Match Coverage

Chris Sutton predicts Arsenal v Sunderland and makes key point about Granit Xhaka

Add as preferred source on Google

Arsenal take on Sunderland this weekend looking to keep the momentum rolling after another successful week for the club.

A big win at Leeds last weekend was followed up with a superb semi-final victory against Chelsea to book a date at Wembley against Man City.

Now, the focus shifts back to the Premier League and Arsenal and Mikel Arteta know they cannot afford to slip up again.

Predict the score of Arsenal vs Sunderland and tell us who will score the first goal!

Image of Mikel Arteta hugging Regis Le Bris before Sunderland vs Arsenal, overlaid a 'Predict the score' call to action ahead of Arsenal vs Sunderland
Credit: Getty Images/Scott Llewellyn/MI News/NurPhoto

Sunderland are the visitors this time and come into the clash full of confidence themselves.

However, predicting the result of the game for BBC Sport, Chris Sutton has suggested there’ll be no shocks this time around after the 2-2 draw earlier in the season.

Chris Sutton predicts the result of Arsenal v Sunderland

It really is hard to imagine anything other than an Arsenal win here but nevertheless, they’ll have to be at their best to get the job done.

Sunderland are a fine team under Regis Le Bris and will come with no fear.

However, without star midfielder and former Gunner Granit Xhaka, they lack some much-needed experience and according to Chris Sutton, the loss of Xhaka is going to be big.

“I am not going to say 2-1 for this one. Instead it will be another Arsenal clean sheet – they have already kept 12 in their first 24 league games, two more than any other team,” Sutton says.

“It’s a shame Sunderland midfielder Granit Xhaka is not fit to face his old club at the Emirates. When he played for the Black Cats against Arsenal in their draw at the Stadium of Light, they were the first team I saw who really rattled the Gunners.

Sunderland v Arsenal - Premier League
Photo by Scott Llewellyn/MI News/NurPhoto via Getty Images

“Xhaka’s experience has helped to glue together a Sunderland side with a lot of young players this season, but they coped all right without him against Burnley on Monday.

“This is a much tougher game for them, obviously, and Sunderland’s away form is nowhere near as strong as it is at home. Arsenal swept Leeds aside 4-0 last weekend, when everyone thought they were having a bit of a blip.

“They showed their strength in depth at Elland Road, when they lost Bukayo Saka in the warm-up, and I can see them winning comfortably this time too.”

Arsenal’s overall record against Sunderland

This will be the 156th meeting between Arsenal and Sunderland and things are a lot closer than you might expect in terms of overall wins.

The Gunners have come out on top on 63 occasions but have lost 50 times as well, with 42 draws sandwiched in for good measure.

If you could say anything to respond to Liam Rosenior right now, what would it be?

Image of Liam Rosenior on the touchline during a Chelsea game, overlaid his quote accusing Arsenal of direspecting Chelsea
Credit: Getty Images/Marc Atkins

Nevertheless, there is a good recent history for Arsenal when it comes to facing the Black Cats.

Sunderland haven’t beaten Arsenal since 2012 and that came in the FA Cup, with the last league win for the Wearsiders coming all the way back in 2009 when a Darren Bent winner was enough to settle things at the Stadium of Light.

Arsenal, then, will be confident of another result this time around to increase that long unbeaten run.