Sunderland V Arsenal: Premier League – Live

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Sunderland are successful If It Ain’t Broke mode. They sanction nan aforesaid XI that started nan 2-1 triumph astatine Chelsea and nan 1-1 tie pinch Everton.

Arsenal make 3 changes aft their 3-0 triumph astatine Slavia Prague. Eberechi Eze, Martín Zubimendi and Riccardo Calafiori measurement up; Ethan Nwaneri, Christian Nørgaard and Piero Hincapié beryllium down.

The teams

Sunderland: Roefs, Hume, Mukiele, Ballard, Geertruida, Mandava, Traore, Xhaka, Sadiki, Le Fee, Isidor.
Subs: Patterson, Neil, Talbi, Brobbey, Rigg, Mayenda, O’Nien, Adingra, Masuaku.

Arsenal: Raya, Timber, Saliba, Gabriel, Calafiori, Eze, Zubimendi, Rice, Saka, Merino, Trossard.
Subs: Arrizabalaga, Mosquera, White, Hincapie, Norgaard, Nwaneri, Lewis-Skelly, Dowman, Harriman-Annous.

Referee: Craig Pawson.
VAR: James Bell.

Preamble

Sunderland do not person a bully grounds against Arsenal. The past clip these clubs met, 4 years ago, Arsenal won 5-1 successful nan League Cup, though nan Black Cats were a League One outfit astatine nan time. The past clip they met successful nan Premier League, successful 2016-17, Arsenal won 2-0 astatine location and 4-1 astatine nan Stadium of Light. Arsenal are connected a 15-game unbeaten streak against Sunderland successful nan League that stretches backmost to 2009, while nan past clip they mislaid immoderate crippled against them was successful nan FA Cup successful 2012. History is not connected Sunderland’s broadside this evening.†

The caller shape book doesn’t thief them either, though that’s only because Arsenal correct now are connected nan hottest streak successful nan country, successful Europe, successful nan world. The Premier League leaders are presently connected a tally of 10 consecutive wins successful each competitions, and 8 consecutive cleanable sheets. Who tin compete pinch numbers for illustration that?! In fact, Sunderland’s ain caller shape is highly impressive: 5 Premier League wins already, and unbeaten astatine home, commendable business for a freshly promoted team. And hey, someone has to people against Arsenal astatine immoderate point, right? Eh?

So location is dream for Sunderland … and we’ve not moreover priced successful nan beingness successful their squad of erstwhile Arsenal skipper Granit Xhaka, who is simply a header waiting to hap tonight, 1 measurement aliases another. You cognize really shot goes sometimes. Arsenal are basking favourites, but Sunderland are improbable to spell down without a fight. Kick-off is astatine 5.30pm GMT. It’s on!

†: To beryllium fair, Sunderland did hit Arsenal successful nan semi-finals of nan FA Cup successful 1973, en way to their top triumph successful nan modern era. So location is that. But let’s not unreality nan issue.