Sports Blog 20/05/2015: Match Preview – Arsenal vs Sunderland, Wednesday 20th May 2015

In the last game before the Premier League’s season-closing Sunday, Arsenal host Sunderland at 7.45pm on Sky Sports 1 in a match that could have importance ramifications at the top and the bottom of the table.

A frustrating loss against Swansea and dropped points against Manchester United last Sunday has left Arsenal’s second place chase largely in the hands of others as the Premier League hurtles (or more realistically limps) towards the finish line. The Gunners now need to win both of their final games, and hope City lose their final game against Southampton, if they want to finish as this year’s runner up. On the other hand, they will secure 3rd place with a draw; that is, unless they then lose their final game against West Brom AND Manchester United score a boatload against the potentially Championship-bound Hull.

This leaves Arsenal on a long term Premier League points spread of 75.8-76.2, with 71 already. After that home loss to Swansea Wenger will be keen to ensure that Arsenal don’t suffer their first back-to0-back defeats at the Emirates since 2011. Not that Sunderland pose much of a threat; Arsenal have won 6 of their last 8 fixtures against the Black Cats and have only that one loss to the Swans in their past 13 games.



Sunderland’s aims for the game are perhaps less exalted, but much more urgent. To avoid relegation the Black Cats merely need a point from their trip to the Emirates, and Sunderland will be desperate to go into their final game, against league champions Chelsea, without needing to get a result or rely on their relegation rivals Newcastle and Hull to falter.

The Black Cats will take some hope from their performances in the last 6 weeks, which has seen somewhat of a turnaround in form. Only a loss to Crystal Palace has besmirched their record, with wins against Newcastle, Southampton and Everton leaving them on the precipice of safety, something they would have reached if they had held on to their lead against Stoke or nabbed a goal against Leicester. This leaves Sunderland on a long term Premier League points spread of 37.7-38.1 with 37 already.

Arsenal’s injury list has steadily begun to increase towards the end of the season, with Laurent Koscielny the latest doubt whilst Arteta, Welbeck, Oxlade-Chamberlain and Debuchy are definitely absent. However, the Gunners’ top line remains formidable, with Olivier Giroud at 15/4 to score first with a Super Mega Player Goal Minutes spread of 52-60 after scoring 18 goals this season, 14 of which came in the league. Star-man Sanchez is at 4/1 with a Super Mega PGM spread of 43-50 after grabbing 24 goals this season, whilst Aaron Ramsey is at 7/1 with a Super Mega PGM spread of 22-27.



For Sunderland, Jack Rodwell returns whilst Jordi Gomez and Wes Brown remain side-lined. This leaves Jermain Defoe at 10/1 with a Super Mega PGM spread of 14-18, whilst Steven Fletcher is at 12/1 at a Super Mega PGM spread of 10-14 and Connor Wickham is at 16/1with a Super Mega PGM spread of 7-10.

Despite their strong form in the past 2 months, that loss to Swansea shows there are still elements of the frustrating Arsenal that fall to lesser sides; on top of this, their injury list may mean Wenger is cautious ahead of the arguably more important FA Cup final in a week and a half. However, regardless of the Black Cats’ need for a point our traders fancy a comfortable win for the Gunners at an Arsenal/Sunderland Goal Supremacy sports spread betting quote of 1.6-1.8 with a Total Goals spread of 2.95-3.15.