Sunderland vs Arsenal: Carpe Diem, Gunners; Stop Feeling Sorry for Yourselves

Let's get the ugly stuff out of the way first.

Milan. Was. A. Disgrace.

And I'm probably doing a disservice to "disgrace."

The best I can say about Arsenal's performance on Wednesday night was that barring a few minutes here and there, we looked like a League One team, on a bad day, against a top Premiership side. We looked like a bunch of young novices playing against a team of wily pros. And we seemed to try and try, but we couldn't blow their house down.

And when the old pros decided to teach us a lesson, they just switched on. And boom, boom, boom, boom! Four goals, easy as you like, bye bye kids, off you go, back to London, say thank you that we stopped at four.

I don't know how you guys viewed the game, but that's what it looked like to me. Maybe it was the time (1:15 am kickoff where I live) that caused my vision to be blurred, but that's exactly how I saw it.

I looked at the match stats, as I often do, and I'm sorry to say that in this case, some stats do mislead. Big time. Apparently, Arsenal had more possession (57:43), more corners (6:5) and made fewer saves (1:4).

But it was not a game that can be analyzed through statistics. Arsenal could have had 75 percent possession and still drawn a blank. We could have spent an hour swinging corners in, but Abbiati, Silva, Mexes and the rest would have kept gobbling them up.

We looked forlorn, dejected, weary, uninspired and bullied. Yes, bullied. There was no spring in our step, no smiles, no energy, no spark. And yes, we looked like we felt sorry for ourselves. Sorry that we could do nothing about the annihilation on the pitch. Sorry that we were facing players of the caliber of Ibrahimovic, Robinho and Boateng. Sorry that we were out there.

It was a Champions League knock-out game against a decent Milan side. A great chance to take a strong step towards progression to the next round. And we blew it.

But all that is history.

And the great beauty about a football season is that however much of a heartbreaker a game may have been, the next game is always just a few days away. Unless, of course, you were a Liverpool supporter in late May 1989. (Here you go, relive it once more)

We go back to the northeast tomorrow to face what is still a very good Sunderland side. Sunderland will be champing at the bit to get revenge for our sneaky little victory last weekend, when the King slotted home his 229th, and possibly last, goal for us. Also, Sunderland will be well rested and didn't get hammered 0-4 since the last time we played them.

Now that we're virtually out of Europe, everyone feels the FA Cup is our most important priority. I don't. 

Compare the two: Fourth place, and no FA Cup. Fifth place and FA Cup. No brainer. Fourth in the Premiership is still the priority. However, winning games is still the best tonic, and tomorrow is the next game we face.

Here's who I think Arsene Wenger should put out at the Stadium of Light...

1. Goalkeeper: Wojciech Szczesny

This is not the time to give Lukasz Fabianski a game. I don't care if he goes home crying to his mommy. I don't care if his Euro 2012 dream is in tatters.

We must play our best keeper. That man is Szczesny. By a country mile, and then some.

2. Right Back: Nico Yennaris

Two games in three days may be a bridge too far for the recently returned Bacary Sagna. And White Hart Lane next weekend is far more important.

Nico Yennaris has been a revelation for Arsenal this season. Unheralded and virtually unknown a few months ago, he has caught the eye with a few spirited and tenacious performances at right back, most significantly when faced by the challenge of Nani at the Emirates Stadium a few weeks ago.

Truth be told, he made Johan Djourou, who he replaced at the interval, look fairly pedestrian. And I'm being nice to the Swiss No. 20.

Yennaris gets my vote at right back.

3. Left Back: Kieran Gibbs

I don't see much of a choice here. The center backs pick themselves by default, which leaves Kieran Gibbs as the only option at left back. I haven't seen Ignasi Miquel for a while, so I doubt if Wenger will slot him in for a game of such intensity and magnitude. Sagna could play here too, but I'm quite sure (hopeful) he will be rested.

Gibbs only played 66 minutes at Milan, and now that he's been eased back into the squad, he should be ready for the full 90.

4. & 5. Center Halves: Johan Djourou and Thomas Vermaelen

Beggars can't be choosers, can they?

With injuries ruling out Laurent Koscielny (for a week) and Per Mertesacker (for many, many weeks), the only two competent center halves we have at the Club are Djourou and Vermaelen.

Sebastien Squillaci has just cemented his place in the reserves team, and Arsene won't want to interfere with that. Fingers crossed.  

Miquel is an option, but as I said earlier, I doubt if he will play from the start. Song is another option, but I think he will get a rest.

So Djourou and Vermaelen it is.

6. & 7. Holding Midfielders: Francis Coquelin and Mikel Arteta

Alex Song has looked jaded in recent weeks. His defensive play seems to have lost its bite, and further forward, there seems to be no spark.

Not surprising—he has already played 31 games for Arsenal this season. 

His understudy, Francis Coquelin, has been a breath of fresh air for Arsenal this season. His performances have displayed a great mix of class and tenacity. Add to that tons of versatility—he's played all over the park. And he's never disappointed.

Here's a chance to give him another run-out. He will do the business for Arsenal.

Alongside him, it would have to be the experienced Mikel Arteta. He's had a break recently, so I don't think this game should be a problem for him.

Not much to say here—he's been one of Arsenal's best and most consistent players this season.

8-11. Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, Andrey Arshavin, Gervinho and Marouane Chamakh

Thierry Henry took all the plaudits, but Andrey Arshavin played a fantastic cameo last weekend at the Stadium of Light. It was a toss-up for me between him and Yossi Benayoun for the central midfielder's spot, and I've decided to go with the little Russian.

Out wide, Gervinho and Oxlade-Chamberlain should be fit and raring to go, and I really hope Wenger starts the two of them. I believe this should be the first choice wide pairing for the foreseeable future, and I'm keen to see how they play in tandem. Both are direct and full of tricks, and should be a handful for Sunderland's full backs.

Theo Walcott should spend his time on the bench thinking about his game, and finding ways and means of being more effective. The way I see it, he's going to have plenty of time.

Up front, Robin Van Persie needs some rest, and so Chamakh should start. He's had plenty of time off since Africa, and hopefully the break will have done him the world of good. I'm even sticking my neck out and saying that Chamakh will score. Come on, Marouane, make me look good!

The Subs

Lukasz Fabianski, Bacary Sagna, Sebastien Squillaci, Alex Song, Yossi Benayoun, Theo Walcott, Robin Van Persie.

Not a bad looking bench at all.

As I see it, Robin and Theo will be needed at some point in the second half to get us a goal or two, and should we be up, I'm sure Sagna and Song would be called upon. Not the worst options to have, are they?

Good luck, Arsenal. Tomorrow is the first day of the rest of the season. 

Start with a bang!!

You can follow me on Twitter at @ratanpostwalla