The north London club prepare to host the north-east giants at the Emirates on Saturday afternoon.
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GK: Wojciech Szczesny
The Poland international will be desperate to make up for his match-turning red card against Bayern Munich in the Uefa Champions League at the Emirates on Wednesday night when the Black Cats come to town this weekend.
RB: Bacary Sagna
Despite all the recent media speculation surrounding the Frenchman’s future with the Gunners, the attacking full back has still been one of his side’s most consistent performers this season.
LB: Nacho Monreal
The Spaniard is in line to once again cover for injured first-choice left-back Kieran Gibbs when struggling Sunderland arrive at the Emirates on Saturday afternoon after the Englishman’s latest injury setback against Bayern in midweek.
CB: Per Mertesacker
The lanky Germany international has been an absolute rock at the back so far for the north Londoners so far in this campaign, although the experienced central defender will be hoping for a quiet day at the office against Sunderland.
CB: Laurent Koscielny
Like his centre-back partner, the pacy Frenchman has also barely put a foot wrong in his defence for the Gunners this season in what has been the most impressive central-defensive combination in the Premier League.
CM: Mathieu Flamini
How Arsenal missed the influential and hard-working defensive midfielder recently while he was out through suspension, although he will need to be alert against the counterattacking Black Cats on Saturday afternoon.
CM: Mikel Arteta
The cultured Spaniard is set to come straight back into the Arsenal starting lineup for the visit of Gus Poyet’s relegation-threatened outfit this weekend after missing his side’s 2-0 loss to Bayern in the Champions League in midweek through suspension.
RW: Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain
The England international has been Arsenal’s best player ever since he finally returned from a long layoff with a knee injury last month, with his space and eye for goal proving vital in the club’s push for honours.
LW: Santo Cazorla
The diminutive Spain international was given the hook in the first half against Bayern on Wednesday night following the dismissal of Szczesny in what was a purely tactical move by manager Arsene Wenger, but at least the wide man will now be fresh for the match with Sunderland.
AM: Mesut Ozil
It will be fascinating to see just how the club-record signing responds to his missed spot kick against Bayern at the Emirates on Wednesday when struggling Sunderland pitch up in the capital this weekend.
ST: Olivier Giroud
The France international was surprisingly dropped by Wenger for the Uefa Champions League contest with Bayern in midweek, but expect the striker to be back leading the line this weekend though.