Overview
- Pre-match models and previews project Arsenal as clear favourites, with recent form and home trends pointing toward a home win.
- Alan Shearer and Chris Sutton both predict an Arsenal victory, with Sutton calling a clean sheet based on Arsenal’s league-leading defensive record.
- Bukayo Saka is improving from a hip issue but is unlikely to feature, while Sunderland will be without former Arsenal midfielder Granit Xhaka.
- Arsenal combine a high home scoring rate and strong set-piece output with one of the stingiest defenses in the league.
- Sunderland have been resilient at home but poor on the road this season, and the reverse fixture finished 2-2 to show they can still test Arsenal.