Arsenal will be back at the Emirates stadium on Saturday, February 7, 2026 and with their traditional red and white uniforms, they will play Sunderland in a premier league match with both ends of the table having a lot to play.
The Gunners boast of 53 points after 24 games that they have taken the summit of the premier league and Sunderland has silently impressed since coming back in the top league with 36 points.
As Arsenal pursue silverware in several fronts and Sunderland seek to demonstrate that they are a part of the elite in England, this would be an interesting, intense and possibly goal-laden match.
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Context of the Match: Building Momentum with the Emirates.
Although the team then suffered a brief hiccup, losing three successive league matches, Mikel Arteta and his team convincingly shut the mouth piece of critics with a resounding 4 goals to 0 win over Leeds United at Elland Road last weekend. This was in spite of the late injury blow to Bukayo Saka and Mikel Merino, which demonstrates the richness and experience of this Arsenal team.
During the midweek, the Gunners made it to the final of EFL Cup at Wembley, with a last-minute effort by Havertz, who gave them a one-goal lead over Chelsea. It was not the classic, but a type of gritty win that champions usually create.
Arsenal are now pursuing the fourth win in every competition and they will be eager to keep the lead at the top, more so considering the fact that their rivals in the title are very close behind.
Fortress Emirates: Arsenal Home Advantage.
Suddenly, the Emirates Stadium has been made one of the most difficult league grounds. Arsenal are:
Has not lost 43 consecutive home games in the Premier League against new entrants.
9 wins out of their 11 recent games played at home.
This season has an average of 1.9 goals per home game.
Having four clean sheets in the final ten domestic matches.
Arsenal also has a very good history over Sunderland with a record of 7-3-0 in the ten previous league games that they have had but the reverse match a few months back had a very exciting draw of 2-2.
Sunderland: Competitive but Road-Wearied.
Sunderland come to North London with renewed self belief following a comfortable 3-0 victory over Burnley, which had served to underline the rising prominence of such players as Habib Diarra and Chemsdine Talbi.
Nevertheless, it is the Achilles heel of the Black Cats, away form. They have:
Lost all their seven final away games in the Premier League.
Only scored three goals in six consecutive away matches.
Has not lost away to league leaders since 1983.
Nevertheless, the side of Regis Le Bris has been resilient and has attracted strong contests and even proven to be able to frustrate some of the best teams, including Arsenal themselves in the first segment of this season.
A victory on Saturday would see Sunderland to be the first promoted team to defeat both Arsenal and Chelsea in the same Premier League season.
Team News and Injury Update
Arsenal
The medical staff of Arsenal has been on its feet during the past few weeks:
Bukayo Saka- Doubtful (muscle complication, late fitness test)
Martin Ødegaard -Niggle, minor, optimistic of participation.
Mikel Merino -Out long-term (foot surgery)
Max Dowman – Recovering (ankle)
Kai Havertz is poised to be back the starting line-up following his cup heroics, whereas Arteta can afford to make a few small rotations with one hand on the congestion of fixtures.
Sunderland
The visitors are less concerned:
Granit Xhaka – out (ankle injury)
Bertrand Traoré -near come-back.
Jocelin Ta Bi – Doubtful
Daniel Ballard and Brian Brobbey are likely to begin and Brobbey will hope to have a rare distinction of being the first to score home and away against Arsenal in the same league season.
Predicted Lineups
Arsenal (4-3-3)
Raya; White, Saliba, Gabriel, Calafiori; Havertz, Zubimendi, Rice; Madueke, Jesus, Trossard
Sunderland (3-4-2-1)
Roefs; Mukiele, Ballard, Alderete; Hume, Diarra, Sadiki, Reinildo; Le Fee, Talbi; Brobbey
Tactical Battle: Conflict vs Compactness
Madueke and Trossard will be used by Arsenal to dominate the possession, press high, and overload the wide areas. The part played by Declan Rice in transition breaking will play an important role against the goal-oriented midfield of Sunderland.
Sunderland, in their turn, will probably sit close, pressurize, and seek an opportunity to take space by using vertical passes with a vertical strike to Brobbey, backed by Talbi and Le Fee.
The initial objective might be the clincher - Arsenal has played well when on the offensive, and Sunderland has not played away well when compelled to play on the offensive.
Key Stats to Watch
Arsenal have experienced more than 2.5 goals in 7 consecutive games.
The previous 17 away league matches of Sunderland have remained below 3.5 goals.
The teams have recorded 5 out of 10 consecutive wins.
Arsenal have an average of 2. 1 goals against Sunderland.
Match Prediction
Arsenal are overwhelming favourites in the game, given that they are on a magnificent home record, have a better squad depth and a title momentum. Sunderland are well-organised and can resist, though their away struggles can turn out to be expensive again.
Prognosis: Arsenal 3-1 Sunderland.
Win probability: Arsenal 62%
Final Word
As Arsenal head to the silverware and the Premier League title run gets tighter, the club is aware that it has little room to spare. Sunderland can come with a sense of confidence, but the Emirates has not been very generous to promoted teams in the past and this weekend might not be an exception.
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