On Sky
Could this be the game where Sunderland finally pull off a win this season?
The odds are not good, Sunderland brag just one win from their last 25 Premiership games against Arsenal and manager David Moyes has lost 14 games when he has come up against Arsene Wenger.
Even Jermain Defoe has only managed to score two goals against Arsenal in 21 games, the last coming in 2004.
But lets stay optimistic.
Vital Quotes:
David Moyes: “The finishing session I saw from him the other day was probably I have seen anyone finishing, he was that good.
“He showed incredible technique so I have no doubt it will come back.
“He had a couple of efforts at West Ham last week and another against Southampton the other night.
“So I have no problems with Defoe. He will score.”
Arsene Wenger: ‘David Moyes is an experienced manager who has 15 seasons in the Premier League so I think he will adapt to the strength of his team and organise it so that it defends very well and can catch us on the breaks and situations where they have set pieces.’
Sunderland Team News:
There will be late tests on Adnan Januzaj and Jason Denayer.
Both players are back in training, but the Manchester United loanee is the more likely to be ready.
Lee Cattermole is back running after suffering a back problem, but he remains a doubt.
Keeper Vito Mannone, midfielders Jan Kirchhoff and Sebastian Larsson and striker Fabio Borini remain unavailable.
Sunderland (from): Pickford, Mika, Love, Manquillo, Van Aanholt, Kone, Djilobodji, O’Shea, McNair, J. Robson, T. Robson, Rodwell, Pienaar, Gooch, Khazri, E. Robson, Honeyman, Defoe, Asoro, Watmore, Anichebe, Maja.
Player to watch: Jordan Pickford
Been a star so far this season, the goal difference column could have looked a lot worse without him.
Arsenal Team News:
Arsenal are set to be without Lucas Perez after he picked up an ankle injury. He looks like he will be missing for two months.
for Saturday’s Premier League trip to Sunderland after he was ruled out for up to two months with an ankle injury.
Long-term absentees are Per Mertesacker and Danny Welbeck who are both suffering knee injuries.
Granit Xhaka is still suspended.
Theo Walcott, Nacho Monreal and Santi Cazorla all face late fitness tests.
Arsenal (from): Cech, Ospina, Debuchy, Bellerin, Holding, Gabriel, Koscielny, Mustafi, Gibbs, Monreal, Elneny, Coquelin, Ramsey, Cazorla, Oxlade-Chamberlain, Ozil, Sanchez, Walcott, Iwobi, Akpom.
Player to watch: Olivier Giroud
Simply amazing.
Match Facts & Stats
Olivier Giroud has scored five times and assisted two goals in his last six Premier games against Sunderland in all competitions.
Theo Walcott has had more shots on target this season than any other Premier League player (17).
Arsenal are one of two unbeaten Premier League sides away from home this season – the other being Tottenham.
The Black Cats have never managed to score more than twice in a Premier League game against Arsenal, and in the two games they have scored twice they`ve failed to win either match.
Sunderland have made the worst start to a Premier League season (two points after nine games) since Sheffield Wednesday had one point after nine games in 1999/2000.
Ref Watch:
Referee: Martin Atkinson
Linesmen: S Child and S Burt
Fourth Official: C Pawson
Match Day referee Atkinson has officiated ten games in 2016/17, returning 35 yellow cards and zero red cards.
His highest card count this season was seven yellows in the game between Stoke City and West Bromwich Albion.
He took in 46 matches in 2015-16 and in those games, across all competitions and football divisions, he handed out a whopping total of 169 yellow cards but only one red card.
He most card happy in the game on February 14 between Arsenal and Leicester where he showed eight yellow cards and one red card. He showed eight yellows in April in the game between Sparta Prague and Villarreal. Prior to that Barcelona and Bayern Leverkusen back on September 29 saw seven yellows He’s also hit six yellows in five games as well.
Match Prediction:
Sunderland 0-3 Arsenal
Next Fixtures:
Saturday November 5
15:00 Bournemouth v Sunderland
Saturday November 19
15:00 Sunderland v Hull City
Saturday November 26
15:00 Liverpool v Sunderland
