With two points from their opening nine Premier League games, Sunderland have made the worst start to a top tier season since Sheffield Wednesday – (who had only one point at the same stage) – back in 1999-2000. Arsenal are probably the last team David Moyes would want to be facing as he strives to secure an elusive first league victory since succeeding Sam Allardyce in July but a crowd well in excess of 45,000 is expected to turn up to see him try. Its collective mood could prove influential. Louise Taylor
Kick-off Saturday 12.30pm
Venue Stadium of Light
Last season Sunderland 0 Arsenal 0
Live Sky Sports 1
Referee A Name
This season G0, Y00, R0, 0.0 cards per game
Odds H 8-1 A 1-2 D 4-1
Sunderland
Subs from Mika, Jones, Djilobodji, Love, Pienaar, Anichebe, Honeyman, Gooch, Asoro, Januzaj, Denayer
Doubtful Denayer (groin), Januzaj (hamstring)
Injured Mannone (elbow, 19 Nov), Borini (groin, Dec), Kirchhoff (hamstring, Dec), Cattermole (back, unknown), Larsson (knee, unknown)
Suspended None
Form LLDLL
Discipline Y18 R1
Leading scorer Defoe 4
Arsenal
Subs from Ospina, Martínez, Debuchy, Jenkinson, Gabriel, Holding, Ramsey, Reine-Adélaïde, Akpom, Sanogo, Giroud, Monreal, Cazorla, Walcott
Doubtful Cazorla (achilles), Monreal (match fitness), Walcott (hamstring)
Injured Pérez (ankle, Dec), Mertesacker, Welbeck (both knee, Jan)
Suspended Xhaka (last of three)
Form WWWWD
Discipline Y11 R1
Leading scorer Walcott 5
