Arsenal’s FA Cup match against Sunderland on Saturday presents an interesting interpretive choice.
There’s
the historical angle, focusing on the club’s unparalleled success in
the competition. With last May’s demolition of Aston Villa in the final,
Arsenal became the most frequent winner of the FA Cup, and manager
Arsène Wenger lifted the trophy for the sixth time, more than any other
manager in the modern era.
This perspective also features the
fillip the FA Cup has been to the club in recent years. After a decade
without a title, Arsenal marked a true revival with the 3-2 win after
extra time over Hull City in the 2014 Final. The joy of players, staff,
and supporters worldwide was memorable and meaningful, and the
performance set the stage for the team to master big occasions in 2015.
We
therefore must acknowledge the influence the competition has had on
Arsenal’s trajectory. Navigating the current cup campaign to a third
consecutive trophy, a feat not accomplished since Blackburn Rovers did
it in 1886, would seem a fitting next chapter in that narrative.
Wenger
has paid homage to his own and Arsenal’s FA Cup record, while turning
his gaze, as ever, to the challenge in front of them.
It’s a good
challenge [to try to win three in a row], and we’ll take it on. We have
the desire to do well and to do it again. Let’s see how we get on in the
first test, and let’s deal with that. We have enough confidence, enough
desire, so let’s turn up with a positive performance.(Arsenal.com)
Here
Wenger is turning to the second angle of interpretation, the one
focusing on the immediate. Arsenal are in position to grasp a bigger
prize, the Premier League title, and face two difficult road matches in
the eight days after Saturday’s cup contest—at Liverpool on Wednesday,
January 13, and then at Stoke City on Sunday, January 17. Given the
grueling schedule the team just endured over the holiday period, the FA
Cup encounter looks less of a priority.
Sunderland has its own
reasons for de-emphasizing Saturday’s match: The Black Cats are fighting
for survival in the Premier League and have two daunting matches of
their own, a trip to Swansea that could reshuffle the relegation deck
and another visit to London against Tottenham, in the next week.
As a result, the speculation is that both sides will rest vital players on Saturday.
That
will present opportunities for some squad players to stake claims to
more first-team action and for a few first teamers to gain some form and
confidence. Prominent in the latter group at Arsenal is Alex
Oxlade-Chamberlain, the subject of considerable jawboning as he
experiences a difficult season. An energetic and intelligent performance
against Sunderland may be just the thing to spark Oxlade-Chamberlain
into contributions commensurate with his talent.
Meanwhile, it’ll
be interesting to see how Wenger uses youngsters Alex Iwobi and Jeff
Reine-Adelaide. The pair of attackers has made the substitutes’ bench in
recent Premier League fixtures due to the raft of first-team injuries,
and Saturday’s contest seems an appropriate occasion to increase their
involvement.
Wenger has been cagey about the scope of squad
rotation, though. He has said “At the moment, I make two or three
changes maximum,” while at the same time he’s described Reine-Adelaide
as “mature enough to cope with the challenges of the Premier League, and
he has technique as well.”
Sunderland manager Sam Allardyce has
been far less coy. He has called the schedule “diabolical” and argued,
“Don’t give me stick when I change the side at Arsenal.” Whether this is
an adept feint or revealing only Saturday’s teamsheet will reveal.
Because
identifying the starters is so difficult—and knowing each other isn’t
straightforward for the makeshift teams, either—it’s tough to foresee
the dynamics of the match. In general, Arsenal will probably enjoy more
possession, while Sunderland tries to maintain its defensive
organization and pose danger on the counterattack. Neither manager will
want a replay, though, so the teams will attack to force a result.
If
that means that an Arsenal player or two emerge with a more positive
view of their skill and potential contribution, this match could become
another memorable mark in the club’s FA Cup history.
Players to Watch:
Arsenal. Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain. This
match offers prime conditions for Oxlade-Chamberlain. He’ll go up
against replacement defenders and midfielders unaccustomed to his speed
and strength in a relatively low-pressure contest. He’s shown a knack
for scoring in cup games as well.
Sunderland. Duncan Watmore.
The speedy winger might be a regular starter that Allardyce sends out
on Saturday as well. That’s because he hasn’t played a full season and
poses a serious threat on the counterattack, as evidenced by his work in
the sides’ Premier League encounter.
Arsenal's 3-1 victory over Sunderland on Saturday was welcome if not vintage.
Olivier
Giroud's headed goal put the Gunners in front midway through the second
half, and Aaron Ramsey's scrappy finish in injury time sealed the
team's first league win since October 31. The result moved Arsenal back
to second place, two points behind surprise leaders Leicester City.
