Sunderland vs Arsenal - Premier League LIVE: Latest score, team news and updates as Mikel Arteta has chance to go NINE POINTS CLEAR at the top of the league

'We'll see during the game if we can find an opportunity to score because it's really tough to score agains them. We need to improve our stlye and game model and we need to play against the bet to improve this part of our project,' he said.

On Granit Xhaka: 'He's really important for us. He's a really good player, a strong leader with the ability to lead by example and help create new players. It fits with our journey.'

Mikel Arteta has been speaking with Sky Sports.

'It's exciitng to come here and earnt he right to win the game. Every place in the Premier LEague isa tough game to come,' he said.

On Mikel Merino: 'When you move a player from the deeper position to a front one is complicated. He's done a brilliant job. Normally the other way round is easier.'

Just a day after Thomas Tuchel reiterated how Myles Lewis-Skelly needs to start more games to enhance his England prospects, he has once again been named on the bench by Mikel Arteta.

At most other clubs he'd be getting a lot more game time but when a side has as much depth as Arsenal, it's tricky to nail down a starting place.

Granit Xhaka has gone from strength to strength in his 30s. He shows no sign of slowing down. What a season he's having.

Dominic King explores his Premier League revival.

'If you're good enough, you're old enough.' So the adage goes.

I'm sure that Arsenal have much more medical and physiological expertise in their ranks than my brain contains.

But, I do have some reservations about the level of action and attention for Max Dowman. In midweek he became the youngest player in Champions League history. He turns 16 on December 31.

We've seen some players start off exceptionally young and be frazzled by their early 20s or suffer repeated injuries.

So, I understand all the hype, and he clearly has lots of talent, but coping with the physicality and demands of the first team, that's a tall order and we'll only know the full consequences down the line.

Few thought that Mikel Merino would ever be leading the line for Arenal when he signed as fairly neutrally-minded midfielder in the summer of 2024.

But he stepped up when needed up front last campaign, notching nine goals, and was back in the limelight in midweek with two goals against Slavia Prague.

Here's a long read on how he has done it by our Arsenal reporter Isaan Khan.

Not to put a downer on things, but events over at local rivals Middlesbrough serves as a reminder to Sunderland fans that loyalty in football can be a fragile thing.

It looks as if Rob Edwards is going to walk out on Middlesbrough to join Wolves. You wonder how long it will be before somebody comes calling for Regis Le Bris at the Stadium of Light.

He's done an impeccable job since he has come in, getting them promoted via the play-offs and now having them in a Champions League spot.

May it last, the Sunderland fans hope.

It's an unchanged team from Regis Le Bris from the team that drew 1-1 against Everton. Confidence in his men.

Mikel Arteta makes three changes from the side that beat Slavia Prague 3-0 on Tuesday night.

Calafiori, Zubimendi, and Eze come in.

Hincapie, Norgaard, and Nwaneri are sacrificed.

Gyokeres is still out injured so it appears Merino will lead the line again after scoring twice in midweek.

Arsenal can go a whopping nine points clear of Manchester City if they win today.

Obviously, City then play Liverpool tomorrow and can re-bridge the gap, but what a statement it would be at this stage of the season to almost be leading them by double figures.

Sunderland will have something to say about that and can go second, just four points behind Mikel Arteta's men, if they win today.

Sunderland have made the best start out of any promoted team in the Premier League for the last 17 years.

Their haul of 18 points from 10 games puts them fifth in the Premier League.

But Sunderland fans with a decent memory will remember when times were harder.

Perennial strugglers in the top flight the last time they were here, Arsenal were particularly stern opponents.

The Black Cats are winless in their last 15 Premier League assignments against the Gunners, having lost 10 of those and drawn five.