Sunderland Vs Arsenal: The Black Cats Ready To Disrupt The Gunners' Dominance At Stadium Of Light

Mikel Meriono, middle on fire with Arsenal (photo; x @arsenal)

JAKARTA - A game full of nostalgia will be presented at the Stadium of Light, Saturday night, November 8, when Sunderland host Arsenal in a duel dubbed "Derby Granit Xhaka". Yes, the Swiss midfielder will face his former club in the midst of a surprising performance for his new team who is now competing at the top of the Premier League.

The promotional team, which has become a dark horse this season, is in fourth place in the standings with only seven points behind Arsenal. Regis Le Bris' team still maintains an unbeaten record at home this season, making this match a real test for Mikel Arteta and his on fire squad.

The Gunners are in 'clean sheet mania' mode. After destroying Slavia Prague 3-0 in the Champions League, they set a rare record: eight straight wins in all events without conceding a record that last occurred more than a century ago!

Arsenal juga menjadi tim dengan pertahanan paling solid di Premier League 2025/26, hanya menghadapi rata-rata 1,9 tembakan tepat sasaran per per per per pertandingan tertingkat dalam sejarah liga. Arteta jelas telah membangun basat hidup di London Utara.

Sunderland is not an easy to beat. When they fought Everton earlier this week, they fell behind through Iliman Ndiaye's goal, but Granit Xhaka, the former Arsenal captain, emerged as a savior through a deflection goal that made the score 1-1. With that performance, Sunderland is unbeaten at home and has always scored in five home games this season.

Flashback and Sunderland's last meeting record beat Arsenal in the league in 2009. Since then, the Gunners have been unbeaten in 15 consecutive meetings. But this time, with the atmosphere of the crazy Stadium of Light and a team full of promotional enthusiasm, the record could be threatened.

In this match, Arsenal lost Viktor Gyokeres who had a muscle injury after appearing brilliantly against Burnley. But the good news is, Martin Zubimendi is ready to return to play. Meanwhile Martin Odegaard, Kai Havertz, Gabriel Jesus, and Noni Madueke are still absent due to a knee injury.

From the Sunderland camp, defender Omar Alderete is still in doubt due to the effects of the rest of the concussion, while five other players are absent including Aji Alese, Dennis Cirkin, and Habib Diara.

Although Sunderland has a record scary cage, Arsenal's strong backline can be a differentiator. Gyokeres' absence did reduce the speed, but Mikel Merino has proven himself a serious threat in the penalty box. The Gunners are predicted to extend their clean sheet record even though it might be with a cold sweat at the end of the match.

The Premier League this time is indeed strange: promotional teams can compete in the Champions League zone, and Arsenal... looks like a defense engine from the upgraded George Graham era with AI.

Prediction of the line-up

Sunderland (4-3-3):Roefs; Hume, Mukiele, Marijuana, Geertruida, Reinildo; Xhaka, Sadiki; Traore, Isidor, Le Fee.

Arsenal (4-3-3):Raya; Timber, Saliba, Gabriel, Calafiori; Eze, Zubimendi, Rice; Saka, Merino, Trossard.

Score Prediction: Sunderland 0-1 Arsenal