Sports
MATCH PREVIEW – Arsenal vs Sunderland AFC: Black Cats travel to Emirates for festive Carabao Cup tie
Sunderland face a challenging trip to the Emirates on Tuesday evening to face an in-form Arsenal side with a place in the Carabao Cup semi-finals up for grabs.
The Black Cats head into the tie as underdogs but are in decent form and unbeaten in their last four games, a run that includes three wins and a draw.
Arsenal are in good form themselves and thrashed Leeds 4-1 last time out, with Gabriel Martinelli grabbing himself a brace. In their last game at the Emirates, the Gunners were victorious over West Ham in a fiery London derby.
Following a goalless draw at Championship side QPR, the Black Cats came out winners after the spot-kick lottery – earning them a quarter-final draw at Arsenal, after previous wins over Port Vale, Blackpool and Wigan.
The home side have scored 11 goals so far in the Carabao Cup, without reply and find themselves in the quarter-finals after their cruising 2-0 victory of Marcelo Bielsa’s Leeds. The North London club also eased through their opening two ties in the competition, comfortably beating both West Brom and Wimbledon without conceding a goal.
Sunderland’s quest for promotion to the Championship under Lee Johnson has progressed well, and they currently sit third in League One after a disappointing 1-1 draw away at Ipswich on Saturday. Nathan Broadhead’s second-half equaliser was his fifth of the season as the on-loan Everton striker scored for second game running.
Despite the huge task to upset the odds in North-London, Sunderland are not required to play League One football again until December 27, so may go all guns blazing at the Emirates before a brief Christmas break – with nothing to lose.
Johnson’s side have played a more direct style of play in recent weeks and the move to a more attacking approach might be adopted once again.
However, the visitors do have injury concerns and the manager may face a tricky juggling act when weighing up the important of the Carabao Cup in relation to the need to gain promotion back to the Championship. Having been stuck in the third tier for three years running fans may be dubious as to how strong the team is come Tuesday evening.
For Arsenal, the tie provides a perfect opportunity to progress to the semi-finals and might represent their best chance of winning silverware this season – it would be their second trophy win under Arteta following their FA cup delight back in 2020 after defeating Chelsea 2-1 in the final.
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- The two sides have clashed on 153 occasions in the past and Arsenal have a superior record with 62 wins to their name. Sunderland were victorious on 50 occasions while 41 matches in the past have ended in a share of the spoils.
- This will be their first meeting since a Premier League clash in May 2017 that saw Alexis Sanchez’s brace condemn the Black Cats to a 2-0 defeat en-route to getting relegated.
POTENTIAL LINE-UPs
SAFC: Arsenal:
Pre-match thoughts?
Can Sunderland pull off a festive surprise? How seriously will Johnson take the fixture? Should the game go ahead given rise in Covid cases?
Join in the conversation and have your say…
Newcastle United boss wants to extend the contracts of two players before losing them.
Eddie Howe has expressed in a recent fan Q&A his intentions to keep two out of contract players this summer, Loris Karius and Paul Dummett, according to the Athletic’s Chris Waugh, with both players current contracts set to end this summer.
6 players are currently set to become out of contract come June 1st, Loris Karius, Paul Dummet, Mark Gillespie, Matt Ritchie, Matty Longstaff and Ciaran Clark. However, it is only Karius and Dummett that appear to be safe of getting the chop.
Loris Karius has spent this season as Newcastle United’s third choice keeper, with only one appearance coming in the 2-0 defeat to Manchester United in the Carabao Cup Final. Despite the loss, Karius did little wrong and contributed some wonderful saves late on in that game.
Paul Dummett has had the same treatment, with only one appearance coming his way, a Carabao Cup tie in the second round against Tranmere Rovers back in August. The 31-year-old Welshman is an experienced head and will no doubt have great respect within the dressing room having signed for the club back in 2012 making 205 appearances in that time.
Both players can expect new contracts from Eddie Howe as he has made it known that he wants them both to remain at the club next season.
Who would you want to remain at the club from the current out of contract list – let us know on our social media and follow us for latest North East Updates –https://linktr.ee/northeastupdates
10 players Eddie Howe could look towards with contracts expiring at the end of this season.
The free agent’s market is the absolute cheat code for clubs across the board, being able to avoid the rising transfer fees and getting players through the door through verbal agreements makes life much easier for clubs during the transfer window.
We have compiled a list of 10 free transfers NUFC could sign this summer from Europe’s top five leagues giving them a rating of the potential of them signing and the impact they would have.
- Raphael Guerreiro (Borussia Dortmund)
The 29-year-old full back has his contract expiring this summer and with NUFC already being hinted at as his potential new club, this one is worth keeping an eye on over the next few months. He would slot straight in at left-back to have healthy competition for fan favourite Dan Burn and add a burst of class and pace to that left hand side. The Portugal international already has an impressive CV and would be looking to show that off to the St. James faithful.
Potential – A
Impact – A
- Yerry Mina (Everton)
With Everton potentially facing the drop this season, a jump from Merseyside to Newcastle could suit the centre back to a T. The 28-year-old Columbian international would add to NUFC’s already in form back line and bring some South American heat as they look to progress further next season. Mina possesses dominance, aggression, and a great ariel threat and would be a top addition to the magpies this summer.
Potential – B
Impact – A
- Jonathan Bamba (Lille)
An explosive winger who made his name known as Lille snatched the league title in 2021 in France, the 26-year-old is still yet to receive a contract extension from the club and could be looking elsewhere in the summer. Adding pace, flair, and drive to an already exciting front three for NUFC could be what fans need going into next season.
Potential – C
Impact – A
- Youri Tielemans (Leicester City)
Reportedly being close to leaving in the summer window of 2022, Youri Tielemans would be a fine addition to NUFC’s midfield being able to operate in a slightly deeper role to allow Bruno to push further up the field and do what he does best. The 25-year-old has his contract expiring this summer and with him and James Maddison already being linked to the club, this transfer seems to make so much more sense and would add heaps of quality to the centre of the field.
Potential – B
Impact – A
- Wilfried Zaha (Crystal Palace)
Drive, power, and flair are the 3 best words to describe Crystal Palace star man Wilfried Zaha. The 30-year-old could be looking to depart his beloved club in the hope for European football next season and NUFC could be just the place for him. Being able to operate either on the left or down the middle, Zaha would thrive under Eddie Howe and be a fantastic addition to the front line.
Potential – B
Impact – A
A Sunderland football player on loan to Lincoln FC has had his loan terminated after he was charged with rape.
Jack Diamond, 23, had been arrested after a sexual assault in Washington, Tyne and Wear, last year.
Northumbria Police launched an investigation, but have now charged him with one count of rape and one count of sexual assault.
Lincoln City FC said the player’s loan contract had been terminated “with immediate effect”.
His home club, Sunderland AFC, said he had been suspended pending the outcome of legal proceedings.
In a statement, it said: “Sunderland AFC has been notified that criminal charges have been brought against Jack Diamond by the Crown Prosecution Service.”
“As this matter is subject to a legal process, the club will not be making any further statement at this time”.
The incident is alleged to have happened in May last year.
Mr Diamond, of Fatfield, also Washington, is due to appear before South Tyneside Magistrates’ Court in May.
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