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Keane: Looking to the future

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Sunderland and Arsenal will both begin planning for next season when they meet for their final game of the current Premier League campaign at the Stadium of Light on Sunday.

Roy Keane is never one to shy away from airing his views and the home straight of the current term has been no exception, as the Black Cats boss has informed his squad that they are playing for their futures in the North East.

Sunderland have perhaps exceeded expectations by securing a stay in the top-flight following their promotion from the Championship last year, but Keane is already plotting for onwards and upwards.

Andy Cole, Ian Harte, Stephen Wright and Stanislav Varga have been released and a number of others could be making their finals appearances in Sunderland colours should they fail to produce a saving grace performance against the Gunners.

Emirates exit

While Sunderland players are battling to stay with their club, it appears to be a case of vice versa in North London as members of the Arsenal squad race to be the first out of the Emirates Stadium door in the summer.

Mathieu Flamini has already agreed to join Milan while, if the words of his agent are to be believed, Alexander Hleb is also heading for Italy in the form of Internazionale when Arsenal complete their 2007/08 fixture list.

And with speculation raging and a third-placed finish assured, manager Arsene Wenger will be looking to the future.

Two Sunderland players who are in no doubts about their status are striker Kenwyne Jones and goalkeeper Craig Gordon after Keane gave the duo his long-term backing and they are both expected to start.

Transfer-listed

Transfer-listed winger Ross Wallace could get a chance after his absence with a knee problem, which has ruled him out of action since January, while loan signing Jonny Evans will play the last game of his second loan spell before returning to Manchester United.

Phil Bardsley and Dickson Etuhu are both sidelined with knee injuries and will miss out.

Arsenal's 18-year-old midfield pair Kieran Gibbs and Mark Randall look set to be involved and Flamini may be given the chance to say his farewells after recovering from an ankle injury.

Striker Robin van Persie (thigh) remains a doubt, while Hleb is suspended and Tomas Rosicky (knee), Bacary Sagna (ankle), Abou Diaby (thigh) and Eduardo da Silva (broken leg) are all sidelined.