AuthorBoth Outcasts It’s the one game that most football fans have been looking forward to this week, with Non-League Sutton United taking on Premier League Arsenal in the FA Cup. Although the FA Cup has lost part of its gloss over the past few years these are the matches that it’s known for. If you are a neutral it is likely that you will be supporting the underdog in this encounter. At the time of writing there are 105 places separating Arsenal from Sutton in the English Pyramid, this really is David versus Goliath stuff. However, giant killings do happen, Lincoln just proved it. Most of us would expect Arsenal to comfortably win this game but if Sutton United are to beat them tonight, how can they do it? Well let’s start with Suttons United home ground. Gander Green Lane is, to put it simply, a small ground. It has a capacity of 5,013 and only 765 of that is seated, the rest is all standing and terraces. The fans will be right on top of the pitch and they will very much be able to make themselves heard. While it seems ludicrous to think that the Arsenal players would be put off when they play in the huge stadiums and high pressure games of the EPL and UCL, the fact that the fans will be very close to the action may well unsettle them.
While Arsenal may find the local support boisterous, their own fans will have to make a tremendous amount of noise to be heard; only 750 away tickets were available for the Arsenal traveling support. They will likely be drowned out by the locals. A hostile atmosphere should be expected. It is easy to downplay the psychological side of the game sometimes but for all the talk of mental strength that the Arsenal players and Wenger claims to have they do go missing in pressure situations. The away dressing rooms are not to the same standard that a team of millionaires are usually used to as well, a bit of a culture shock combined with the atmosphere may be enough to put the wind up some players. Additionally, the mauling that Arsenal suffered earlier this week will very much be still fresh in a number of player’s minds. Added pressure to perform can lead to plenty of mistakes which Sutton can try to capitalise on. The pitch is also an artificial pitch, while you make think a slick surface may help Arsenals playing style, artificial pitches are known to be faster and have more bounce. Arsenal will have to adjust to this quickly while Sutton play on it week in week out. That little bit of knowledge could make a difference for them. From a technical stand point Arsenal are by far and away the better side, they are the 4th best team in the country right now after all. Sutton will have to compete for every ball and tackle like daemons as they are likely not to have the lion’s share of possession. Lincoln showed the way on the weekend and got into the Burnley players heads, Joey Barton in particular. If they can hassle and harass and get into the Arsenal players it will really help. Staying tight and compact in defence and midfield will be the aim but sitting back will just play into Arsenals game plan. If they allow Arsenal any time on the ball they will easily play through them and that will end in a whitewash. Sutton try to play a passing game as well and the pitch certainly lends itself to that, no muddy goal areas or cut up in places on this pitch for the non-league team to bog Arsenal down in. But that will suit Sutton, fighting for the ball and breaking quickly on counter attack could be a tactic, football nowadays shows that you don’t need all the possession to win. Leicester won the EPL doing that last season against the odds too. Sutton will have set pieces throughout the match and they will be key. Corners and free kicks into the box can cause panic and in James Collins they have a big centre back with goal scoring form. Collins is the top scorer for Sutton this season with 7x goals. Expect balls into the box in dead ball situations. Also quick throw ins could also be a handy weapon. Typically throw ins are seen as a chance for a breather but both Spurs and Manchester City created goal scoring opportunities with such tactics. Coupled with long throws into the box, it really could hurt Arsenal. If they can stay in the game until half time the belief could see them through. Knowing they have another Non-League team waiting for them in the next round could be that little added incentive too; a semi-final berth is a strong motivational tool. The likelihood is that Arsenal will win this at a canter and we expect this to be the case but you never know with the FA Cup. If Sutton United does win then it might just be the greatest upset in the competitions history. |
AuthorsJust Some Fans Writing About Football. Archives
June 2018
Categories
All
|