Arsenal are ready to host Sunderland in a tense encounter at the Emirates to extend the gap at the top of the table.
Arsenal booked their place in the EFL Cup final and will face Manchester City in the Wembley showdown next month; up next for them in the Premier League are Sunderland. The Gunners ensured their place in the final courtesy of a 1-0 win over Chelsea in the second leg of their semi-final.
The game was overall timid from an attacking sense for both sides, but a late dagger from former Chelsea man Kai Havertz ensured the North Londoners secured their passage. Mikel Arteta will ensure his players have shifted their minds away from the Wembley final and to their task in the Premier League.
The Premier League leaders are now set to host Sunderland at the Emirates on Saturday, which could be a tense encounter in the context of the consequences of a victory, defeat or draw in this clash.
A victory would allow Arsenal to open a nine-point advantage, albeit temporarily, as Manchester City will travel to Liverpool on Sunday. A draw or a defeat will allow their closest challengers hope of closing the gap, although Arteta will want revenge for their draw against the Black Cats in the reverse fixture at the Stadium of Light.
Regis Le Bris will hope that the Gunners are tired after their midweek excursions, as he will want his Sunderland side to show mettle in an away game. The Black Cats are in a decent vein of form, winning three of their last four games across all competitions heading to the Emirates.
Last Monday, the Wearside outfit put in a dominant performance at home against Burnley, as goals from Habib Diarra, Chemsdine Talbi, and Axel Tuanzebe put the Clarets to the sword in a 3-0 win. However, the clash at the Emirates is a different ball game altogether, and despite their current good run of form, there is a lot to be desired away from home.
While they have won three of their last four across all competitions, Le Bris’s side have not managed a Premier League away win since triumphing at Stamford Bridge back in October. Their most recent foray on the road was against West Ham, when they lost 3-1 to the Hammers. Hence, there are considerable doubts about their prospects of a win at the Emirates, where Arsenal have just once all season across all competitions.
Team News & Tactics
Arsenal
Arteta was coy on Bukayo Saka’s prospects of making it for the clash on Saturday. The winger suffered a hip problem in the warm-up leading to the Leeds United game, and was replaced by the impressive Noni Madueke in the lineup at Elland Road. The former Chelsea man did the same in midweek and might be in the lineup for Saturday.
Saka might still make the squad as a bench option, but it is always good to have a weapon of his quality either on the pitch or on the bench. Mikel Merino is expected to miss a chunk of the games remaining this season, and there are doubts over Martin Odegaard, having missed the midweek clash with Chelsea.
Arteta could make some changes to the starting lineup for Saturday compared to the one that played in midweek. For instance, Havertz could come in place of Eberechi Eze, while Leandro Trossard might replace Gabriel Martinelli.
The only other change might be David Raya returning for Kepa Arrizabalaga, while Arteta might also consider bringing Riccardo Calafiori back into the mix. Beyond that, he may not make any more changes, as Declan Rice and Martin Zubimendi will continue to feature in that midfield setup, while Viktor Gyokeres might lead the line again for the Gunners.
Probable Lineup (4-2-3-1) – Raya; Timber, Saliba, Gabriel, Calafiori; Zubimendi, Rice; Madueke, Havertz, Trossard; Gyokeres
Sunderland
From Sunderland’s perspective, they have a few fitness concerns of their own, with former Arsenal midfielder Granit Xhaka the priority concern. The Swiss star will miss out on a reunion at the Emirates, while three others in Bertrand Traore, Jocelin Ta Bi and Aji Alese, are also absent.
Beyond that, Le Bris does not have any new concerns with squad fitness, as he could name an unchanged lineup from last Monday. Meaning there will start for Brian Brobbey and former Gunners academy star Daniel Ballard, with the duo on the scoresheet in the reverse fixture against Arsenal.
Omar Alderete will partner with Ballard at the back, while Nordi Mukiele and Reinildo Mandava will play in the full-back roles. Diarra and Noah Sadiki will manage the midfield setup, with Enzo Le Fee in the attacking midfield role, Taibi and Trai Hume will feature in the wide attacking areas, with Brobbey leading the line.
Probable Lineup (4-2-3-1) – Roefs; Mukiele, Alderete, Ballard, Mandava; Diarra, Sadiki; Hume, Le Fee, Talbi; Brobbey
Key Stats
- Arsenal are undefeated in their last 13 matches against Sunderland in all competitions.
- Arsenal are undefeated in 19 of their last 21 matches in the Premier League.
- Sunderland have won 3 of their last 4 games across all competitions.
- Sunderland have failed to win their last 7 away games in the Premier League.
Player to Watch
Gabriel Magalhaes
The imperious Brazilian has looked a big wobbler in the last few games, and he is the one who needs to stabilise in a big way to ensure Arsenal’s passage towards the title. Some performances in recent times, such as the ones against Manchester United, highlight that the Brazilian needs to tighten his act.
The Sunderland game offers a peculiar challenge in its own way, specifically for Gabriel as he faces the physical profile of Brobbey. It will be the Brazilian’s task to stop the forward from advancing into the box, and should Gabriel have control at the back, it will give Arsenal plenty of chances to get the points in the bag.
Prediction
Arsenal 2-1 Sunderland
Sunderland will certainly hope to improve their away form and register a first win in eight games, having failed to win the last seven after their triumph at Stamford Bridge. It will be a difficult prospect for Le Bris to take three points, but he has a squad fit enough to fight a battle at the Emirates.
Arsenal are on a decent run since their loss to Manchester United, but they will feel confident ahead of Saturday, especially after their Carabao Cup semifinal. Arteta will be up for the task and will be the favourites to get the three points, but there are doubts whether they will keep a clean sheet, given their dodgy defensive performances of late.