Unbeaten Sunderland Aim to Shock Arsenal at the Stadium of Light
Arsenal Chasing History
Arsenal travel to the Stadium of Light looking to do what no other Premier League side has managed this season — beat Sunderland on their home turf. The Gunners enter the weekend flying high after a dominant 3-0 win over Slavia Prague in the Champions League, a result that extended their record to eight straight victories without conceding a goal.
Mikel Merino filled in brilliantly as an emergency striker, scoring twice alongside Bukayo Saka’s penalty. That win also set a remarkable mark in English football history, as Arsenal became the first top-flight team in 105 years to record eight consecutive clean-sheet wins across all competitions.
Mikel Arteta’s men remain six points clear at the top of the Premier League and are now aiming to secure five straight league wins with clean sheets for the first time since 1987. Their defensive dominance has been unmatched — Arsenal have faced an average of fewer than two shots on target per match this season, the lowest ever recorded in the competition.
Sunderland Defying the Odds
Newly promoted Sunderland continue to shock the league. A 1-1 draw with Everton on Monday night preserved their unbeaten home record, with Granit Xhaka scoring his first Premier League goal for the club to rescue a point. The Swiss midfielder will now face his former side, adding extra emotion to an already high-stakes clash.
Regis Le Bris has built a resilient and fearless team, one that has outperformed giants such as Tottenham, Chelsea and Manchester United. Sitting fourth in the table, the Black Cats can even move into the top three with a win if results elsewhere go their way. Their five home games this season have all produced goals, showing that Sunderland will not make life easy for Arsenal’s backline.
Team News
Arsenal remain without several key players. Viktor Gyokeres, Gabriel Martinelli, Kai Havertz, Noni Madueke, Gabriel Jesus and Martin Odegaard are all sidelined. Martin Zubimendi could return after a knock, while Kepa Arrizabalaga remains a doubt.
Sunderland’s injury list includes Aji Alese, Dennis Cirkin, Romaine Mundle, Leo Fuhr Hjelde and Habib Diarra. Omar Alderete is also a doubt, but Le Bris has no new concerns from the Everton draw.
Prediction
Sunderland’s belief and home record will make this a battle, but Arsenal’s discipline and defensive strength should prove decisive. Even without Gyokeres, the Gunners have enough quality to edge a tight encounter.
Prediction: Sunderland 0-1 Arsenal BET NOW AT ARADA.BET
Please note: this is only an analysis, and we take no responsibility for any bets placed by readers.
