Arsenal return to Premier League action tonight when they travel to the Stadium of Light to face Sunderland, with kick-off at 8pm UK time.
The Gunners have made a perfect start to the new campaign with five wins from five in all competitions, but this promises to be another stern examination just three days after Wednesday night’s hard-fought victory in Naples.
That Champions League success was the first of four consecutive away games for Mikel Arteta’s side, and tonight Arsenal face a Sunderland team who have already demonstrated just how difficult they can be on their own ground.
Arsenal already know the Sunderland threat
The Gunners need little reminding of what happened on their previous visit to the Stadium of Light, when Sunderland held Arsenal to a 2-2 draw and grabbed a late equaliser through Brian Brobbey.
Arteta has also spoken about that experience ahead of tonight’s game, stressing both the intensity of the atmosphere and the lessons Arsenal took from dropping points there last season.
Rather than dwelling on that result, though, the Gunners now have an opportunity to demonstrate that those lessons have been learned.
Sunderland strong at the Stadium of Light
Sunderland enjoyed an excellent return to the Premier League last season, finishing seventh and earning Europa League football.
They have taken four points from their opening three league fixtures this term. After losing 2-1 at Ipswich, they responded with a 1-0 home victory against Fulham before drawing 1-1 at Brentford.
A further 1-0 win over Hull City in the Carabao Cup on Tuesday means Sunderland have won both of their home games in all competitions this season without conceding.
That continues an impressive record at the Stadium of Light. The Black Cats lost only four of their 19 home league matches last season, so Arsenal should expect another highly competitive encounter.
What should Arsenal expect?
Sunderland are expected to line up in a 4-2-3-1, with Enzo Le Fee operating behind Brobbey.
They are aggressive without the ball and are among the division’s strongest pressing teams, using physicality, work rate and direct football to make it difficult for opponents to establish their rhythm.
Sunderland have faced only five shots on target so far this season – fewer than any other Premier League side.
There are threats out wide too, while former Arsenal captain Granit Xhaka provides experience and bite in the middle of the pitch.
Arsenal team news
There is encouraging news regarding Jurrien Timber, who has returned to training after missing the summer and the opening weeks of the season with a groin injury.
Cristhian Mosquera is also closing in on a return after sitting out the victories over Chelsea and Napoli, while William Saliba remains sidelined long-term with a back problem.
Historically, Arsenal have dominated this fixture, with Sunderland winning only one of their last 29 Premier League meetings with the Gunners.
Tonight, however, the recent evidence is more relevant. Sunderland are formidable at home, Arsenal have just returned from a demanding European trip, and last season showed exactly what can happen if concentration slips.
It may require patience, but Arsenal should have enough quality to continue their perfect start.
Prediction: Sunderland 0-2 Arsenal.
What do you think, Gooners? Will Arsenal make it six wins from six, or could Sunderland frustrate us again at the Stadium of Light? Let us know in the comments.
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Hopefully Arsenal can score a few more goals and make it easier on us poor suffering fans. It’s not good for the heart you know. 😉
👍Indeed Derek, even though I love black cats I want to be celebrating by the break with Big Gabby ready to kick some ar.e if we start letting ’em back in the game. 🤞
They have some dangerous offensive players for which i’ve seen Brobbey provides them strength and character – regardless with arsenal coming to town they won’t know where the threat will come from. Could it be Kai, Bakayo, Rice, Cala or GM6? What most expect is we come away with all 3pts.
OT, I just read that the premier League believe our perfect start to the season was as a result of easy schedules!!! They claimed that both Chelsea and Villa are unsettled and our first real test starts tonight against Sunderland.
Why would the Premier League allow such controversial statements on their site??
We will win this one – 3 : 1
COYG!!
After beating the Blues last Sunday, the Spaniard declared the champion is even better than in the last campaign, now that is scary
They got Granit Xhaka…🫣
I’ve special interest to watch Brobbey, Ballard and Xhaka. These 3 were monsters when Arsenal drew there last term.
ADVANTAGE ARSENAL as title rivals couldn’t win today. Chelsea Liverpool and Villa were up against relegation battlers. Let’s do our job nicely tonight and send shock waves to the league
Today’s Anfield Result. Barcola, Wirtz and Isak all starting.
Those pushing for us to match Liverpools massive offer for Barcola, and as we didn’t, so complain our chances of success have been gambled as we don’t have a Barcola type world superstar, please explain.
Last season we turned up at Sunderland without Gyokeres Havertz and Jesus and Odegaard – and Ballard could have seen red early on for trying to knock out our 4th Striker Merino, the ref and var didn’t see it as intentional elbow.
Also, it was the match we clearly had tired legs at end, but MA – incredibly – only used 1 sub.
Could European football just hours away, distract the home side?
If we are looking for someone up for a proper old fashioned scrap, as Rice, Odegaard and Saka all missing today, to give them a rest, I suggest put me in the team.
I feel right up for it. I’ll treat the dirty mackem as training cones. I’ll make that Ballard look like a bollard.
We got this!
COYG
That’s the spirit. They may be mackem, but we’ll attack em.
Moon Girl,
Very good. 😂🤣