Premier League: Sunderland v Arsenal match preview

A look ahead to the match at the Stadium of Light

Mesut Ozil in training with Arsenal (GETTY IMAGES)

Arsenal’s new £42.5m signing Mesut Ozil is expected to make his debut in the North-east this weekend as Arsene Wenger’s side take on the Black Cats.

The Gunners will travel to The Stadium of Light full of confidence from their 1-0 victory in the north London derby before the international break. Despite the poor start to the season, Wenger’s side are now beginning to create a run of form, winning four games on the trot, including the Champions League qualifier against Fenerbahce which put Arsenal through to the group stages of the competition.

Paolo Di Canio will be desperate to take something away from the tie as his side are already sitting nineteenth in the Premier League with just one point from a possible nine. The Black Cats strengthened their squad on transfer deadline day with former Liverpool players, Fabio Borini and Andrea Dossena being brought in by Di Canio to add to his offence and tighten up his defence. The Italian will certainly be looking for a better performance on Saturday as he berated the ‘pathetic’ goals his side conceded against Crystal Palace in their last game.

Kick-off: Saturday 3pm

Past Meetings:

Sunderland 0 Arsenal 1 (Santi Cazorla), Premier League, February 2013

Arsenal 0 Sunderland 0, Premier League, August 2012

Sunderland 2 (Richardson, Oxlade-Chamberlain OG) Arsenal 0, FA Cup, February 2012

Stats:

All of Arsenal's goals in the Premier League this season have been scored with the left foot

The Gunners have not lost away from home in the Premier League since 3 March

Sunderland have failed to score more than one goal in the Premier League since their 3-0 win at Newcastle in April – they have played in eight games since then.

Odds:

Sunderland win – 5.75

Arsenal win – 1.7

Draw – 3.8

TV: Highlights on Match of the Day on BBC1, Saturday at 22:30