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Arsenal vs Sunderland preview: Gunners start defence of the FA Cup in all Premier League clash

A look ahead to the FA Cup third round fixture at the Emirates

Friday 08 January 2016 19:18 GMT

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger (GETTY IMAGES)

Jermaine Lens. Dropped again for the Black Cats’ victory against Villa, the 28 year-old striker is struggling to provide any attacking threat. Lens has had just one shot on target in his last six matches, scoring only two goals in all 14 appearances this season.

Best Stat…

Sunderland are one of only two teams to win against Arsenal in the FA Cup in the last 4 years, beating them 2-0 in the fifth round during the 2012 season. The other team was Blackburn in 2013.

Player to watch…

Mesut Özil. The German maestro has been pulling all the right strings this season, and shows no signs of slowing down his stratospheric assist rate. He has created 16 chances in the last 3 games alone.

Arsenal player ratings vs Newcastle

Show all 11

1/11Arsenal player ratings vs Newcastle

Arsenal player ratings vs Newcastle

Cech 6 out of 10

Had to be at his best in this game as he made several crucial blocks from an on-top Newcastle, including a fine double block from Mitrovic and Colback. The save from Wijnaldum was even more crucial, helping Arsenal to the sort of win title triumphs are made of.

2015 The Arsenal Football Club Plc

Arsenal player ratings vs Newcastle

Bellerin 6 out of 10

In the opening ten minutes he seemed certain to provide at least one goal for Arsenal. But as the match wore on his crossing became more and more inaccurate so that, whilst his ability to get forward was impressive, you couldn’t help but wish he could find Giroud’s head.

2016 Getty Images

Arsenal player ratings vs Newcastle

Mertesacker 5 out of 10

As easy as he was in possession he was guilty of dallying on the ball rather than kicking off Arsenal’s attacks with purpose. It allowed Newcastle to get their ten men behind the ball and made life too hard for his team-mates.

2015 Getty Images

Arsenal player ratings vs Newcastle

Koscielny 6 out of 10

Caught well out of position when Georginio Wijnaldum should have been scored. It was part of a disappointing display from the French centre-half, who struggled with runs from deep from Newcastle’s attackers. Credit must go to him though, for a poacher’s finish to give Arsenal the lead.

2016 Getty Images

Arsenal player ratings vs Newcastle

Monreal 6 out of 10

Time and time again Sissoko and Janmaat had the beating of the Spaniard, who had next to no protection from Walcott in front of him. His crossing, though, was excellent and should have been converted

2015 Getty Images

Arsenal player ratings vs Newcastle

Flamini 5 out of 10

A non-entity in front of the Arsenal defence. With Wijnaldum floating around dangerously the Arsenal man should have been on his tail, but time and time again he was out of position.

2016 Getty Images

Arsenal player ratings vs Newcastle

Ramsey 5 out of 10

Careless in defence, indifferent in attack. This was everything that convinced Wenger that Ramsey was not well suited to a central role as his passing was far too loose.

2016 Getty Images

Arsenal player ratings vs Newcastle

Oxlade-Chamberlain 4 out of 10

One of the most infuriating players on the pitch, there were moments when Newcastle could not lay a finger on him as he drove from deep. But just as often he would run into traffic, pass loosely or miscontrol the ball.

2016 Getty Images

Arsenal player ratings vs Newcastle

Ozil 6 out of 10

By his own exceptional recent standards this was a rather poor game from Ozil, though he was still by some distance Arsenal’s best attacking player. His set-piece delivery was consistently tough to defend as once more his side found most joy from dead balls.

2015 The Arsenal Football Club Plc

Arsenal player ratings vs Newcastle

Walcott 5 out of 10

He may have a licence to remain on the edges of the game, waiting to make a critical touch, but when he doesn’t have that it does appear a waste putting him in the side. Unlike Alexis Sanchez he doesn’t track back and unlike Sanchez he is not reliable enough going forward.

Arsenal player ratings vs Newcastle

Giroud 6 out of 10

Got into the right positions and could hardly be blamed that his team-mates crafted so few opportunities for him for so much of the game. He remained a menace in the air though, and did well to assist Koscielny for the opener.

Past three meetings…

Arsenal 3 (Campbell, Giroud, Ramsey) Sunderland 1 (Giroud OG), Premier League, December 2015

Arsenal 0 Sunderland 0, Premier League, May 2015

Sunderland 0 Arsenal 2 (Sanchez 2), Premier League, October 2014

Form guide…

ARSENAL: WWWLWW

SUNDERLAND: LLLLLW

Vital information…

KICK-OFF TIME: Saturday 9^th January, 3.00pm

TV: Highlights BBC1 at 10.25pm

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