Redknapp Tips Sunderland to Halt Arsenal's Charge
Former Tottenham manager Harry Redknapp has delivered a surprising forecast, predicting that Arsenal's remarkable winning streak will be snapped this Saturday when they travel to face Sunderland at the Stadium of Light. The Gunners, who currently sit at the Premier League summit, could extend their lead to a commanding nine points with a victory before the November international break.
An Unbeatable Force Meets an Immovable Object
Mikel Arteta's side have been in scintillating form this season, securing 14 victories from their 16 matches across all competitions. Their record shows only a narrow 1-0 defeat at Liverpool and a 1-1 draw with Manchester City as blemishes. Most impressively, since that draw with City, Arsenal have strung together 10 consecutive wins without conceding a single goal, leading many to label them as clear title favourites.
However, they face a Sunderland team that has defied all expectations following their promotion. The Black Cats have enjoyed a spectacular start to the campaign and currently reside in fourth place in the Premier League table. Their defensive solidity is second only to Arsenal's, and a recent comeback victory at Chelsea demonstrated their capability to compete with the division's elite.
Pundits Unite in Predicting Potential Upset
Redknapp is not alone in his suspicion that this fixture could be a banana skin for the league leaders. Paul Merson has also highlighted the potential for an upset, while Gary Neville has similarly predicted a share of the points. Speaking to BetVictor, Redknapp elaborated on his reasoning.
"Sunderland have been so impressive and seem to have so much belief and confidence right now," Redknapp stated. "I know they're big underdogs here but they'll be up for this and so too will their skipper. I'm sure Granit Xhaka will love to remind Arsenal how good he is. He's been one of the signings of the summer."
While acknowledging Arsenal's defensive impenetrability, Redknapp added, "Despite all that, I just have a sneaky suspicion that Sunderland get something from this game. Arsenal can't win every game this season and it would be typical of the Premier League if Sunderland caused a bit of an upset." His final prediction is a 1-1 draw.
The match is set to feature an emotional reunion with former Arsenal captain Granit Xhaka, who has been instrumental in Sunderland's success after his summer move from Bayer Leverkusen. Arteta himself paid tribute to the Swiss midfielder in his pre-match press conference, stating he "loved every minute that we spent together" and that Xhaka "made me a better coach."
