It’s Gunner be tough says Sunderland manager Martin O’Neill
FOCUSED ... Sunderland boss Martin O'Neill.
MARTIN O’Neill admits Arsenal’s chances of securing victory at the Stadium of Light tomorrow have improved by Sunderland’s exertions at Middlesbrough.
Sunderland are yet to suffer defeat on Wearside during O’Neill’s tenure, and would have fancied their chances of continuing a three-game winning streak against an Arsenal side who haven’t won away from home since December.
But while the Gunners will be fresh after a seven-day break from competitive action, Sunderland played 30 minutes of extra-time during a gruelling Tees-Wear derby in midweek.
With Arsenal in confident mood anyway after thrashing Blackburn Rovers 7-1 last weekend, O’Neill admits he is wary of Sunderland’s chances tomorrow.
O’Neill said: “It will be a major advantage to Arsenal.
“Arsenal are usually so involved in competitions at this time of the year that they would be the ones you’d usually think would be playing a midweek game.
“They’ve had the midweek off, and I’m sure they’ll be buzzing after the big victory they had last weekend.
“Having said that, we’ll try to get ourselves together and prepare as best as we can for tomorrow.”
It is perilous to underestimate Sunderland at present though with the Black Cats enjoying a run of seven wins from their last nine games.
Martin O’Neill Ready To Unleash Fraizer-sharp Campbell
One of the key factors in Sunderland’s purple patch has been their ability to adapt to different opposition – be it the physical approach of Stoke, Swansea’s possession football or the desperate defending of sides in the relegation dogfight.
O’Neill added: “We’re still learning ourselves and it was a difficult game at Stoke, when the conditions and opposition were difficult. But eventually we were able to cope OK.
“Swansea was different again when we had less possession with the ball, which we’ll try to improve ourselves over the course of the time.
“Then there was Blackburn Rovers where we couldn’t break them down until very late despite having 85 per cent of the ball.
“Each game there’s been some sort of positive element to it.
“If the players are able to come through these and keep winning, then the handicaps don’t seem as big as they have done before.”
Email to a friend
Print this page- Newcastle United weigh up bids for defensive duo
- Transfer Rumours update May 22: Sunderland, Newcastle United, Liverpool, West Ham United, Manchester City, Arsenal, Tottenham and QPR.
- Transfer Rumours May 22: Newcastle United, Sunderland, Tottenham, Arsenal, Manchester City, Chelsea, Barcelona, Wigan, QPR, West Ham and Blackpool
- Transfer Rumours May 12: Sunderland, Newcastle, Chelsea, West Ham, Liverpool, Blackpool, Reading, Tottenham, West Brom
- Transfer Rumours May 23: Newcastle United, Sunderland, Arsenal, Manchester United, Everton, Blackburn, Tottenham and Wolves.
Looking for...
Featured advertisers
Jobs
Search for a job
Motors
Search for a car
Property
Search for a house
Weather for Jarrow
Wednesday 23 May 2012
Today
Sunny
Temperature: 10 C to 20 C
Wind Speed: 12 mph
Wind direction: North east
Tomorrow
Sunny spells
Temperature: 10 C to 19 C
Wind Speed: 10 mph
Wind direction: North east
Your view
Please sign in to be able to comment on this story.