Although it may not look like it at first glance, Arsenal have another very tough game ahead of them. Sunderland may be one of the newcomers to the Premier League this season, but they have been putting in some fantastic performances so far. The current fourth place in the league table is a clear proof of that. The game against Sunderland is not just a battle between the first team and the fourth team from Arsenal's point of view. It's much more important, and I'll explain why. Because in the current round of the Premier League, arguably Arsenal's biggest rivals for the title, Manchester City and Liverpool, will face each other. One of them is sure to lose, ideally both. This gives Arsenal a great chance to knock off not only ambitious Sunderland, but also Cityzens and Liverpool. To do that, however, the charges will have to Mikel Arteta's to put in a flawless performance, Sunderland have not lost at the Stadium of Light yet this season. One thing's for sure, it's going to be a really interesting game.
Form
Arsenal in particular have played a lot to assess their current form. Sunderland have played „only“ three competitive games since the last national break, which is not a lot, but on the other hand it is not too little either. From the latest results of both teams, we can certainly read the current form, or we'll look at the results just before the break. Here we go.
Arsenal
Arsenal after the match with Slavia extended his winning streak to 10 games in a row and also extended his a streak of games without a goal scored, specifically eight. As for this defensive statistic in goals scored or not scored, Mikel Arteta's charges tied a club record that was more than a century old. Looking at Arsenal's results, it's probably no surprise that the North London side is in 1st place in the English Premier League. It is the only team in the Champions League with Bayern and Inter to have full points and only because of its worse record does it rank second behind the German giants. Also in the domestic cup, the Gunners managed to win both the matches they played and next time they will face a quarter-final match. I don't think we need to say more. Arsenal's current form is fantastic.
Sunderland
For Sunderland, I guess I can't start with anything other than their position in the table. The newcomer, who was considered one of the biggest relegation candidates before the season, is currently is 4th in the Premier League table. Yes, you read that right, Sunderland are fourth after ten rounds. With a record of five wins, three draws and two defeats, the position of French manager Régis Le Bris' side is well deserved. The only thing that hasn't gone to Sunderland's liking so far this season is their participation in the EFL Cup. The Black Cats were knocked out of the English Cup after their first game when they fell short in a penalty shootout to third-tier Huddersfield after a draw in normal time. The cup match dates back to the end of August in terms of current form.
Looking at the last three games, which Sunderland joined after the October international break, is form of the league newcomer very decent. Two wins and a draw indicate that the Black Cats are in a good mood. If I look at some of the results before the national break, virtually the same applies. The only blemish in the series of the last eight games is the match at Old Trafford, where Sunderland were unable to keep up with Manchester at home, to whom they lost 0-2. Sunderland are unbeaten in their remaining seven games (four wins, three draws).
Team and expected line-up
In the last game before the national break Mikel Arteta has little reason to spare any of his mainstays. Arsenal will go into the match against league newcomer Sunderland with the strongest possible line-up. However, there are more than enough absentees in the North London squad. Players are not expected to return from sick leave until after the national break, so the Spanish manager will have to improvise in some positions. Let's take a look at the most likely Gunners starting eleven for the match at the Stadium of Light.
David Raya
Same song over and over again. David Raya is one of the mainstays of the defensive line, and which is why we will see him in goal in the upcoming game against Sunderland. So there should be no change between the three poles.
Jurriën Timber
I must confess that Mikel Arteta surprised me by putting a Dutch defender in the starting lineup against Slavia at the expense of Ben White. The match in Eden in Prague seemed like an ideal opportunity for rotation on the right side of the defence, but the Spanish manager decided otherwise. As for the game against Sunderland, I expect at the position of right full-back, he will start again Jurriën Timber.
William Saliba
I expect the same composition in the centre of defence. At the position of right stopper will take the field at the Stadium of Light William Saliba. Many of you will have noticed that in the match against Slavia, the French defender often moved into the centre of midfield to help with the midfield and the subsequent transition to the attacking phase. It remains to be seen if this was a tactic for the Slavia game only or if Mikel Arteta is preparing a new tactical element.
Gabriel
Gabriel got a bloody cut on his face from the match against Slavia, but that shouldn't jeopardise his start against Sunderland. Not only did he finish the game in Eden, but it was not a tough clash. With a slight exaggeration, it was a cosmetic injury. Mikel Arteta has no other reasons for not putting the Brazilian stopper in the starting line-up, Gabriel will start the match alongside his French teammate from the first minute.
