Sunderland

In 1985, Arsenal suffered one of their worst defeats, losing 1-0 in the FA cup 4th round, to Third Division York City. Playing as a center-back that day for York City was the current Sunderland manager Ricky Sbragia.

Ricky Sbragia was a journeyman footballer, having played the majority of his career in the lower leagues of Scotland and England. He won a Fourth Division championship medal in 1984.

His coaching career, however, is more impressive. He started out as the youth team coach of York City, reaching the FA Youth cup quarter-finals in 1993. A year later he became the youth team coach at Sunderland, eventually being promoted to reserve team manager. In 2002, he took the reserve team job at Manchester United winning a title in the process. In 2005, he took the first team coaching job at Bolton under Sam Allardyce before rejoining Sunderland as Roy Keane's number two in 2007.

Born in Scotland with Italian heritage, Sbragia has asked for his Sunderland players to adopt a positive approach to Saturday's game away to Arsenal.

But being positive in Sbragia's mind means:

"We (Sunderland) don't get drawn into playing just football...We can't go out there and let them continue playing. We've got to stop them and have a plan of our own."

His last line makes no sense because Sbragia has already outlined his plan - to try and take a point by putting all eleven Sunderland players behind the ball. Every Sunderland man playing as a defender. This means defending on the edge of the 18 yard box just like they did at Old Trafford when they lost 1-0 to a last minute Vidic goal.

Sbragia's plan is to play negative football.

Sunderland have not played for nearly two weeks. Their last game was a 2-0 victory at home against a 10 man Stoke City. That game was dull with Sunderland scoring twice in the last 15 minutes.

Sunderland's record under Sbragia is: won 5, lost 4 and drawn 4. However, Sunderland have only won one away game under Sbragia. That was a 4-1 drubbing of Hull City just before Christmas.

Sunderland will not repeat that scoreline on Saturday.

But Sbragia will be hoping to emulate his friends and ex-employers - Fergie and Fat Sam - on Saturday by stopping Arsenal from playing. Remember, Arsenal have no plan B.

Sbragia, plans to frustrate Arsenal by concentrating on defense. Play physically, imposing players, like Kenwyne Jones and Anton Ferdinand. Don't give Arsenal time on the ball. Play the game in their half. The first 20 minutes will be crucial. If Arsenal don't score during that period then Sunderland will gain the upper hand. This will allow Sunderland to go for Arsenal's weaknesses - perceived as set pieces and high balls into their penalty box.

This is not the way the beautiful game should be played, yet Sbragia is seen as one of the best football coaches in Britain.

I've never liked Sunderland. In the 1990's under Peter Reid, they played a physical, long-ball game. Defenders would hit the ball long into the air for the tall Irish striker (and current chairman of Sunderland) Niall Quinn, while workmanlike midfielders such Kevin Ball would scrap to win the ball back. I remember being at The Stadium of Light on the first game of the 2000/01 season. It was mid August, yet Sunderland was windy and cold. Arsenal had Vieira sent off that day, after he was kicked to pieces by the Sunderland midfield. Ray Parlour missed two open goals and at the death Niall Quinn scored from a header. I left the game angry and have not been back to Sunderland since.

The game at Highbury that season didn't fare much better. We were two up and coasting. Then the ref decided to give Sunderland a penalty for no apparent reason and with minutes to go Kevin Phillips scored the equalizer and gave Sunderland a undeserved point. Phillips celebrated by gesturing at the Arsenal faithful and I've hated him ever since.

That last minute cup defeat to York in January, 1985, is, however, up there with a woman that you love leaving you for another man. Wrexham in 1991 is still number one.

Keith Houchen (who later scored the winner in the 1987 FA cup final for Coventry against Spurs) scored from the spot, after Steve Williams committed a foul in the penalty area. Afterwards, the media went nuts. I tried to go into hibernation.

That cup upset in 1985 was Sbragia's only victory against Arsenal. It was a massive low point in my career as a Gooner. I was depressed for a long time.

Beating Sunderland on Saturday would be a good way of afflicting some pay-back on Sbragia - a man who is an adherent of Sam Allardyce's style of tactics and sports science - otherwise known as anti-football. The style that mediocre teams like Sunderland have been playing for decades.