Prediction: Arsenal vs Sunderland

Verdict: Arsenal win to nil

Best Odds: 4/5

Bookmaker: Unibet

Looking to extend on their EFL Cup adventure on Tuesday night, Arsenal will welcome League One outfit Sunderland to the Emirates in midweek.

Arsenal

Starting with the hosts, while Arsenal might have opened the 2021/22 campaign in the midst of a nightmare run of form, the Gunners have certainly came roaring back. Making the trip to a heavily-weakened Leeds over the weekend, Mikel Arteta’s men kept the mood in their camp at a red-hot high with a deserved 4-1 romp at Elland Road. Managing to prove to their last-gasp 2-1 defeat against Everton was just a minor blip earlier in the month, the north London outfit have won each of their last three Premier League contests. Finding a route back into the top-four and building off of their 2-0 win against fellow Champions League dreamers West Ham, Arteta’s men will now have their sights set on claiming another piece of silverware this season. Smelling what is another golden chance in the capital on Tuesday night, Arsenal have also continued to shine on home soil. It should be noted, the midweek hosts have won each of their last six straight contests at the Emirates, conceding just a single strike.

Team News

Given their stacked Christmas schedule, Mikel Arteta should be tempted to make a host of changes on Tuesday night.

The likes of Eddie Nketiah, Nicolas Pepe, Rob Holding, Callum Chambers and Nuno Tavares are also expected to come back in at the Emirates.

Sunderland

As for the visitors, while Sunderland might still find themselves battling it out at the top of the League One table, Lee Johnson’s men are now seeking some stability. Having to come from behind away at Ipswich over the weekend and settling for a 1-1 draw in east Anglia, the Black Cats have won just four of their previous 12 matchups across all formats, a run that stems all the way back to October 26th. Knowing that they will face a huge task when they make the trip to north London on Tuesday night, the former Bristol City boss has also seen his side show some extended problems away from the Stadium of Light. Including back-to-back 5-1 and 3-0 drummings against Rotherham and Sheffield Wednesday, Johnson’s men have won just one of their last five contests on the road. Suffering a 2-0 loss when they last faced off against the Gunners back in 2017, it should be noted that they have failed to win any of their last 11 meetings against the Premier League giants.

Team News

In what is another real blow to Sunderland, german forward Leon Dajaku is expected to miss out here after limping off over the weekend.

Likewise, both Luke O’Nein and Aiden McGeady are not likely to travel to the Emirates on Tuesday night.

Key Factors to Consider

• When Tuesday’s opponents last faced off back in 2017, Arsenal picked up a 2-0 victory at the Emirates.
• Likewise, the Gunners are unbeaten in each of their last 11 straight meetings against Sunderland.
• The Black Cats have won just four of their previous 12 matchups across all formats, a run that stems all the way back to October 26th.
• Sunderland have also won just one of their last five contests away from the Stadium of Light.
• Arsenal have won each of their last six home fixtures, conceding just a single goal on that run.

Conclusion

Breezing their way to a 4-1 romp against Leeds on the road last time out, there is no doubt that Arsenal will be smelling a golden chance here. Skyrocketing their way into the top-four and continuing to shine with their displays at the Emirates, Sunderland will be more than aware they face a huge task in north London. Winning each of their last six straight showdowns in the capital, it should also be noted that Arteta’s men have conceded just a single strike in any of those home fixtures. With the Black Cats showing their own problems on the road, it is hard to look past their woeful record against their Premier League opponents. While Arsenal are expected to make a host of changes here, we’re backing a routine home victory on Tuesday night.

Verdict: Arsenal win to nil

Best Odds: 4/5

Bookmaker: Unibet