Arsenal at Sunderland Preview and Prediction: Victory for the Gunners

Today's article will have to be short and sweet, as I had an incredibly busy day today and a busy night yesterday.

As soon as I got home from work yesterday, it was chocolate cake and candles for my youngest son, Sam, who turned 15 yesterday and then straight out to play football.

When I got home from football it was off to the pub to bid farewell to my sister, who's off to Dubai for a few months to do some work and earn her crust.

First thing this morning it was into town to buy a few bits and pieces for my son on his birthday, then home to feed the family before finally setting off to the supporters club to watch Arsenal and have a few more beers too I suppose.

As the saying goes, no rest for the wicked. Somewhere in the middle of all that, I have just about found time to preview today's game.

Arsenal travel to Sunderland for an evening kickoff knowing that a win will put them on top of the table until Chelsea play Blackpool tomorrow at least. It's a ground where we have had our share of troubles in the past—Abou Diaby had his leg so badly broken four years ago, and we have failed to win there on our last two visits. 

It was expected that Thomas Vermaelen would be available to play today but he is not now expected to return until next Saturday's home game against West Brom. Diaby is also expected to be available for that game too and it means that the manager has slightly fewer options than expected today. I'm sure a case could be made for Ryan Giggs, Emmanuel Eboue, Tomas Rosicky, Denilson, and Carlos Vela all starting, but I have a funny feeling that we might see the same team that beat Braga 6-0 on Wednesday night.

Samir Nasri's inclusion might well hinge on how he has reacted to his first game in a month after his knee surgery, and if he doesn't start Rosicky or Eboue will get the nod. I can't see Jack Wilshere sitting this one out, which means that Denilson will have to and I think the defence should get another chance to play together too.

As I always say when we are playing any game, I think we need to start off as if our lives depended on it and play our football from the first minute to the last minute. I've no doubt Sunderland will make it as hard as possible for us, but thankfully for our players' ankles Lee Cattermole is suspended yet again after receiving his second red card of the season last week. 

I think it's going to be a close game but if we can keep passing for the entire 90 minutes we will tire Sunderland out and we might just get a late goal or two. My prediction is for a 2-1 win for Arsenal with Cesc Fabregas and Marouane Chamakh getting the goals. Chamakh has scored in each of his home games so it would be good for him to get off the mark away from home too.

That's it for today's very short effort, as time is of the essence, but I'll try to make up for it tomorrow.