Sunderland vs Arsenal preview: Team news, line-ups, score prediction
Sunderland host Premier League leaders Arsenal at the Stadium of Light on Saturday.
Regis Le Bris will hope to see his side get back to winning ways after Sunderland drew 1-1 with Everton on Monday.
But the challenge of the Gunners will be a different one, Mikel Arteta‘s side having won all of their previous 10 matches across all competitions.
Arsenal are the favourites to beat Sunderland, but the Stadium of Light will do everything within its power to spur on an upset.
Here, Mackem News provides you with everything you need to know ahead of a key Premier League clash.
Form guide
Sunderland: W, L, W, W, D
Arsenal: W, W, W, W, W
Team news
Omar Alderete was missing for the trip to Chelsea due to a concussion, and the defender missed the Everton game, too, but should be able to return for Saturday.
Sunderland are still likely to be without Habib Diarra, and Romaine Mundle, who is expected to return after the international break.
Mikel Arteta has confirmed that Viktor Gyokeres will be unavailable for Arsenal, after the striker was forced off in the win over Burnley last week.
Noni Madueke, Gabriel Martinelli, Martin Odegaard, Kai Havertz and Gabriel Jesus will all miss the game as well, with the Gunners facing an injury crisis going forward.
Predicted line-ups
Sunderland: Roefs; Geertruida, Ballard, Alderete; Mukiele, Sadiki, Xhaka, Reinildo; Talbi, Isidor, Le Fee
Arsenal: Raya; Timber, Saliba, Gabriel, Calafiori; Eze, Zubimendi, Rice; Saka, Merino, Trossard
Score prediction: Sunderland 1-2 Arsenal
Against an Arsenal team in the current form Arteta’s men are showing, even scoring a goal would be a feat.
The Gunners are currently on a run of eight consecutive clean sheets, and rarely even concede a shot on target, as they finally push to win another Premier League title.
| Sunderland | Premier League 2025-26 | Arsenal |
| 18 | Points | 25 |
| 12 | Goals scored | 18 |
| 10 | Expected goals (xG) | 17.4 |
| 8 | Goals against | 3 |
| 11.4 | Expected goals against (xGA) | 5.7 |
But several absences in the attacking areas of the pitch should afford Sunderland a good chance to run Arsenal to the wire.
Ultimately, though, the Premier League leaders should have enough quality to narrowly edge out the Black Cats.
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