English Premiere League Arsenal vs. Sunderland AFC Match Preview

English Premiere League
Arsenal vs. Sunderland AFC
Match Begins 10:00PM GMT+8
Saturday, august 18

Arsenal have been busy in the transfer market this off season Oliver Giroud joins the Gunners along with Lucas Podolski and the addition of Santi Cazorla has really strengthened the teams chances of competing for the Premier League title this year. Of course the big question still hanging over the club is whether club captain and star player Robin Van Persie will still be playing for Arsenal come next Saturday. Arsene Wenger has dipped into the transfer market and to me at least appears to have bought well. Both forward additions Giroud and Podolski will bring alot of attacking talent to the team and will at least replace some of the goals Van Persie brings if the dutchman does leave. Alot of Arsenal's youngsters were involved this year in both the Olympics and the European Championships and there may be some fatigue to play a part in the teams preparation for the Premier League kick off. Mikael Arteta, Oxlade Chamberlain, Ramsey, Song and Walcott though will be a formidable midfield for any team to face and Jack Wilshire will also be coming into the side at some point in the coming weeks.

Sunderland have had a very quiet transfer window only one player has come in Carlos Cuellar from Aston Villa, Martin O'Neill ccoahced Cuellar at Villa and knows all about him. Sunderland though have lost Nicolas Bendtner who has gone back to Arsenal from his succesful loan spell last season. So up front the Black Cats will be reliant on Frazer Campbell Conor Wickham and Dong won Ji. The average age of the Sunderland strikers is 21, very young and not alot of experience there but there is lots of talent in this young sunderland side and they have experience at the back with Titus Bramble, John O'Shea, Wes Brown and Cuellar. 

Personally I think this game is a tough one to call. Arsenal on paper anyway look to have strengthened significantly since last season but their pre season thus far has not been all that impressive. Robin Van Persie still hasnt committed to the club going forward and he really is a vital cog for the Gunners. As of now though Van Persie is still and Arsenal player and I think Arsenal as a whole will be too strong for Sunderland. Take Arsenal -1 on the handicap as the Gunners open up their new season with a comfortable win.