Scout Notes – Gameweek 37 – Wednesday

Arsenal fail to find the net at home to Sunderland as their double Gameweek 37 ends in bitter disappointment. A third successive shut-out helps the Black Cats defence prosper and seal their top-flight survival for another season.

Arsenal’s misfiring attack repelled by Black Cats

Arsene Wenger elected to reshuffle his starting XI for the first match in seven matches – drafting in Jack Wilshere and Kieran Gibbs – as the Gunners were held to a 0-0 stalemate by a determined Sunderland outfit. The North London club failed to net in three consecutive home league ties for the first time in six years, much to the disappointment of those mangers who’d backed their plethora of attacking talent to flourish in the double. Arsenal’s midfield starters conspired to deliver zero attacking returns across the board after an own goal from United’s Tyler Blackett earned them a 1-1 draw at Old Trafford on Sunday.

Olivier Giroud once again flattered to deceive as the spearhead of the Gunners’ attack, extending his goalless streak to six matches. Despite Arsenal’s dominance of possession (75%) and chances (28 to Sunderland’s seven), the French marksman only mustered three attempts at goal (one on target) – one fewer than Black Cats’ second-half substitute Steven Fletcher.

On a positive note, investors in Arsenal’s back line profited from their first clean sheet in four matches, with bonus points going the way of Laurent Koscielny (three), Hector Bellerin (two), Kieran Gibbs and Per Mertesacker (one apiece) for their exploits at the Emirates.

The threat of rotation in the Baggies clash weighs heavy after Wenger conceded that it’s “possible” he’ll rest players on the weekend after admitting his team look fatigued.

In light of Giroud’s downturn in form and Arsenal’s upcoming FA Cup Final against Aston Villa (30 May), Wenger could well be tempted to rest his premier frontman for West Brom’s visit. That being said – unless Wenger wishes to field Theo Walcott or Alexis Sanchez up top – there isn’t a natural stand-in within the Gunners’ squad, given that Danny Welbeck has yet to return to training as he recuperates from a knee injury. The likes of Walcott, Wilshere and Tomas Rosicky will be pushing for starts against the Baggies after featuring last night and those who invested heavily in Arsenal for the double could now be at the mercy of Wenger’s weekend tinkering.

Steadfast Sunderland banish relegation fears

In much the same way Hull City’s rearguard defied the odds in their double Gameweek 34 and secured back-to-back cleans sheets, Sunderland’s resolute defence emerged as the real winners of Gameweek 37. The Dream Team was a sea of red and white, with all five of the Wearsiders’ defensive starters earning a spot.

Costel Pantillimon was in imperious form, rebuffing the Gunners’ relentless waves of attack and notching eight saves in the process. Meanwhile, Patrick van Aanholt – the most popular Sunderland recruit prior to their double with 45,000 net transfers – was perhaps unfortunate not to earn a single bonus point for his marauding display at left-back.

Since Dick Advocaat took the helm at the Stadium of Light, only Arsenal (five) and Burnley (six) have  conceded fewer goals than Sunderland in the league, which is testament to the Dutchman’s insistence on tactical discipline. Nonetheless, a fourth successive clean sheet for the Black Cats looks unlikely as they gear up for visit to Stamford Bridge on Sunday – a fixture in which Chelsea boss Jose Mourinho stated he intends to field his strongest starting line-up.