Arsenal are back in Premier League action after their Carabao Cup semi-final win, and they take on Sunderland.
Mikel Arteta’s side were on a 10-game winning streak when the two sides met in the Stadium of Light in November, and their run came to an end following a 2-2 draw.
Arsenal have lost just two games since, and they have become the favourites to win every competition they are in.
So, the dropped points back then didn’t hurt them much, but they will still want to get the win on Saturday.
As for Sunderland, they will not be able to do what they did at their home ground when they come to the Emirates.
Predict the score of Arsenal vs Sunderland and tell us who will score the first goal!
The cheap trick Sunderland used when they faced Arsenal at home
Sunderland have had a fantastic season back in the Premier League.
The Black Cats are eighth in the table, and there is a decent chance that they will qualify for a European competition next term.
Regis Le Bris deserves all the praise in the world for the work he has done, and he has made smart use of some dark arts as well.
In the Stadium of Light back in November, Sunderland moved the advertising hoardings closer to the touchline to prevent Arsenal’s long throws.
Richard Keys even slammed Le Bris’ side for that move because it endangered the safety of the players (Sunderland Echo), but thankfully, nobody got hurt.
The move didn’t hurt Arsenal because they were not great at long throws back then anyway, but it was a nice little trick from the home side.
When the two sides face each other next, it will be at the Emirates Stadium, so Sunderland will have no control over where the hoardings will be.
It would be poetic if Arsenal win the game from a long throw on Sunday.
Cheap trick or clever move – what did you make of Sunderland moving their hoardings to stop Arsenal’s long throws?
Arsenal have a secret long throw weapon that they didn’t have when they last faced Sunderland
Seeing Sunderland close the gap between the touchline and advertising hoardings was a bit strange because the Gunners were awful with long throws.
Declan Rice and Riccardo Calafiori were the players tasked with that role, and neither has done a great job so far this season.
The Black Cats’ cheap trick was a waste of time back then, but now, the Gunners have hired a throw-in coach as a consultant – Thomas Gronnemark.
The Dane previously did a tremendous job at clubs like Liverpool and Brentford, and he could now be the man to take Arsenal to a whole new level with their throw-ins.
It remains to be seen if the Gunners will use it against Sunderland on Saturday.
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