After yet another debacle away at the hands of Bayern Munich, the social has media has taken every chance imaginable to take a dig at Arsenal concerning how the fifth-tier side could actually get the better of the North-London bottlers. The Gunners are clearly the massive favourites to win this fixture and unfortunately for them, a win here won’t even count as a comeback after their Champions League defeat; while a defeat might further steep them deep into the muddle.
This will be the first competitive game between the sides in history. However, it would be unfair to say that Arsenal are completely unacquainted with the Sutton side as they did play away to Sutton in a pre-season friendly in July 2013, winning 4-3. Ainsley Maitland-Niles and Alex Iwobi featured for the visitors.
Team News
Sutton United
Manager Paul Doswell has already admitted that Arsenal’s first team would prove to be too much for the team and they can fancy their chances only if Arsene Wenger decides to play most of his Under 23’s. However, we expect the boss to keep a similar side that unsettled Leeds United in the last round.
There will undoubtedly be some very big names missing from the fixture. Ben Jefford, Jack Jebb and Craig Dundas are all cup-tied and ineligible for Monday’s game. However, former Arsenal midfielder Craig Eastmond is set to return for the game after completing a three-game ban.
Arsenal
Skipper and centre-half Laurent Koscielny is the most likely to miss the match after he pulled a hamstring in their humiliating defeat away at Munich.
Apart from that, Wenger doesn’t have any big injuries to deal with and we expect him to play a mixed side blended with experience and youth. We expect Ainsley Maitland-Niles and Jeff Reine-Adelaide to start in the fixture. They both impressed in the last round against Southampton in the midfield and deserve a nod.
Danny Welbeck, Lucas Perez, and Theo Walcott are all in contention for a start and Wenger will have a hard time selecting all of them in the same lineup.
Predicted Line-ups
Sutton United (4-5-1)- Worner; Amankwaah, Downer, Collins, Spence; Eastmond, Bailey, May, Deacon, Gomis; Biamou
Arsenal (4-2-3-1)- Ospina; Gabriel, Holding, Mustafi, Gibbs; Elneny, Maitland-Niles; Reine-Adelaide, Walcott, Perez; Giroud
Key Players
Sutton United
Skipper Jamie Collins could be an important player for Sutton against Arsenal and Biamou will also have the huge task of drawing first blood in this massive fixture for them.
Arsenal
Lucas Perez is expected to get a nod this time and could be a threat for Sutton United. Olivier Giroud’s omission from Arsenal’s starting line-up had created a storm as the Frenchman is the only Arsenal player to put four goals past Bayern’s Neuer. He will be looking to get over the frustration.
Odds
Sutton United @ 17/1
Draw @ 13/2
Arsenal @ 2/15
