Preview: Julio excited for season ahead

Julio Arca has shared his delight following Middlesbrough’s return to the Premier League and believes Sunderland have a great chance of a strong campaign under Sam Allardyce’s stewardship.

Now plying his trade in the lower leagues, Arca remains a local star on both Wearside and Teesside having lived in the area for 16 years.

Arca spent six seasons at Sunderland where he made 145 league appearances before moving to the Riverside where he featured 131 times.

In that time, the Argentine executed a sublime free-kick at the Riverside to seal victory for Sunderland before coming back to haunt the Black Cats two-years later by netting for Boro against the Lads.

Speaking to safc.com Arca confessed his delight to see Boro back in the top-flight and is already excited ahead of Sunderland’s first home match which will see the Lads play host to their Teesside rivals.

“It is good to see Middlesbrough come back to the Premier League after so many years, it was a great achievement and everyone loves derbies,” he said. “It will be a packed house, a very entertaining day so let’s see what happens but definitely it is great to see Sunderland and Middlesbrough in the Premier League again.

“(When I scored at Boro) it wasn’t a great season for Sunderland because we got relegated and we didn’t have the quality to stay in the Premier League but that was probably one of the best games we played and to score in it was great.”

With a trip to Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City up first for the Lads, Allardyce faces a challenging start to the new campaign as Sunderland face three teams who finished in the top half last term.

And while home fixtures against Boro and Everton are sandwiched in there also, Arca is happy with how the fixtures lie and he believes Big Sam has the ability to steer Sunderland up the league.

“It’s is probably the best time to play them when you think about it, Man City away first game, new players they probably don’t know each other too much.

“They will have a great squad but I believe Sunderland finished well last season so I’m sure they are going to get new players in and they’re going to become stronger.

“I’m sure Allardyce is going to hopefully put the team in a comfortable position in the Premier League.”