Sunderland are still looking for their first win in the Premier League this season having lost seven of their nine league matches this season.
Arsenal’s run of six straight wins in the league game to an end last weekend after only managing a 0-0 draw against Middlesbrough.
Ominously, the last time these two played it finished 0-0 but Arsenal haven’t gone two league matches without a goal since February.
Team News
Sunderland – Sunderland were dumped out the League Cup on Wednesday after losing 1-0 to Southampton and frustrations boiled over as David Moyes was sent to the stands. Naija and Bet
The Black Cats are still set to be without Sebastian Larsson, Fabio Borini, Jan Kirchhoff, Vito Mannone, Adnan Januzaj, Jason Denayer and Lee Cattermole this weekend.
The likes of Jermain Defoe, John O’Shea and Javier Manquillo should be recalled to the starting XI after being rested in midweek
Arsenal – Granit Xhaka serves the third of his three-match suspension here and will miss out against Sunderland on Saturday.
Santi Cazorla is nursing a heel problem that has kept him out of Arsenal’s last two matches and he remains a doubt here.
Chuba Akpom has been ruled out until 2017, while Per Mertesacker and Danny Welbeck are still sidelined. Lucas Perez has been ruled out for six weeks with ankle ligament damage sustained in their 2-0 win over Reading in the League Cup on Tuesday.
Carl Jenkinson made his first senior appearance since January in the midweek win, but Aaron Ramsey is still not fit enough to feature.
Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain scored both of Arsenal’s goals in the League Cup and is pushing for a start on Saturday. Theo Walcott has a hamstring problem and may not feature this weekend.
Match Facts
Sunderland have seen under 2.5 goals in 8 of their last 10 home matches against Arsenal in all competitions.
Sunderland have lost 5 of their last 6 matches in Premier League.
Arsenal have won their last 3 away Premier League matches.
Arsenal are undefeated in their last 9 matches against Sunderland in all competitions.
There have been under 2.5 goals scored in Sunderland‘s last 3 games (Premier League).