Mesut Ozil
Mesut Ozil will be key for Arsenal in their clash against Sunderland due to the absence of Santi Cazorla and Alexis Sanchez Getty

Arsenal welcomes Sunderland to the Emirates Stadium for a Premier League clash on Saturday, 5 December.

Where to Watch Live

Kick-off is set for 3pm GMT. There is no live TV coverage of the game in the UK. Catch the highlights on Match of the Day at 10.20pm GMT on BBC One.

Overview

Arsenal will look to get back to winning ways in the Premier League when they host Sunderland on Saturday. The Gunners have taken just one point from their previous two fixtures against West Bromwich Albion and Norwich City.

Arsene Wenger's team, who are fraught with injury troubles, are currently in fourth place, two points behind league leaders Manchester City. The north London club are without eight first-team players including key members Alexis Sanchez, Santi Cazorla and Francis Coquelin.

Sunderland, meanwhile, are coming into this game on the back to two consecutive wins, their first two in the Premier League this season. Sam Allardyce has been entrusted with the job of keeping them in the top flight and after a difficult start, he has opened their account with back-to-back wins against Crystal Palace and Stoke City.

The former West Ham United manager has always enjoyed playing against Wenger's teams and will be hoping to pile more misery on the Frenchman when they meet at the Emirates Stadium on Saturday.

What Managers Say

Arsene Wenger: "I believe first of all it's always a disappointment to lose the players at an important moment of the season. But on the other hand, it's a great challenge to take for the team and a great opportunity to show that we are ready for a fight and we can deal with it. We prepared ourselves to go through periods like that, and I'm convinced the players are ready."

Sam Allardyce: "I think the strength in depth of Arsene's squad is why they have always qualified for Europe and always got through the group stages and finished in the top four. I think you could say it weakens the side slightly.

"We have a chance, maybe a better chance when those players are not playing, but they've still got a top quality squad of international players throughout so only Saturday will tell on how we play, how we approach the game and if we can play our very best game."

Betting Odds (888Sport.com)

  • Arsenal win: 1/4
  • Draw: 5
  • Sunderland win: 12

Arsenal

  • Injured: Arteta (ankle), Welbeck (knee), Wilshere (shin), Rosicky (knee), Cazorla (knee), Sanchez (hamstring), Coquelin (knee)
  • Doubtful: Walcott
  • Suspended: N/A

Possible XI: Cech, Bellerin, Gabriel, Mertesacker, Gibbs, Flamini, Ramsey, Ozil, Chamberlain, Giroud.

Sunderland

  • Injured: Defoe, Larsson, Rodwell
  • Doubtful: N/A
  • Suspended: N/A

Possible XI: Pantilimon; Coates, O'Shea, Kaboul, Yedlin; M'Vila, Cattermole, Van Aanholt ; Gomez, Fletcher, Watmore.

Arsene Wenger Arsenal FC Premier League