Riccardo Calafiori
Mikel Arteta really has a lot to choose from on the left side of the defence. He was out for quite a long time at the start of the season Piero Hincapié, who only headed to north London at the very end of the summer transfer window, but now the Ecuadorian footballer is fully fit. The former Leverkusen defender only made a proper appearance in the cup game against Brighton and now in the Champions League match against Slavia. It must be added that his performance was really impressive. In addition to Hincapie on the left edge of defence, the youngster Myles Lewis-Skelly, who also gives a solid performance. The number one, however, is Riccardo Calafiori, who I believe will return to the starting line-up for the Stadium of Light game.
Martín Zubimendi
In the centre of the midfield after absence in Eden in Prague (due to a card penalty) will return Martín Zubimendi. The Spanish international's contribution to the game is undeniable. Although it may not seem like it at first glance, Zubimendi is a key player in starting virtually all offensive actions. At the same time, he is hugely valid in defensive work, especially after Arsenal lose the ball in the attacking half of the pitch.
Declan Rice
I'm sure I've written this in a previous blog, maybe even more than once, but Arsenal without Declana Rice is not Arsenal. In hyperbole, of course. However, the England international is one of the other many stalwarts in Mikel Arteta's lineup, who shouldn't be missed this time around. At the Stadium of Light, Declan Rice will be battling his predecessor Granit Xhaka in the centre of the pitch. Their midfield duels should be the highlight of the match.
Eberechi Eze
Eberechi Eze in the Champions League match against Slavia, he started as one of the few key players on the bench. He only appeared on the pitch for the final thirty minutes or so. All the more reason why I think against Sunderland, the England international will take the field from the first minute. With the injury to team captain Martin Ødegaard, Eze is the team's number one offensive central midfielder. His biggest competitor at the moment is probably the young Ethan Nwaneri, who has played quite a lot in the last three competitive games. So all indications are that Eberechi Eze will start at number 10 against Sunderland.
Bukayo Saka
Arsenal's biggest offensive weapon should be in the game against Sunderland Bukayo Saka. The English winger is slowly but surely starting to get into shooting form in the last few games, which is only good. There is probably little doubt that Saka will start in the starting line-up at the Stadium of Light. In addition to not missing Saka on the pitch from the first minute, he will lead his team into the match as captain.
Leandro Trossard
Leandro Trossard certainly not one of the biggest names in the Arsenal squad, but the quality is tremendous. Quiet water lapping the banks. The Belgian international has been delivering consistent performances for a long time and brings something to the Gunners game that others don't. In addition, his interplay with Riccardo Calafiori, who comes in behind him on the left side of the pitch, works very well. With the current casualty rate, there is not much to do on the left wing, Trossard will start from the first minute.
Mikel Merino
Mikel Merino had to play at the top of the offensive line due to numerous injuries to offensive players. Nothing he didn't know from last season. And he did more than well, scoring two goals and proving once again that he can not only play but also be effective in attack. The Gunners' squad hasn't changed since the Slavia game, so it's very likely that the Spanish footballer will start at number nine against Sunderland.
Substitutes
He should return to the bench Kepa Arrizabalaga, who missed the Gunners' last game. Mikel Arteta did not comment on him at the pre-match press conference, so I assume that the Spanish goalkeeper will be back in the squad after his absence in Prague. In case Kepa is unavailable, the number two position for this game would be taken over by Tommy Setford. Field players should appear on the bench Cristhian Mosquera, Piero Hincapié, Ben White, Myles Lewis-Skelly, Christian Nørgaard, Max Dowman and Ethan Nwaneri. The last place on the bench will be taken by a youngster Andre Harriman-Annous.
The squad is really big before the Sunderland game. Mikel Arteta didn't really want to talk about whether any of the missing players will be available for Saturday's game at the Stadium of Light, but the return of any of the injured players is not very likely. On the sick list at the moment we find names such as Kai Havertz, Gabriel Jesus, Noni Madueke, Martin Ødegaard, Gabriel Martinelli and Viktor Gyökeres. But there is one very positive news. I have already written about the fact that the vast majority of the players mentioned above should join the team after the national break in my previous posts. This is nothing new. However, the fact that Gabriel Jesus finally returned to training with the team, who was injured at the beginning of January this year, is new. However, we won't see him in the nomination for the game against Sunderland, after such a long injury he will still have to train with the team for at least a few weeks.
