Arsenal v Sunderland preview: Alexis Sanchez and Santi Cazorla miss out
Saturday 5 December 2015 14:36, UK
Arsenal will be looking to put a disappointing November behind them when they host Sunderland at the Emirates on Saturday.
The Gunners picked up just two points from their three Premier League matches last month and also suffered injuries to a number of key players.
Francis Coquelin and Santi Cazorla both face lengthy spells on the sidelines while Alexis Sanchez is also out after sustaining a hamstring injury in the draw with Norwich.
That means Arsene Wenger will have to shuffle his pack for the visit of Sunderland, who have never won at Arsenal in the Premier League but have held on for a goalless draw on three of their last five league visits to the Emirates.
The stalemate on the penultimate day of last season secured their top-flight survival and they travel to north London having won two games on the spin against Crystal Palace and Stoke.
The win against Stoke moved the Black Cats out of the relegation zone but they have not won three in a row since the end of the 2013/14 season.
Team news
Arsenal duo Sanchez and Cazorla both miss out after suffering injuries at Norwich, with the Spaniard facing up to four months out with a knee problem.
Laurent Koscielny was also forced off with a hip complaint last weekend but is in contention to return against the Black Cats, as is Theo Walcott after overcoming a calf problem.
Jack Wilshere (leg), Mikel Arteta and Kieran Gibbs (both calf), Francis Coquelin, Danny Welbeck and Tomas Rosicky (all knee) are all expected to miss out.
Jermain Defoe misses out for Sunderland with a hamstring problem and he will be joined on the sidelines by midfielder Sebastian Larsson, who this week flew to Barcelona for an assessment of a troublesome knee injury.
However, full-back Billy Jones, who missed last weekend's 2-0 victory over Stoke through suspension, is available once again.
Opta stats
Arsenal are unbeaten in their last 11 top-flight clashes with Sunderland (W7 D4) and have suffered defeat in just one of the last 23 versus them.
Sunderland have now won as many league games in six games under Sam Allardyce as they had in 17 matches under Dick Advocaat (3).
Allardyce has lost seven successive Premier League games against Arsenal and hasn't beaten the Gunners in the league since May 2010 (Blackburn 2-1 Arsenal).
French striker Olivier Giroud has had a hand in five goals in his five Premier League appearances against Sunderland (three goals, two assists).
Mesut Ozil has had a hand in 13 goals in his last 12 Premier League appearances (two goals, 11 assists).
Sunderland 'keeper Costel Pantilimon has made a league-high 59 saves this season in the Premier League.
Merson's predictions
It's a nice game for Arsenal this weekend.
They are struggling without Francis Coquelin playing the holding role and they have just lost Alexis Sanchez to injury but I think they will pick up a comfortable 2-0 win.
The loss of Sanchez is a big blow to Arsene Wenger but with this game in mind, they should still have too much for Sunderland.
Sam Allardyce's side have had a couple of excellent results and a have a free swing at Arsenal at the Emirates but I just think the Gunners have enough quality to pick up a much-needed three points.
PAUL PREDICTS: 2-0 (5/1 with Sky Bet)
Betting
Arsenal are huge odds-on favourites with Sky Bet to inflict an eighth win in 11 Premier League outings against 10/1 shots Sunderland.
The Gunners have slipped to fourth in the table after failing to win their last two matches at West Brom and Norwich but remain 5/2 second favourites to win the title.
Back-to-back wins to nil have dragged Sunderland out of the drop zone but they remain 1/2 to be relegated this term.
If Arsenal do find the net Olivier Giroud is 5/2 favourite to break the deadlock and 8/15 to net anytime.
Our Sky Sports tipsters Matt Le Tissier, Phil Thompson and Jamie Redknapp are unanimous in their backing of Gunners. See their tips here.
