It’s another trip ‘darn sarf’ on Saturday to take on Premier League leaders Arsenal at the Emirates, and it’s a fixture I’m really looking forward to. It’s our first game there in just over four years and the circumstances could not be more different than the Carabao Cup quarter-final in December 2021.
Then, we walked into their impressive arena with a sense of hope, rather than expectation. After away trips to the likes of Rotherham and Cambridge, there was a sense of relief in being back in Premier League surroundings, even if it was only temporary.
Eddie Nketiah and Nicolas Pepe gave the hosts an early two-goal advantage before Nathan Broadhead grabbed a 31st-minute goal to put us back in contention, and Sunderland continued to press for the equaliser as half-time approached. But our optimism was somewhat dampened when an injury stopped Broadhead re-emerging for the second half, replaced by Denver Hume.
Within four minutes of the restart, Nketiah struck again to restore the hosts’ two-goal advantage. But the Black Cats continued to fight and Elliot Embleton was desperately unlucky as his thumping drive from outside the box cannoned off the post.
That prompted Arsenal to throw on a certain Granit Xhaka, and Nketiah grabbed his hat-trick just moments later. Roared on by a raucous away end, the Lads continued to press but couldn’t find the back of the net. Youngster Charlie Patino wrapped up the victory with a fifth goal in injury time.
The Arsenal faithful in the tier above the away supporters decided to celebrate by showering those of us below with a variety of objects to bring a sour end to what had been a competitive atmosphere.
Fast forward four years and the only survivor of the squad that night is Dennis Cirkin. The Academy products — Embleton, Hume, Lynden Gooch, Dan Neil, Anthony Patterson and Benji Kimpioka — have all now departed, along with the players who would go on to drag us out of League One — Broadhead, Ross Stewart, Bailey Wright, Corry Evans, Alex Pritchard and Callum Doyle.
LONDON, ENGLAND - DECEMBER 21: Ross Stewart of Sunderland looks dejected as he returns the ball to the spot after conceding their fourth goal during the Carabao Cup Quarter Final match between Arsenal and Sunderland at Emirates Stadium on December 21, 2021 in London, England. (Photo by Julian Finney/Getty Images)
LONDON, ENGLAND - DECEMBER 21: Ross Stewart of Sunderland looks dejected as he returns the ball to the spot after conceding their fourth goal during the Carabao Cup Quarter Final match between Arsenal and Sunderland at Emirates Stadium on December 21, 2021 in London, England. (Photo by Julian Finney/Getty Images)
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Saturday’s game is very much about the ‘Now’ — I have heard it described as being a free hit, a notion to which I don’t subscribe. Arsenal may be the League leaders but, after the 2-2 draw at the Stadium of Light in November, we have earned the right to go into the game with the expectation of getting a result.
Sadly, it appears that Granit Xhaka will not be fit to face his former side, but the Arsenal defence will not be relishing the prospect of wrestling with a fully match-fit and roaring Brian Brobbey, or coping with the driving runs of Habib Diarra, or trying to curb Enzo Le Fée’s craft and guile. Chemsdine Talbi, who has already found the net in away fixtures at Chelsea and Liverpool, appears to have returned from his limited game time at AFCON with a real point to prove. One of just two defences to have conceded fewer goals than us is certainly going to have their work cut out.
So I will be walking into the Emirates on Saturday, looking forward to watching a Sunderland side that has earned the right to properly compete at this level. For me, this isn’t a free hit against ‘the big boys’ — that speaks to a sense of inferiority, and one which is undeserved, given how this squad has performed.
This is where we deserve to be, and we are Sunderland!