Tonight’s Premier League action sees Arsenal play hosts to Sunderland at the Emirates Stadium.
It’s a match featuring two sides with completely alternate motives. Arsenal need a win to ensure their race with Manchester City for second place in the Premier League table goes down to the final day of the season, whilst the Black Cats require one point from their final two fixtures (the other being against reigning champions Chelsea on Sunday) to guarantee their top flight status for another year.
That suggests the Gunners enter tonight’s affair as the firm favourites. They also boast a strong track record against the Wearside outfit, with four wins and one draw from their last six encounters.
But Sunderland are currently fourth in the Premier League’s form table, whilst Arsenal are without a win in their last two games, losing late in a 1-0 defeat to Swansea and drawing 1-1 with Manchester United last weekend.
So how will this one pan out? Perhaps the starting Xis, officially confirmed on Twitter just moments ago, can shed some light on the debate:
.@Arsenal team to play Sunderland: Ospina, Bellerin, Mertesacker, Koscielny, Gibbs, Ramsey, Cazorla, Wilshere, Ozil, Alexis, Giroud #AFCvSFC
— Arsenal FC (@Arsenal) May 20, 2015
.@Arsenal subs: Szczesny, Gabriel, Monreal, Coquelin, Flamini, Rosicky, Walcott #AFCvSFC
— Arsenal FC (@Arsenal) May 20, 2015
#SAFC team: Pantilimon, Jones, van Aanholt, O’Shea (c), Coates, Cattermole, Larsson, Johnson, Graham, Defoe, Wickham. #ARSSUN
— Sunderland AFC (@SunderlandAFC) May 20, 2015
#SAFC subs: Rodwell, Fletcher, Reveillere, Giaccherini, Vergini, Buckley, Mannone. #ARSSUN
— Sunderland AFC (@SunderlandAFC) May 20, 2015
Yet another heroic performance from Billy Jones