Match Day Thread Sunderland AFC v Arsenal FC - Saturday 8th November 2025 - KO 17:30

Sunderland welcome Arsenal to the Stadium of Light in the Premier League
Last time out Sunderland drew with Everton and Arsenal beat Slavia Prague.

Granit Xhaka scored his first Sunderland goal as the Black Cats came from behind to draw with Everton and move up to fourth place in the Premier League.
Everton started brightly and led through Iliman Ndiaye's fine solo goal - picking the ball up on the right before beating the defence and leaving the goalkeeper rooted to the spot. The Toffees could have increased their lead, with Jack Grealish hitting the post, until Thierno Barry missed a sitter from three yards out in the 28th minute - then suddenly everything changed. Sunderland took control of the game.
Xhaka scored their equaliser almost immediately at the start of the second half with a deflected strike from 20 yards out after Enzo le Fee's effort was blocked.
The Black Cats had the game's next 16 shots after that Barry miss, but could not find a winner. Sunderland are back in the Champions League places, more than a quarter of the way through the season
Alderete is following strict concussion protocols and is not available.
Arsenal won 3-0 away in Prague with goals from Saka and a brace from Merino. It was Arsenal’s eighth consecutive clean sheet, equalling a club record going back to 1903 !
The Gunners have kept 13 clean sheets so far this season in all competitions.
Max Dowman became the youngest player in Champions League history at 15 years and 308 days old.
Mikel Arteta’s side have a growing injury list with striker Viktor Gyokeres the latest addition after suffering a muscle injury last week, but Merino, Saka, Trossard and Eze are available.

Regis le Bris:
"It's a good point. We didn't start well. They were better than us for 25/30 minutes. We felt they were a good side and had many threats, the ability to exploit our turnovers, and we were not as consistent enough during this first part of the game to be competitive.
We switched on the last part of the first half, though, and the second half was much better where we deserved to even score a second goal."
Press conference:

Mikel Arteta:
"It's a joy to have him, (Merino)
"It's his mindset, it's his leadership, it's the way he is as a person.
"We are missing a lot of attacking players and we have to find different solutions. He comes in the Champions League and scores two goals."

Form:


Match Appointments:
Referee: CRAIG PAWSON
Assistant Referee: James Mainwaring
Assistant Referee: Matthew Wilkes
Fourth Official: Anthony Backhouse
Video Assistant Referee: James Bell
Additional Video Assistant Referee: Adam Nunn


Team Lineups:
Sunderland AFC: Roefe, Reinildo, Ballard, Mukiele, Hume Xhaka, Sadiki, Le Fee, Traore, Isidor, Talbi

Subs: Patterson, Masuaku, O’Nien, Neil, Rigg, Adingra, Geetruida, Mayenda, Brobbey.
Injured: Alese, Cirkin, Hjelde, Mundle, Diarra, Alderete.

Arsenal FC: Raya, Timber, Gabriel, Saliba, Calafiori, Rice, Zubimendi, Merino, Saka, Eze, Trossard
Substitutes: Kepa, White, Mosquera, Hincapie, Lewis-Skelly, Norgaard, Nwaneri, Dowman
Injured: Gyokeres, Jesus, Martinelli, Havertz, Madueke, Odegaard.



Betting Odds:
Sunderland 7/1 Arsenal 7/5 Draw 5/1

My two pence:
Arsenal are 5 points clear at the top of the Premier League having conceded just 3 goals this season, and have had 13 clean sheets, but as we know there are no easy games and this will be one of the hardest that they face this season.
Xhaka in beast mode again.
Can’t wait for this one, early start on Saturday to avoid the traffic and hope to see a few in the Fans Museum before the game.
I’m going for a 1-0 win to piss on Arsenal’s chips.
A large scale remembrance display is planned for this game, and fans are requested to arrive early.

Live Stream:
Sky Sports Premier League & Main Event.


Ha’way the Lads

 

We can't afford to start like we did against Everton against Arsenal

We need to be savy and clever ,

we need to summon the spirit from the Chelsea game,

close game yet again,

saying it will be 2-1 ( we tend to be the club teams record runs end)

 

Fantastic effort mate and two visits to the SOL this week, fair play to you.

This is going to be a great match for Sunderland.

Whatever happens we're a Premier League team that'll give Arsenal a tough game.

You can see the manager/players/team, and supporters, all learning as they go ...

... it's scary at times but fascinating to witness.

 

Really excited to be going on Saturday, I expect us to be more cautious and controlled to start but believe we will give them a great game,
See you in the Museum RTB

 

They’ll win the league, I have no doubt. Serious squad of players who are particularly good at defending.

Expecting a 2-0 defeat but there’d be no complaints, just hope to avoid injuries without the GD taking a proper hit.

 

I wonder if there'll be an Arsenal fan, on their board today, saying,

"Xhaka is nailed on to score, that always happens to us"

 

There was one before I posted this who didn’t fancy their chances.

 

Well, your predictions this season have been pretty poor ...

... so I'm taking this as an omen

 

People always used to say we were the best opposition to end someone's losing streak or goal drought ...

... it's about time we had a fluke result and completely turned the tables.

 

What about your Coventry City predictions? Not a clue.

 

No need to get childish, it's just a bit of fun man.

Besides you had Coventry to beat us in the play-offs didn't you?

 

This’ll be the atmosphere of the season so far at the SoL. Something about those later games, 17:30 Saturday is perfect

 

If we can get through the first fifteen minutes, a Ji moment at the end is not impossible. I just don't fancy our chances of getting through those first fifteen minutes.

 

The atmosphere will be crackling. They won’t fancy being so far away from home at 5.30 on a Saturday night. I think we should fly into them from the kick off and not let them settle. Cheer every tackle and make them wonder what the f is happening. Let them know they are in a match. Their 8 clean sheets has got to come to an end sometime.
We are living the dream at the moment, why not let it go on for another week?

 

It's called more beer

 

Chelsea took us for granted,

they didnt realise what we are capable of, and the same wil apply to Arsenal.

they will go in giving the billy big balls sh1t.

 

Aye, this lot like to defend

 

Good luck with that then! I think the crowd has a massive part to play in this fixture. A loud hostile crowd on their backs could spook them. They are a class side and may rise above it, but they are humans and we all can be sensitive to emotions.

 

We’re too good of a side to predict a defeat this season. Not saying we won’t get beat we will most definitely lose games but I can’t predict this group of players losing. After the commitment they’ve shown I’ll be backing them every game to get something.
HTL
KTF