Sport - Football

Wenger seeks redemption in Sunderland

LONDON: Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger needs a victory over Sunderland on Saturday to get over last week’s shock home defeat to Hull.

The Gunners rolled over FC Porto 4-0 in a Champions League group stage match on Tuesday night.

But Wenger said the real test will be how the team responds in the Premier League.

The Frenchman said the 2-1 Hull loss made him physically sick. He heavily criticised the team’s attitude after the defeat, saying his players lacked commitment. Wenger, under fire for not strengthening the squad during the summer transfer window, has also acknowledged a weakness in defending corners.

Arsenal has conceded three goals this year from set pieces and the club nearly let in another during the FC Porto match.

The Hull defeat was Arsenal’s second loss to weaker opposition this season. Fulham beat the Gunners 1-0 on Aug. 23.

But Wenger doesn’t believe his team should be counted out of the league title chase.

Before the loss, Arsenal topped the standings and would have remained there if the team had beaten Hull. Arsenal is now in the fourth place after six games with 12 points, just behind Aston Villa, which plays Chelsea on Sunday.

Wenger hopes to have midfielder Tomas Rosicky back before the end of the year.

The Czech Republic international, who turns 28 on Saturday, still has not fully recovered from surgery on his left knee on May 13. The injury happened in January and he has not played since.

The fixtures: EPL: On Saturday: Sunderland v Arsenal; West Bromwich Albion v Fulham; Wigan Athletic v Middlesbrough; Blackburn Rovers v Manchester United.

On Sunday: West Ham United v Bolton Wanderers; Chelsea v Aston Villa; Manchester City v Liverpool; Portsmouth v Stoke City; Tottenham Hotspur v Hull City; Everton v Newcastle United.

Primera Liga: On Saturday: Villarreal v Real Betis; Barcelona v Atletico Madrid. . — AP

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