium of Light since our Premier League return. Arsenal have been great this season, and in my eyes are playing like real potential champions.
They have received some critique for their pragmatic performances, but winning is the game when going for league titles, and that’s what they’re doing.
Arsenal seem watertight at the back and we will need to come up with something to break that. I feel like we are a real threat from set pieces and throw ins, much as they are, and that will be our inlet.
We must keep it tight, and can’t afford a slow start such as the one against Everton. I sense five at the back and playing for counters attacks at pace, similarly to our Chelsea showing.
Make no mistake, this will likely be our toughest test and we will need to be incredible to get anything, but why can’t we do it? This team will run through walls for the shirt and Regis, and I don’t think they will be overawed by their biggest obstacle yet.
Will Jones predicts…
Score prediction: Sunderland 1 Arsenal 1
Sunderland’s first goalscorer: Granit Xhaka
Saturday, 5pm, under the lights, this is what it’s all about. The kind of game that makes you feel like we’re properly back. Arsenal at the Stadium of Light, title challengers, clean sheet merchants, and us standing there saying, “Go on then, let’s see what you’ve got.”
They’re a class outfit, no doubt. They move the ball like it’s on a string, they press like lunatics, and they’ve barely let anyone have a sniff at goal in weeks. But they’re not perfect. And we’re not here to admire them.
We’ve had our warning signs , that first 30 against Everton was grim, but we grew into it, and you’d hope lessons have been learned. The crowd will be bouncing, the players will be up for it, and you just know Xhaka’s been dreaming of this one. A goal against the old club, arms outstretched, limbs in the stands.
Most teams would just write this one off, it’s Arsenal, take the hit and move on. Not us, let’s go get a point. Their fans seem worried, they have all the pressure, and the last time Arsenal dealt with any pressure well was over 20 years ago.
Haway the lads. Let’s have it.
Matty Foster predicts…
Score prediction: Sunderland 1 Arsenal 2
Sunderland’s first goalscorer: Wilson Isidor
Two of the top four clash at the Stadium of Light today. The fact that involves us, is madness.
I know it’s early doors but I can’t get over the start we’ve made.
Despite our struggle to get our teeth into the Toffees early doors, the last 60 minutes showed the sides mental strength to recover.
Today we face an Arsenal with eight wins out of ten, and only a single defeat.
Even with a mounting injury list, they will be the toughest test we’ve faced.
Although I anticipate them having too much quality today, this Sunderland side have shocked me enough this season to not rule it out.
Anthony Gair predicts…
Score prediction: Sunderland 1 Arsenal 0
Sunderland’s first goalscorer: Wilson Isidor
Naturally, this is my heart ruling my head, and I’m sorry – I know it makes me look deluded but I’m not convinced I’m not completely wrong.
There are so many issues with the performance against Everton, that the players will not start the same way, they’re going to be fully up for this one and these players can mix it with the best of them when they’re at their best.
This is a chance for all of these players to pit their wits against the best in this league.
Arsenal may get complacent, and we may be balls to the wall for long periods of the game, but I have all the confidence in the world that Ballard, Nordi, Geertruida, Hume et al can deal with them. Not to mention Xhaka against his former club where he should be lauded by both sets of fans.
Also, I’ve managed to get the afternoon off graft, so I’m more excited than usual!!
Gary Winter predicts…
Score prediction: Sunderland 0 Arsenal 2
Sunderland’s first goalscorer: No scorer
After a well-earned point at home to Everton, we’ve now got a huge game to get our title hopes back on track, and reduce that 7-point deficit! That last hour was excellent from us, and a sign of how far we’ve come to dominate a Premier League match for such a long period.
However, that first 30 minute head-loss is playing on my mind, and that would be heavily punished against Arsenal. Equally, we aren’t free-scoring and they just don’t concede – they’re on a run of 8 clean sheets, barely letting teams get a shot in, let alone score a goal.
I feel like this is a different Arsenal and will be an incredibly tough match for us. They do a lot of the things we do at a more elite level, so unfortunately I think we could suffer our first defeat on home soil..
Brett Lyons-Davis predicts…
Score prediction: Sunderland 1 Arsenal 0
Sunderland’s first goalscorer: Granit Xhaka
(In your best Jeff Stelling voice) “Arsenal 10 wins in row in all competitions- 8 games without conceding a goal. . . Until now!! The old boy Granit Xhaka comes back to haunt his old club as the Stadium of light erupts with noise…”
Look, as much as we know there’s a “typical Sunderland”, there’s also a “typical Arsenal”. They are not the nations favourite bottle jobs for no reason. The Stadium of Light will be rocking as everyone takes advantage of the extra 2 hours drinking time, and I can see us being up for this one.
Even in his post match interview our captain has told the lads of needed improvement, and you can bet the training ground this week will be fully focused on putting things right.
Xhaka will be out to prove a point to his old team, and the lads will be more than willing following him into battle…as the red and white army pull off another shock victory.
GET IN TO THEM – F*** THEM UP!!.
Last time out…
The last fixture wasn’t quite the hiding we wanted to give Moyesey, but we came away with a point and maintained our unbeaten record at home.
Given the club have asked for a “please explain” for the hand ball and penalty which wasn’t given, the team are clearly feeling quite aggrieved that we only secured on point, despite the fact we were maybe lucky not to be 2 or 3 down in the first half hour.
The lads battled and scrapped and almost got the ball over the line a second time, and it was maybe fitting that one of our best chances, a second deflected shot, was somehow saved by a Mackem who has proudly left our squad and gone on to massive things both in the premier league and also for our national side. Old Jordan, well played but we wish you hadn’t got a hand to that one.
Last game predictions…
The forecasts ahead of the Everton game were quite optimistic, but after a slow first half hour we could not quite manage to build on the goal from Captain Xhaka just after the break, and we had to settle for a point.
Only two of our Predictions collective got any points from the outing against Moyes’ boys – Matty got the result right but not the scorer securing the 3 points we didnt manage to lock in. Malc got a point for picking Xhaka as our first scorer, although he will not doubt score many more cleaner and sweeter goals this season without the benefit of a deflection as was see against The Toffees.
Predictions Table and Standings
SmuggMeister Brett keeps first place, but failed to build on his lead with Matty joining Jack in joint second on 11.
Predictions gaffer Malc creeps up to mid table on eight along side doom monger Gary, and the basement boys stay as was on 5 points each.
How the points are awarded
Just a quick reminder of how we allocate points to our match-by-match predictions:
- Correct score = Three points
- Correct outcome (but not correct score) = One point
- Correct first Sunderland goalscorer = One point (no goalscorer is a valid call)
- Possible deductions for being lazy and not submitting on time = a two-point deduction.
