With Arsenal players dropping like flies, Arsene Wenger was expected to get a little creative with his team for the game at the Emirates against Sunderland.
Luckily (or worryingly, knowing how these things go) Arsenal are unbeaten in their last 11 against the Black Cats, winning seven and drawing four and have lost only one of their last 23 against them. Sam Allardyce, who apparently thinks he has a great record against Arsenal, hasn’t beaten them since 2010 and has lost his last seven games against Arsene Wenger.
Arsenal have never lost to Sunderland at the Emirates in the Premier League, however four of the last seven have ended 0-0 – the most goalless draws against any opponent in the Gunners’ Premier League history.
A team who often make it tricky for Arsenal by defending deep and in numbers, here is the 11 that Arsene will be hoping can get the Gunners back to winning ways in the league after a dodgy November that saw them pick up only two points.
Arsenal: Cech, Bellerin, Mertesacker, Koscielny, Monreal, Flamini, Ramsey, Ozil, Ox, Campbell, Giroud.
Subs: Ospina, Debuchy, Gibbs, Gabriel, Walcott, Chambers, Iwobi.
Sunderland: Pantilimon, Yedlin, van Aanholt, Kaboul, O’Shea (c), Coates, Toivonen, M’Vila, Watmore, Borini, Fletcher.
Subs: Mannone, Rodwell, Gomez, Jones, Lens, Graham, Johnson.
Referee: Robert Madley.
Assistants: M Perry, P Kirkup.
Fourth Official: J Simpson.
Here is today’s official matchday programme for #AFCvSFC pic.twitter.com/2KOoxEzgN6
— Arsenal FC (@Arsenal) December 5, 2015
Former @Arsenal man @VitoMannone88 receives a warm welcome from Gunnersaurus! pic.twitter.com/fhjU6Ww2UA — Sunderland AFC (@SunderlandAFC) December 5, 2015