Overview
- Arsenal remain unbeaten and will visit the Stadium of Light on Saturday after a 1-0 Champions League win in Naples that extended their perfect start to the season.
- Bookmakers make Arsenal heavy favourites for the 8pm BST match, with odds cited by Paddy Power showing a clear market expectation that the champions will win.
- Team news leaves selection questions for both sides because William Saliba is still sidelined for Arsenal while Cristhian Mosquera and Jurrien Timber are doubts and Sunderland have long-term absences such as Romaine Mundle and Habib Diarra.
- Sunderland sit on four points from three league games and plan to use a compact, direct style as they also ready for a rare Europa League tie in midweek, a schedule that could stretch their squad.
- Arsenal’s strong defence so far — multiple clean sheets and low expected goals conceded — plus Martin Ødegaard’s increased goal contributions are central to why pundits and some outlets favour starters like Viktor Gyökeres or Christos Tzolis to make the difference.