Tale of the game

Since beating Liverpool, Sunderland have gone three games without a win and they are still without the suspended Kenwyne Jones and Michael Turner while Lee Cattermole remains unavailable through injury.

Arsenal arrive in the North East unbeaten in their last seven Premier League games; in those they have scored 23 goals while conceding just six while Robin Van Persie has scored six in his last six League appearances, though he failed to get on the score sheet in the last outing, the 4-1 win at Wolves.

Arsenal are now without Van Persie, who joins Gael Clichy, Denilson, Nicklas Bendtner, Theo Walcott and Johan Djourou on the sidelines.

Sunderland (Probable, 4-5-1): Fulop; Bardsley, Nosworthy, Gardner, McCartney; Malbranque, Henderson, Richardson, Reid; Campbell, Bent.
Arsenal (Probable, 4-3-3): Aluminia; Sagna, Gallas, Vermaelen, Gibbs; Fabregas, Song, Diaby, Rosicky; Eduardo, Arshavin.
Referee: Alan Wiley. Matches: 11. R3 Y31

Last season: Sunderland 1 Arsenal, Arsenal 0 Sunderland 0.

Stat of the game: Arsenal have scored three goals or more in seven of their 11 Premier League games.

Betting tip: A 3-1 Arsenal victory offers 10-1.