Arsenal will look to continue their perfect start to the defence of their Premier League crown as they travel to the Stadium of Light to take on Sunderland on Saturday night.
The Gunners have made a perfect start to this campaign, as they followed up their Community Shield success over Manchester City by winning each of their opening three Premier League encounters.
The latest of which came at home to London rivals Chelsea last weekend, as goals from Kai Havertz and Martin Odegaard cancelled out Morgan Rogers’s early strike for the Blues.
Mikel Arteta’s men also travel to the Stadium of Light off the back of Champions League success in midweek, as they won 0-1 in Naples against Napoli in the opening match of their Champions League league phase campaign – on an evening I landed a 20/21 winner.
Sunderland opened up their Premier League campaign with a 2-1 defeat away at newly-promoted Ipswich Town, but Regis Le Bris’s hosts have since gone on to take four points from the next six available.
The Black Cats defeated Fulham at home by a goal to nil, before a late Enzo Le Fee penalty earned them a point away at Brentford last weekend.
Sunderland kept that momentum going in midweek as they booked their spot in the fourth round of the Carabao Cup by defeating Hull City 1-0 in front of their supporters.
How the bookies view it: Arsenal favourites
Arsenal are favourites to continue their 100% start to the campaign, with bet365 pricing an away success at just 12/25.
Sunderland are 13/2 to inflict Arsenal’s first defeat this season, whilst the draw is 31/10.
Head to head: Gunners dominance
Arsenal are unbeaten in each of their previous 15 Premier League matches against Sunderland (W10-D5-L0), with their last defeat coming at the Stadium of Light in 2009 thanks to a Darren Bent goal.
However, the Black Cats will take plenty of encouragement from their dramatic 2-2 at home to the Gunners last season.
Players to watch: More magic from Martin
Martin Odegaard has had a terrific start to the campaign for Arsenal, with the Gunners skipper already having registered four goals to his name in all competitions.
The Norwegian midfielder was the match-winner in Naples on Wednesday night, and he is an appealing 6/4 at bet365 to Score or Assist on Saturday.
Backed a player to find the net? Check our Goalscorer Betting guide to see how the markets work and where to find value.
Predicted line-ups:
Sunderland’s only absence will be Habib Diarra who is injured.
Arsenal will still be without William Saliba, whilst fellow defenders Cristhian Mosquera and Jurrien Timber are doubts.
Sunderland: Roefs, Meunier, Mukiele, Ballard, Danso, Reinildo, Angulo, Sadiki, Xhaka, Le Fee, Brobbey
Arsenal: Raya, White, Gabriel, Konsa, Calafiori, Rice, Lewis-Skelly, Saka, Odegaard, Tzolis, Havertz
Anything else catch the eye?
Mikel Arteta only has to look back on this fixture last season to understand how tough a test the Stadium of Light can be under the lights.
However, the Gunners have started the season fantastically, winning all five of their matches in all competitions, scoring 10 times and conceding just once.
Arsenal are just 12/25 at bet365 to continue their winning run, but that can be boosted to 1/1 by throwing Under 3.5 Goals – a selection that has landed in all five of the Gunners’ victories this season.
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