About the opponent
Sunderland, which is one of this year's three newcomers, who last played in the Premier League in the 2016/2017 season, in which they finished in last place. The club's steep decline continued the following year, as another relegation came, to League One (the 3rd highest competition), where the Black Cats spent four seasons before returning to at least the Championship. The journey back to the English elite took another three years. Sunderland thus missed out on the Premier League for almost 10 years. Prior to relegation in 2016/2017, Sunderland were regulars in the Premier League, having been in the top flight for exactly ten seasons in a row.
But now Sunderland are back and despite all pre-season predictions, they currently occupy 4th place in the table. I've already discussed the form of Régis Le Bris's charges, so I'll move on now. to the Sunderland squad. I'll start right away with the goalie position. He became Sunderland's number one after his summer arrival Robin Roefs and he caught the eye right at the beginning of the season. In a positive sense. The 22-year-old goalkeeper immediately became one of the team's mainstays. Among the well-known names in the defence are Arthur Musuaku, who was at West Ham for many years and Nordi Mukiele, who has been through teams such as RB Leipzig, PSG and Bayer Leverkusen. The roster also includes a number of interesting offensive players. Not only this year, Sunderlad is the scoring powerhouse. Wilson Isidor, who already has four goals in the current season. The squad also includes players such as Brian Brobbey, Bertrand Traore or Simon Adingra, who is visiting the Stadium of Light from Brighton.
Don't worry, I didn't forget, I just saved the best for last.
Arsenal footprint
This time I have a very important name in this subchapter, which is Granit Xhaka. The Swiss international has spent seven long years in north London and has experienced a lot. He came to Arsenal under Arsene Wenger, played under his successor Unaeus Emery and then also under Mikel Arteta. As I've written before, Xhaka has been through just about everything during his time at the Emirates Stadium. He has been hated and loved. But he went out a hero and actually followed the well-known adage that the best thing to do is to stop. The stormtrooper with Albanian roots left Arsenal after his best season individually, but unfortunately couldn't win the much coveted title with Arsenal. He left Arsenal to join to Bayer Leverkusen in Germany, with whom he won a double. After two years in Germany, he returned to England and signed for newcomer Sunderland, where he immediately took over the captain's armband. He is now one of the main contributors to Sunderland's successful entry into the current season.
Another player who has played for Arsenal in the past is Dan Ballard. However, his path is quite different from that of Granit Xhaka. The Northern Ireland international represented the Gunners only in the youth categories, he never played for the A team. During his time at Arsenal he had several loan spells (Swindon, Blackpool, Millwall). He only left north London permanently in the summer transfer window before the 2022/2023 season, when he moved to Sunderland, where he is still based.
Match
Here again I will not come up with anything groundbreaking. The reins of the game should be in the hands of the club from the capital. Despite Sunderland's good form, Arsenal's extensive squad and the fact that it will be played at the Stadium of Light, will go into the game as clear favourites Arsenal. It's not just Sunderland who are in form. Moreover, the quality and especially the breadth of Mikel Arteta's squad this season is huge and even without a few mainstays, Arsenal have tremendous quality in all positions.
What could a match like this look like? Arsenal should have the upper hand in ball possession and territorial advantage. The game will be played mainly in Sunderland's half, who will most likely choose a defensive tactic based on a deep block. Arsenal players will try to draw their opponents out and look for loopholes in their defensive line. The home side, on the other hand, will try to take advantage of the high position of Arsenal's defensive line to make quick breaks after winning the ball. I believe quality will be the deciding factor in the encounter at the Stadium of Light. Quality and experience. That's why I think Arsenal will do well against Sunderland on Saturday. I predict Arsenal to win 2:0.
Next match
Arsenal's next game will be worth it! But we'll have to wait for it, because we're all is taking a two-week break from club football. National matches are back on the scene. But after the break, a football feast awaits all Arsenal fans. Arsenal will welcome their irreconcilable rival, Tottenham. The North London derby, known to fans as the NLD, is scheduled for Sunday, November 23, 2025 at 17:30 (CET).
See you next time, I'll look forward to it!
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Editor, administrator and editor of the True Gunner Diary website, but above all a devoted Arsenal fan. I started with sports articles at the Tipsport bookmaker, where I have published more than 100 blogs. If you want to know more about me, check out the section of the same name here on the site.