Sunderland
Arsenal
By Richard Clarke
Arsène Wenger has gone on record saying that he'd like to ban summers after trophyless seasons and begin the next campaign straight away.
Such calendar changes are even beyond the power of the Arsenal manager but, that said, he will start his preparations for 2008/09 at Sunderland on Sunday.
The Frenchman takes his side to the Stadium of Light with only pride and an 83-point target to play for. Unfortunately the game will be at the bottom the Premier League billing that day given Manchester United and Chelsea are neck and neck in the title race.
So Wenger will take the opportunity to bring in a couple of young Englishmen who are yet to make their League debuts for the Club. And apparently Kieran Gibbs and Mark Randall, both 18, are just the tip of the homegrown iceberg at Emirates Stadium.
"They will certainly be with the squad," said the manager. "But there are lot of English talents in the squad overall. We have Gibbs, Randall, the younger Hoyte, Jack Wilshere and Henri Lansbury, who might be included in the group next year.
"There is a core coming up but I cannot tell you now if all of them make it at Arsenal. But they’ll make it to be in the squad.
“Like everybody they fight to play. And if they are good enough they play, it’s as simple as that.
“I feel it’s a fantastic situation because there is guaranteed stability when you have English players coming through. It's a reproach I get a lot but if I can bring a few through I am very happy.”
It's true that Wenger has been continually criticised for failing to nurture English talent. His standard response is "I don't look at the passport when I look at the player".
"It’s about quality," he continued at Friday's press conference. "I feel that we have already produced many good players and many of them play in English clubs - Muamba, Sidwell, Harper, Larsson, Bentley. We have produced more than anybody else in England, but perhaps not enough for us.”
As for Gibbs and Randall, they have both just returned from loan spells at Championship sides. The former made seven appearances on the wing for Norwich while the latter had 10 games, but only two starts, with Burnley.
"For us it’s part of the education," said Wenger. "They have had a period of life in a team, had responsibilities, been under pressure and shown how well they can cope in the Championship. They now realise that life is not as easy as it looks in the football world. And they need now to show they are good enough for Arsenal."
Sunderland had one aim this season - to stay up - and they achieved it with something to spare. They are currently 15th, seven points off the drop zone. A win on Sunday could see them finish as high as 13th. For Wenger that would be solid return for their promising manager, Roy Keane.
"I feel he has the potential to manage a top club," said the Frenchman. "Only time will tell. He has the desire and started his career well so why not?"
And as for Arsenal mounting a successful title bid in what they are calling the opening game of the 'new' season?
Once again, why not?.