Arsenal aims to secure their first Premier League title in over 20 years as they prepare to face Sunderland at the Emirates Stadium on Saturday afternoon. Following a dominating 4–0 victory against Leeds United, the Gunners have regained their six-point lead at the top of the league, capitalizing on recent setbacks experienced by Manchester City and Aston Villa.
This strong performance not only ended a three-match winless streak for Arsenal in the league but was further bolstered by a dramatic win midweek. Kai Havertz’s late goal against Chelsea in the second leg of the Carabao Cup semi-final has propelled Arsenal to a final at Wembley in March, providing a promising chance for their first silverware under manager Mikel Arteta since the 2020 FA Cup.
Despite their impressive form, Arsenal cannot afford to underestimate Sunderland, who drew with them in the previous encounter earlier this season due to Brian Brobbey’s late equaliser. Sunderland has shown resilience in the Premier League this season, notably beating Chelsea and drawing with Liverpool away from home. Their recent 3–0 triumph over Burnley has propelled them back to eighth place, instilling renewed confidence ahead of this challenging match.
The match is scheduled to kick off at 3 p.m. GMT (10 a.m. ET) and will be refereed by Sam Barrott, with VAR overseen by Michael Salisbury. Unfortunately, the match will not be televised in the UK, but fans can catch the action through radio coverage on BBC Radio 5 Live or talkSPORT. In the United States, viewers can tune in via Telemundo or Peacock, while Canadian fans can find the match on DAZN or FuboTV.
In terms of team news, Arsenal may be without key players Bukayo Saka and Martin Ødegaard. Saka is likely to miss out due to an injury sustained during warm-ups against Leeds, while Ødegaard’s status remains uncertain. Arteta faces a significant decision regarding his starting striker following Viktor Gyökeres’s underwhelming performance in the Chelsea match, with both Gabriel Jesus and Havertz in contention.
On the Sunderland side, captain Granit Xhaka will miss the match due to an ankle injury. Additionally, new signing Nilson Angulo is expected to make his debut, while Jocelin Ta Bi might also be sidelined as he regains match fitness.
Arsenal’s lineup is expected to include goalkeeper Raya, with a four-man defense and a strong attacking front, while Sunderland may opt for a five-man defense to protect against an aggressive Arsenal attack.
Anticipation is high for this fixture as Arsenal looks to solidify their title bid, hoping to extend their lead over Manchester City to nine points before City’s clash with Liverpool on Sunday. A determined performance from Arsenal could yield a comfortable victory, while Sunderland will seek to disrupt their momentum.
Prediction: Arsenal 2–0 Sunderland.