Although
the outcome was positive, particularly given the injury-enforced
changes in the lineup, the performance will give manager Arsène Wenger,
his staff, and the players much to contemplate as they turn to the busy
December schedule.
Here are three things for us all to consider based on Saturday's match.
Arsenal's leads seem precarious
For
the third consecutive league match, Arsenal scored the first goal. Such
early leads would frequently be decisive, because they allow the team
with the advantage to focus on thwarting the opponents and launching
counterattacks.
Arsenal have not been able to capitalize of late,
however. Just as they had done at West Bromwich Albion and Norwich City,
the Gunners failed to hold their lead through the half. Joel Campbell's
clean strike of Mesut Özil's sublime pass was negated by a Giroud own
goal just before halftime.
The specifics were different in each
match, but a common thread is defensive instincts that, in the moment,
were not precise enough. In this case, Laurent Koscielny's move to nip
the ball from Sunderland's Duncan Watmore along the touchline wasn't
necessary and proved a split-second late. The subsequent free kick saw
Giroud attempt a clearance with the wrong foot, given his relationship
to goal; the equalizing goal was the result.
In truth, level terms
looked shaky at times on Saturday, too. Arsenal's midfield was bypassed
far too easily, leading to clear chances for Sunderland attackers
Watmore and Fabio Borini. The new midfield partnership of Mathieu
Flamini and Aaron Ramsey didn't support the defense enough, especially
when one of the fullbacks had made a foray forward.
Arsenal will need to address this weakness before sterner tests ahead.
Arsenal's difference makers again made the difference
The
shakiness didn't undo the Gunners because, in Özil and Petr Cech, the
Gunners could call on world-class players to see them through.
In
the absence of Santi Cazorla and Alexis Sanchez, Özil took on more
responsibility for the Arsenal attack. The German playmaker attempted
107 passes, 15 percent of Arsenal's total on Saturday. As a point of
contrast, the previous match in which Arsenal's first choice lineup
attempted at least 600 passes was against Stoke City; Özil's attempts
made up 10 percent that day. (Stats from FourFourTwo's StatsZone app)
He
misfired on 22 passes, a week after failing on just one pass at Norwich
City. But his influence was profound. He had the highest number of
passes in the attacking third, created five chances for teammates, had
more successful dribbles, and suffered the most fouls.
Özil's
brilliant assist for Campbell's opener was his 12th in 14 league games
this season. That's an absolutely blistering pace. He has twice as many
assists as the next highest providers in the league.
At the other
end of the pitch, Cech continues to prove his worth. He made three
crucial saves, two of what StatsZone calls "big chances" when the
attacker has only the keeper to beat. Cech also scrambled away two other
potential own goals.
The goalkeeper is shoring up Arsenal's defense and its position near the top of the Premier League table.
Aaron Ramsey's energy was telling
Last
week's injury to Santi Cazorla meant that Aaron Ramsey, himself only a
week back from an injury layoff, returned to the center of Arsenal's
midfield. It's the position he prefers and one in which he thrived
during the 2013-14 season.
Despite Ramsey's time on the
sidelines--and perhaps despite the sleep deprivation accompanying his
new fatherhood--his energy and influence grew as the match went on. His
runs overloaded dangerous areas and helped move Sunderland's defenders
from their posts.
The assist for Giroud's goal came from one such
occasion, when Ramsey shifted left to adjust to left back Nacho
Monreal's dribble infield, received Monreal's pass, and found Giroud
just in front of Sunderland's Younes Kaboul. He closed the deal by
getting into the box and bundling home Calum Chambers's deflected shot.
Overall,
Ramsey was almost as involved as Özil in the attacking third,
completing 39 of his team-high 114 passes there. He also attempted seven
shots and created four chances for teammates.
We'd perhaps like
to see a keener focus on the defensive side from Ramsey--he tried and
failed his one tackle attempt and made just one interception--but as a
second game back from injury, in a different position, with a different
partner in midfield, Ramsey's influence was sizable.
Extra time
Arsenal's
movement from outside to inside created the first two goals. For the
first, Campbell ran outside wingback DeAndre Yedlin and was open for
Özil's pass. For the second, Monreal carried the ball from outside to
inside, scrambling Sunderland's defense just enough for Ramsey and
Giroud to find space.
These attacks from the flank proved more
productive than attempts to play through Giroud against Sunderland's
three central defenders. It's something to watch as Theo Walcott returns
to the side from injury.
