Arsenal take on Sunderland at the Stadium of Light in the Premier League on Saturday evening.
The Gunners sit six points clear of second-placed Manchester City in the English top flight, and will have the opportunity to extend this lead to nine points against the Black Cats before Pep Guardiola’s side face Liverpool on Sunday.
Mikel Arteta’s team eased past Slavia Prague in the Champions League on Tuesday night, in a game which saw the Spaniard able to rest the likes of Martin Zubimendi, Eberechi Eze and Riccardo Calafiori.
While this should mean that the North Londoners are relatively fresh for their visit to Tyneside, Regis Le Bris’ side are in exceptional form and will certainly provide Arsenal with a stern test.
Predicted Arsenal lineup vs Sunderland
Arsenal still have a long list of injury issues to contend with.
Viktor Gyokeres will miss the visit to Sunderland, as will Martin Odegaard, Kai Havertz, Noni Madueke, Gabriel Jesus and likely Gabriel Martinelli.
This leaves Arteta short of forward options and with a decision to make up front. Mikel Merino scored twice against Slavia Prague, but the Spaniard struggled against Burnley in the centre-forward role.
Leandro Trossard is an option as a striker, but Arteta will likely opt to stick with Merino to lead the line. The Belgian will start to the left of the Euro 2024 winner, with Bukayo Saka to the right.
Meanwhile, in midfield, Eze and Zubimendi will likely both come back into the starting line-up in place of Ethan Nwaneri and Christian Norgaard.
As for the back four, Arteta will likely revert to what has seemingly become his first choice defence. Calafiori has been well rested in between league matches, while Jurrien Timber has had to play the bulk of the minutes due to Ben White’s fitness issue.
David Raya will inevitably retain his place in goal.
Predicted line-up vs Sunderland: Raya, Timber, Saliba, Gabriel, Calafiori, Zubimendi, Rice, Eze, Saka, Merino, Trossard.
Sunderland team news ahead of Arsenal clash
Like the majority of Premier League teams at the moment, Sunderland have several fitness problems in their squad.
First choice centre-back Omar Alderete has missed the last few matches with a head injury, and is currently being assessed ahead of Saturday’s encounter.
Aji Alese is out with a shoulder problem, while Dennis Cirkin and Romaine Mundle will both return to action after the international break, following wrist and thigh injuries respectively.
Young left-back Leo Hjelde is also expected back in two weeks’ time, while summer signing Habib Diarra is out until mid-December with a pelvic issue.
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