Arsenal will look to move clear at the top of the Premier League table with a win over Sunderland at the Stadium of Light tonight.
The Gunners have made the perfect start to the new season having won all four of their games so far in all competitions. Wednesday night’s 1-0 win over Napoli in Italy ensured they began their Champions League campaign with a win. Martin Odegaard’s second half rocket secured the three points in Naples.
Having beaten Coventry City and Aston Villa in their opening two Premier League games, Arsenal beat London rivals Chelsea 2-1 at the Emirates Stadium last weekend to make it a maximum nine points from three games so far.
Arsenal can now move three points clear of Manchester City with a win over Sunderland tonight and Mikel Arteta has made four changes from the side that beat Napoli last time out.
Goalkeeper David Raya retains his place between the sticks while Ben White, Ezri Konsa and Gabriel Magalhaes all start once again in defence. There is one change to the back four with Riccardo Calafiori coming in for Piero Hincapie at left-back.
Declan Rice starts once again in midfield but Mikel Merino drops to the bench with Myles Lewis-Skelly recalled. Bruno Guimarães still has to wait to make his full debut while Martin Zubimendi is also named among the substitutes.
Martin Odegaard continued his superb start to the new season with another MOTM display on Wednesday night. The Swedish international starts once again along with Bukayo Saka. Noni Madueke has to settle for a place on the bench.
Eberechi Eze also drops to the subs bench as Cristos Tzolis is recalled on the left wing while Kai Havertz replaces Viktor Gyokeres up front for Arsenal. Jurrien Timber returns to the squad for the first time since the Champions League final so may get a run out from the bench.
Here are the confirmed line-ups for the game:
Sunderland
Roefs; Meunier, Mukiele, Ballard, Danso, Reinildo; Xhaka, Sadiki, Le Fee; Angulo, Brobbey
Subs: Ellborg, Hume, O’Nien, Alderete, Methalie, Talbi, Rigg, Fofana, Isidor
Arsenal
Raya; White, Konsa, Gabriel, Calafiori; Rice, Lewis-Skelly, Ødegaard; Saka, Tzolis, Havertz.
Subs: Arrizabalaga, Hincapie, Eze, Timber, Gyökeres, Madueke, Merino, Zubimendi, Guimarães.
