Arsenal vs Sunderland will be played at the Emirates Stadium today. as Arsenal look to keep their spot at the top of the Premier League. The match kicks off at 3:00 PM GMT in North London.
Mikel Arteta’s team have a big chance to move nine points clear of Manchester City for at least a few hours. City play Liverpool later at Anfield today. It’s a massive afternoon for the title race and the pressure is on the home side to perform.
The Gunners are in good form right now. They have only lost once in their last 15 matches. They recently beat Leeds 4-0 and grabbed a win against Chelsea in the Carabao Cup thanks to a late goal from Kai Havertz. But there are some worries about the lineup for today.
Sky Sports reports that Bukayo Saka and Martin Odegaard were not seen at training before the game. That would be a huge blow for Arteta if his two main creative players are out.
Arsenal Injury Problems and Squad Depth
Mikel Arteta held his press conference on February 6 to talk about the squad. He didn’t give much away about who will start. Jurrien Timber was another player who missed the training sessions this week.
We also know that Mikel Merino is out with a foot injury. Max Dowman is also on the sidelines with an ankle problem. Arsenal have a deep squad this year but losing Saka and Odegaard at the same time is a lot for any team to handle.
And they’ll be hoping Havertz stays hot in front of goal. He’s been the man for the big moments lately. Arsenal have won three games in a row across all competitions after a small dip in form.
They seem to have found their rhythm again. But they can’t afford to be lazy today. Sunderland might be a promoted team but they aren’t pushovers.
They showed that when they drew 1-1 with Arsenal earlier in the season. Brian Brobbey scored a last-minute goal in that game to ruin Arsenal’s day. I bet Arteta has been reminding them about that all week.
Sunderland Struggle on the Road
Sunderland are having a decent season back in the top flight. They are currently eighth in the table with 36 points. That is a great return for a team that just came up from the Championship.
They have beaten Burnley and Crystal Palace in their recent games. But their away form is a different story.
They haven’t won a league game away from home since October. That’s a long time to go without a win on the road. It’s a tough run they’re on when they leave their own stadium.
According to Sky Sports, Sunderland will be without their captain Granit Xhaka today. He has an ankle issue and won’t make the trip to his old stadium.
He was showing signs of getting better but the medical staff decided not to risk him. They are also missing Arthur Masaku and Trand Tra.
New signing Jocelin Ta Bi is still several weeks away from being fit to play. Sunderland have been great at home where they’ve picked up 26 points. But playing at the Emirates is a different level of difficulty.
How To Follow Arsenal vs Sunderland Match
If you are in the UK you won’t be able to watch this one live on television. It’s part of the Saturday 3:00 PM blackout. It’s a bit of a pain for fans who couldn’t get tickets to the Emirates. You can follow the updates on the Goal.com website where they’ll have a live blog.
Highlights will be available on the Sky Sports app and their YouTube channel starting at 5:15 PM. If you want the full breakdown you’ll have to wait for Match of the Day at 10:25 PM on BBC One.
For fans in the United States the game starts at 10:00 AM EST. The broadcast details vary depending on where you are in the world. Many people use VPN services to access different streams but you have to check what’s legal in your area.
It’s a big game for the global audience especially with Arsenal leading the league. The Emirates will be packed out for this one. North London is always loud when the team is winning.
High Stakes at the Top of the Table
Arsenal currently hold a six-point lead at the top of the Premier League. That’s a solid gap but it can disappear fast in this league. If they beat Sunderland they go nine points clear. This puts a massive amount of pressure on Manchester City.
City have to go to Anfield later today to face Liverpool. That’s never an easy game for Pep Guardiola. Arsenal will be hoping Liverpool can do them a favor after they finish their own business against Sunderland.
Arteta has his team playing some good football. They look more mature than last year. Even with the injury scares they should have enough quality to beat an eighth-place team at home. But Sunderland have shown they can frustrate the big teams.
They’ll probably sit deep and try to hit Arsenal on the break. Without Odegaard’s passing Arsenal might find it hard to break them down. It’s going to be a nervy afternoon if the goal doesn’t come early. Arsenal need to stay focused and not think about the City game until their own 90 minutes are over.
