THE pressure will be off for Sunderland at the Emirates tomorrow – according to Lee Cattermole.
With just one win and a League Cup exit to their name this season, things have been fairly fraught for the Black Cats in 2010-11. The same can be said of Arsenal, where a growing section of the support has grown impatient with Arsène Wenger’s stubbornly tight-fisted approach in the transfer market.
For both clubs, then, playing at home brings a great deal of pressure. And the vastly different perception of the two clubs, as opposed to the reality that they are a point and a place apart in the table, means few will expect an away win.
“I think we can go there and not necessarily relax, but take the ball, be open and express ourselves,” said Black Cats captain Cattermole. “Sometimes that works better.
“We’re not at home so there shouldn’t really be any tension. We’re not playing say a Norwich or a QPR where all the fans will be expecting a performance – people will probably be expecting a 4-0 or a 5-0. We’re not thinking like that, but we can set up our strategy and make it up to Arsenal to come and beat us. Sometimes, that can work in your favour.”
Sunderland have a respectable or a terrible recent record against the Gunners, depending on your perspective.
Their last away league win came at Highbury in 1983, and they have picked up just two points at the Emirates. On the positive side, Arsenal have won one of their last six games against Sunderland.
Cattermole does not think having an Arsenal player on loan will be of much help to his side, particularly as Nicklas Bendtner is ineligible tomorrow.
“Maybe Nicklas will get to know the team the day before!” he joked. “There’s not many secrets in the Premier League now. You watch the games for weeks and weeks. Even with the team, we get it an hour before the game anyway and it’s more about the style of a team’s play than the players who are in it.
“We know how Arsenal will play, so we have to go there with our game plan and stick to it. If our main intention is to keep a clean sheet, it’ll give us a good chance to win the game.”
