Preview: Arsenal vs Sunderland – prediction, team news, lineups

Before donning pure red Liverpool scarves, Arsenal supporters will sport their traditional red and white to cheer on their team against Sunderland in Saturday’s Premier League clash.

The Gunners return to a bouncing Emirates, buoyed by the thought of their looming EFL Cup final, while the Black Cats still dream of the European dream.

Match Preview

Winless in three Premier League matches, failing to score in two of them and trailing Kairat just 3-2 in their top-versus-bottom Champions League battle, some thought the stage was set for Arsenal to slip up once again in their clash with a revitalized Leeds United side last weekend.

However, Mikel Arteta’s men defied the doubters with a refreshingly ruthless performance, demolish the Whites 4-0 at Elland Road despite losing emergency striker Mikel Merino and Hale End star Bukayo Saka to injury before kick-off.

Gameweek 24 certainly belonged to the Gunners, who then saw Aston Villa suffer a surprise defeat at home to Brentford and Tottenham Hotspur produce a phenomenal fightback to hold off Manchester City, leaving them six points clear at the top of the table. Premier League table.

An unprecedented quadruple is also still alive for Arsenal, who returned to their disappointing ways – in an entertainment sense – against Chelsea in the second leg of their EFL Cup semi-final, but one last gasp from Kai Havertz was enough for a 1-0 victory and a ticket to Wembley.

The Gunners now go in search of a fourth consecutive victory in all competitions, as well as a new Premier League record; They are unbeaten in 43 consecutive top-flight home matches against newly promoted clubs, the longest streak in the competition since 1992 alongside Chelsea, from 2001 to 2015.

© Imago / Sportimage

Gunners supporters will next switch allegiances on Sunday, when Liverpool can further put a damper on Man City’s title aspirations, but Sunderland supporters could pledge their loyalty to the men in sky blue given the reigning champions remain within touching distance.

After a forgettable festive period – during which they went five matches without a win from December 20 to January 7 – the Black Cats have now triumphed in three of their last four matches in all competitions, most recently giving Burnley a footballing lesson.

Habib Diarra, Chemsdine Talbi and an own goal from Axel Tuanzebe combined for a comfortable 3-0 victory for Régis Le Bris’ men, who enter week 25 in a comfortable eighth place in the table, just three points behind Liverpool in sixth and five adrift of the top four.

However, Premier League away days have been the bane of the Black Cats in recent months as they have failed to win any of their last seven top-flight matches on the road, since toppling Arsenal’s London rivals Chelsea 2-1 in October.

A success for Sunderland on Saturday would therefore see the Black Cats become the first promoted Premier League team to beat the Gunners and Blues in the same campaign, and Le Bris’ men memorably held Arteta’s side to a draw. draw 2-2 at home in November, but it is not since 1983 that the visitors have won against the championship leaders.

Arsenal form in the Premier League:

Arsenal form (all competitions):

Sunderland Premier League form:

Sunderland form (all competitions):

Team News

© Imago / Paul Marriott

The treatment room is slowly filling up again for Arsenal, who could be without merino (foot) for the rest of the season, while the hip problem suffered by Saka during the warm-up at Elland Road is also unlikely to subside in time for the weekend.

Martin Odegaard was another high-profile absentee in the cup win over Chelsea, but Arteta is hoping his captain will recover from that ‘problem’ in time for Saturday, while Max Dowman (ankle) is also unlikely to be sidelined for much longer.

A few changes will be expected for the hosts, namely the return of Havertz to the XI after his midweek exploits, and the German could even join Gabriel Jesus if Viktor Gyokeres and Eberechi Eze are demoted.

From current Arsenal to former Arsenal, villain-turned-hero Granit Xhaka will not return to the Emirates pitch this weekend as the Sunderland skipper is nursing an ankle injury and could be out for the rest of the month.

Xhaka is just one of the team’s three away fitness concerns, a list which also includes Bertrand Traore – who is expected to return soon from a knee problem – and January signing Jocelin Ta Bi (ankle).

However, Le Bris does not need to alter the XI that beat Burnley, meaning departures for Arsenal academy product Dan Ballard and striker Brian Brobbey, both of whom could become the first Sunderland player(s) in 72 years to score home and away against the Gunners in a single Championship season.

Omar Alderete limped off during the closing stages against Burnley, but there are no serious concerns over his availability.

Possible Arsenal starting lineup:

Raya; White, Saliba, Gabriel, Calafiori; Havertz, Zubimendi, Riz; Madueke, Jesus, Trossard

Possible Sunderland starting line-up:

Roofs; Hume, Mukiele, Ballard, Alderete, Reinildo; The Fairy, Diarra, Sadiki, Talbi; Brobbé

We say: Arsenal 2-0 Sunderland

Arsenal had no need to overexert themselves on the attacking front in midweek, and after easily tearing through a five-man Leeds wall, Arteta’s men should have no real problems inflicting the same treatment on Sunderland.

The Black Cats’ exploits this season have been commendable, but their problems on the road cannot be overlooked, and they have also given up the third-most shots in the Premier League this season – although they have only conceded 26 goals.

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