Sunderland welcome league leaders Arsenal to Wearside this evening as the Black Cats chase a major upset and look to build on their current position tucked in the top four.
Following their promotion to the Premier League via the Championship playoffs last season, they have been the undisputed surprise package in the Premier League this season.
Under the management of Regis Le Bris, they have suffered just two defeats (against Burnley and Man United) in their opening 10 matches as they fly high in the league table.
Arsenal have become relentless at the start of this season with Mikel Arteta granted their own heavy summer of spending to fight on all fronts. The Gunners’ 3-0 defeat of Slavia Prague in the UEFA Champions League in midweek was their 10th in a row - a run in which they have conceded just one goal.
Sunderland are punching well above their weight but face the toughest test of the lost. Can they trouble the set piece kings from Arsenal?
AllSportsPeople brings you this betting preview complete with the latest tips and expert predictions - a strong precursor to the headline act of the weekend, Man City vs. Liverpool on Super Sunday.
Sunderland vs. Arsenal prediction: Who will win today?
Regis Le Bris has produced a Sunderland side that are extremely difficult to play against and especially at the Stadium of Light, where they remain unbeaten after a 1-1 draw with Everton on the Monday Night Football.
However, Arsenal have developed a squad with serious depth and tactical versatility, which is helping them win all different types of games.
While Sunderland have been very strong in front of their own fans, denying the Gunners three points is likely to be a step too far for the Black Cats.
The Gunners are allowing an average of just 7.5 shots per game from their opponents - the best in the league by some margin. They are also second for xG scored with 19.62, bettered only by defending champions Liverpool.
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Head-to-Head: Sunderland vs. Arsenal
- The most recent outing between these two sides came back in December 2021 with Arsenal hammering Sunderland 5-1 in the quarter-finals of the EFL Cup.
- That victory for the Gunners was their first since May 2017 and means that Arsenal are now unbeaten against Sunderland in their last 12 matches since an FA Cup defeat back in February 2012.
- Overall, the two teams have clashed on 154 occasions with Sunderland coming out on top 50 times and Arsenal winning 63 of those matches.
Sunderland vs. Arsenal Form Guide
Sunderland — Last 5 Matches (All Competitions)
- Sunderland 1-1 Everton (Premier League)
- Chelsea 1-2 Sunderland (Premier League)
- Sunderland 2-0 Wolverhampton Wanderers (Premier League)
- Manchester United 2-0 Sunderland (Premier League)
- Nottingham Forest 0-1 Sunderland (Premier League)
Arsenal – Last 5 Matches (All Competitions)
- Slavia Prague 0-3 Arsenal (UEFA Champions League)
- Burnley 0-2 Arsenal (Premier League)
- Arsenal 2-0 Brighton and Hove Albion (EFL Cup)
- Arsenal 1-0 Crystal Palace (Premier League)
- Arsenal 4-0 Atletico Madrid (UEFA Champions League)
Sunderland vs. Arsenal Score Prediction
Set-pieces have perhaps almost overly discussed this season but it is hard to get away from the fact that this game is likely to be decided by the fine margins of set plays.
Sunderland have been good, both in defending and attacking them, but they are facing the masters of it, who are also extremely difficult to score against or threaten from open play.
The Gunners grinding themselves out another narrow win seems the likeliest outcome on Wearside.
Score Prediction: Sunderland 0-1 Arsenal (5/1 with Bet365)
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Sunderland Team News
- Regis Le Bris has transformed the Sunderland squad but club-record signing Habib Diarra, who joined from Strasbourg, is set to remain unavailable until mid-December.
- The hosts have a few other injury issues, too, albeit both Dennis Cirkin and Romain Mundle have returned to training and nearing a return to full fitness.
- Omar Alderete has been a key man for the Black Cats this season, since joining from Getafe, but he remains a doubt for the clash with Arsenal.
Arsenal Team News
- Mikel Arteta has a very strong and deep squad and so he is able to rotate well but he should be going full throttle for this one, albeit Viktor Gyokeres is unavailable until after the November international break.
- With both Kai Havertz and Gabriel Jesus also sidelined for the Gunners, that means Arsenal could tweak things in attack with Mikel Merino potentially deployed in his makeshift centre forward role once again after succeeding last season.
- They have other confirmed absentees for this one, too, such as captain Martin Odegaard and England international winger Noni Madueke.
Sunderland vs. Arsenal Lineups: Predicted starting XI's
This is how we think the two sides will lineup at the Stadium of Light this evening, with Arteta keeping Merino as a makeshift striker and restoring Martin Zubimendi to his midfield. Myles Lewis-Skelly is unlikely to be in the XI having been left out of Thomas Tuchel's England squad this week.
Sunderland lineup to play Arsenal
(3-5-2) Roefs (GK) — Mukiele, Ballard, Geertruida — Hume, Xhaka, Sadiki, Reinildo — Traore, Isidor, Le Fee
Arsenal predicted lineup to play Sunderland
(4-3-3) Raya (GK) — Timber, Saliba, Gabriel, Calafiori — Rice, Zubimendi, Eze — Saka, Merino, Martinelli
Sunderland vs. Arsenal Betting Odds
- Sunderland to Win: 7/1 with Ladbrokes
- Arsenal to Win: 2/5 with SpreadEx
- Draw: 4/1 with Bet365
Bet Builder Tips Today: Sunderland vs. Arsenal
Our bet builder for Sunderland vs. Arsenal is for the league leaders to win with under 3.5 goals in the game, Reinildo to be carded for the hosts and Sunderland to have the most cards in the match which comes to overall odds of 6.73/1 with Sky Bet.
How to watch Sunderland vs. Arsenal: Live stream, TV channel
Here's all the key information on how to watch Sunderland vs. Arsenal this evening:
- Date: Saturday, November 8
- Venue: Stadium of Light, Sunderland, England
- Time: 5:30 p.m.
- TV/Stream: Sky Sports / Sky Go
When did Arsenal last concede a goal?
The last time Mikel Arteta's Arsenal side conceded a goal in any competition was when Nick Woltemade scored in their 2-1 victory over Newcastle United at St James' Park on Sunday 28th September. Woltemade's header, Dominik Szoboszlai's long-range free kick at Anfield and Erling Haaland's breakaway at the Emirates are the only league goals the Gunners have let in all season.