Sunderland vs. Arsenal: Key Issues That Will Shape Premier League Game
After a rough last few games, Arsenal will get back to Premier League action Oct. 25 with a trip to the Stadium of Light to play Sunderland.
The Gunners will probably not be re-invigorated following their extraordinarily narrow victory over Anderlecht in Champions League play, but rather angry and motivated to put things right. Their awfully boring performances this season are threatening to derail what was such a promising campaign.
Let's look at four key issues in this weekend's fixture.
The Formation
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Arsenal have looked most comfortable this season in a traditional 4-3-3 formation, with midfielders playing in their correct positions and the team tactically balanced.
Yet Arsene Wenger continues to persist with a 4-4-1, which clogs the forward midfield space, restricting the movement and creativity of the club's best players.
That is the fundamental reason why the Gunners have looked so uncharacteristically staid this year. Might this be the game when Wenger tries a different tactic? And if he does not, will Arsenal finally show signs of coherence?
Can Jack Wilshere and Aaron Ramsey Play Together?
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Readers with especially good memories might recollect that I asked this same question back in July. The initial evidence has confirmed my hypothesis: Jack Wilshere and Aaron Ramsey are incompatible midfield partners.
Both fill similar roles. They are creative players who do not back down from a physical challenge and like to make driving runs into the box, with an eye for goal. Not coincidentally, both enjoy playing the same advanced position.
Wilshere and Ramsey have been afforded the opportunity to play together because of Mesut Ozil's absence. But Arsenal would be better served by starting Ramsey and Santi Cazorla, relegating Wilshere to the bench for now.
Who Will Start in Defense?
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Following the loss of Laurent Koscielny to injury, Arsenal are now in a position of total defensive uncertainty.
Despite Hector Bellerin's availability against Anderlecht, Arsene Wenger opted to start Nacho Monreal at center back and Calum Chambers at right back.
But Monreal is obviously not suited to the role and looked completely out of his element all game. Chambers has been excellent in the center of defense, while Bellerin showed considerable promise last weekend against Hull.
The question is whether Wenger opts for experience or putting players in their best positions. Hopefully he does the latter.
Will Someone Beside Alexis Sanchez Show Desire?
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Perhaps Arsenal fans have been aggravated most this season by their team's apparent apathy going forward.
The Gunners are usually a fluid attacking unit, but all we have seen so far are slow, unimaginative passes, dead-end runs and, most importantly, little to no movement by players on the edge of the box.
While Alexis Sanchez has been a refreshing and necessary respite from this tedium, he will not be able to continuously bail his side out. The rest of the team needs to sort their issues out.
Perhaps giving the goal- and chance-hungry Lukas Podolski a start on the left wing will help. Maybe there needs to be a subtle tactical change. Regardless, the team's overall work rate needs to improve if they are to beat Sunderland this weekend.
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