After another
successful week in Europe Arsenal return to the Premiership looking for their 7th
win out of 8 games on Sunday when Sunderland make their way to the Capital.
Sunderland languishing 14 places behind the 'Wenger boys' in the table will
have their work cut out for them against a side who have found the back of the
net 16 times this season as opposed to the Black Cat's 8. Roy Keane may have
had some famous days at the old Highbury but he'd settle for a drab goalless
draw at the Emirates in a game his side are severe underdogs to win. Sunderland travel with the task of ending a 10-match losing run of
Premier League trips to London, and have not won
a top-flight match in the capital since beating Chelsea 4-2 on 17 March 2001.
Meanwhile Manchester
United can top the table for the first time this season with victory over Wigan at Old Trafford tomorrow. If they can pick up all
three points then they will leap frog the gunners into top spot for 24 hours at
least. With Antoine Sibierski likely to miss the clash due to a hamstring
injury the Latics are likely to be on the receiving end of their third defeat
in a row causing more sleepless nights for under fire manager Chris Hutchings.
He may still be one of
the most unpopular men in English football but Sven Goran Erikkson continues to
impress as boss of Manchester
City. On Sunday the side,
placed third in the table, will welcome Middlesbrough
to Eastlands determined to maintain their 100% record at home. Last season the
Citizens recorded a double over Boro and playing fast flowing football few
would predict them to drop points to Gareth Southgate's men on Sunday.
Rafael Benitez may
continue his rotation policy for the visit of Tottenham as he desperately
attempts to get Liverpool playing football
worthy of their league position. The Reds were appalling in their 1-0 him
defeat to French strugglers Marseille mid week and unless the Spaniard can
forge some kind of self belief on Merseyside it's only a matter of time before Liverpool suffer a humiliating defeat in front of the
Kop. While it's unlikely Tottenham will be the team to do it they still could
steal at least a point from this fixture.
