Premier League Preview: Sunderland vs. Arsenal

But Ozil aside, this is a huge game for Sunderland as Paolo Di Canio‘s men have picked up just one point form their first three league games this campaign.

  • 72 – Mesut Ozil has the most assists over the last five season in Europe’s top five leagues
  • Sunderland have won just once in their last 19 games against Arsenal
  • Arsenal are looking to make it seven-straight away wins in the league

On Saturday at the Stadium of Light all eyes will be on one man: Mesut Ozil.

Arsenal’s new $60million midfielder will be at the center of everyone’s attention as the German international begins his Gunners career against Sunderland (Saturday, 10am ET, watch live on NBCSN and via NBC Sports Live Extra).
 
But Ozil aside, this is a huge game for Sunderland as Paolo Di Canio‘s men have picked up just one point form their first three league games this campaign.
 
The Black Cats will not relish the thought of facing a fired up Ozil or an Arsenal side fresh from four-straight wins across all competitions but Di Canio’s side will be spurred on by a sell-out crowd in the North East. Last time out they suffered a demoralizing 3-1 defeat against newly-promoted Crystal Palace and Di Canio knows that despite adding 14 players over the summer his side must pick up points sooner rather than later.
 
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U.S. national team striker Jozy Altidore is set to return after missing the loss to Palace with a hamstring injury and Altidore, 23, missed the USA’s win over Mexico due to yellow card accumulation. The star striker didn’t get to celebrate with his teammates in Columbus so maybe he can score a goal on Saturday to remind everyone just how good he really is?
 
Arsenal are fresh off the back of a confidence-boosting win over North London rivals Tottenham, with Olivier Giroud scoring the winner to seal his fourth goal in five games this season. The Frenchman is on fire.
 
For the Mackems Altidore or new loan signing Fabio Borini could partner Steven Fletcher up front as Sunderland go all-out for the win against Arsenal at home. For the visitors Ozil missed training on Friday but should be handed his debut, while fellow German international Per Mertesacker will miss out through illness.
 
What they’re saying
Sunderland striker Steven Fletcher on Arsenal: “We don’t want to think about them too much because we know they’re a good side. Obviously they’ve brought in Ozil who is a good player but we need to concentrate on our performance rather than anything else. They’ve had a decent start but we’ve got a number of strikers which is good for us.”
 
Arsene Wenger on Arsenal’s ambitious new future after signing Ozil: “They were questioning my desire to spend money, maybe the ambition as well because today the ambition is linked with the amount of money you spend. We are very ambitious, we went through a few years where we had less resources and there is no shame to say that because we have built a new stadium. Now we are back with the ambition as big as everybody else, if not bigger.”
 
Paolo Di Canio on Arsenal: “I can’t wait for us to play because I’m excited about it. I think the game will be 50-50. Arsenal will come to play and they will come forward but that means we will get the chance to attack ourselves and that’s exciting. I have had a feeling for a while that we will find it easier against the top teams to play the sort of football we want to. They will attack and we must defend well but we will get chances of our own to attack and we must make the most of them.”
 
Prediction
This is such a tough one to predict as Sunderland often up their game for the big occasion. But Arsenal look really solid and with the addition of Ozil giving everyone a lift I think the Gunners may just edge this game as a valiant effort from Di Canio’s Black Cats will seem them come up short. The Gunners’ extra class and cutting edge in the final third will be the difference as Santi Cazorla, Ozil, Aaron Ramsey, Giroud, Theo Walcott and Jack Wilshere will wreck havoc.

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