Sunderland make the long midweek trip to London to face a youthful Arsenal side who are surpassing all expectations this season.
Mikel Arteta's side are fourth in the Premier League after an impressive start to the campaign and have won three of their last five fixtures.
However, with Covid-19 looking to derail English football once again, Arteta insists he has to have a "really positive approach" ahead of Sunderland's visit to the Emirates.
Speaking to Football London, Arteta said: "Have a really positive approach and your mindset ready that unpredictable things are going to happen - and stop complaining about everything that happens.
"Then you will find excuses, we can find excuses for everything. We know what is going to happen, we know bad news will come probably so we have to expect it and try to prevent it if we can with all the protocols we have.
"But we have to be prepared as well with Plan B, C and D."
While the Gunners are expected to rotate their side from the XI that blew Leeds United away at Elland Road, one figure who's been key in Arsenal's recent resurgence is Brazilian forward Gabriel Martinelli.
When asked if he'd been impressed by the form of the youngster, Arteta said: "You cannot play every action at 100mph, it is impossible. It is not very efficient for you because you burn yourself out after a few minutes, and then you just chasing a situation and not reading exactly what is needed.
"Gabi is doing much better at that. We have to try to do that without losing the passion, the energy and this capacity he has to just affect the game with the way he acts on the pitch.
"He trains incredibly hard, he is always willing to do more and he is not scared or afraid to take risks, and that is what I like about him."
