Arsenal Aim for Fourth Straight Win at Sunderland

Arsenal return to the Stadium of Light tonight hunting a fourth straight win, a sharper edge to them than when they left here last season with only a 2-2 draw and a nagging sense of regret.

They arrive as defending Premier League champions, perfect so far: three wins from three, Chelsea beaten 2-1 in a breathless contest at the Emirates last weekend. Martin Odegaard settled that one with a ruthless finish in north London, after Morgan Rogers had stung his would-be suitors and Kai Havertz had coolly equalised against his former club.

The message from Mikel Arteta is simple. Keep going. Go harder.

Revenge on Wearside

Last November, Arsenal were seconds from all three points on Wearside. Leandro Trossard thought he had nicked it late on, only for Brian Brobbey to crash home a dramatic stoppage-time equaliser and rip up the script for the visitors.

That sting still lingers.

Arteta’s side have grown since then, hardened by a title run and a Champions League triumph, and they know Sunderland away can bruise you if you drift. The Stadium of Light, under the floodlights, rarely lets anyone stroll.

Regis Le Bris’ Sunderland have started this campaign in fits and bursts. One win, one draw, one defeat: beaten at Ipswich, then responding with a 1-0 victory over Fulham, followed by a share of the points against Brentford. Not a crisis, not a surge. Just a team looking for rhythm.

Arteta’s new ambition and looming contract

Off the pitch, Arteta is closing in on a new contract and has been clear about the scale of his ambition: he wants Arsenal to become the “best club in the world”.

His current deal runs out at the end of the season, but there has been no real doubt that he will extend. He has repeatedly insisted there is no rush, hinting last month that it was only a matter of time before fresh terms were signed.

That certainty bleeds into nights like this. The project is stable, the expectations sky-high.

Timber and Mosquera: late calls in defence

Defence remains the main selection puzzle.

Jurrien Timber, hampered by a groin problem since last season, is edging closer. Arteta has seen enough in training this week to at least consider him.

“Let’s see, we have another training session,” the manager said. “He’s been doing really well, he’s been training with us now for a few days and he looks in good shape.”

Cristhian Mosquera is a bigger doubt. The Spaniard has missed the last two games with a muscle issue picked up in the win over Aston Villa.

“He's been doing really well,” Arteta added. “Let’s see if he can get this game or the next one. It will be around that time, I think.”

Ben White, who went off late in the 1-0 win in Naples in midweek, is available.

At left-back, another change is expected. Riccardo Calafiori is set to come back into the side, with Piero Hincapie likely to drop out.

Timber has played just once since mid-March – a brief appearance off the bench in the Champions League final in May – but he has stepped up his recovery, travelling with the squad to Italy on Tuesday even though he did not make the matchday 20. Tonight could be the next step.

Guimaraes braced for hostile night

All eyes may fall on Bruno Guimaraes.

The £75million summer signing from Newcastle is in line for his first Premier League start for Arsenal. Minor injury niggles have slowed his integration, but Arteta now looks ready to unleash him from the off.

The former Newcastle captain can expect a ferocious reception at the Stadium of Light. His move to a direct rival has not been forgotten in the North East, but noise rarely rattles him and it will not alter Arteta’s plan.

Christos Tzolis and Kai Havertz are also expected to return to the starting XI after cameo roles from the bench in that gritty 1-0 win in Naples during the league phase on Wednesday night.

Three games in, Arsenal already look ominous. They have shown they can outplay and outlast, but also grind – Naples proved that.

Sunderland’s setbacks

Le Bris has fewer options to shuffle.

Romaine Mundle, who impressed in pre-season, is sidelined with a long-term knee injury that has checked his progress just as he looked ready to push on. Habib Diarra is also out, nursing a hamstring problem.

Two absentees, but two important ones in a squad that cannot afford many missteps against the champions.

Where to watch

In the UK, TNT Sports 1 will show the match live, with coverage starting at 6.30pm BST before the 8pm kick-off. TNT Sports subscribers can also stream the game via the HBO Max app and website.

Prediction: champions to edge it

Standard Sport’s verdict is clear. Arsenal have started fast and look dangerous.

Three wins from three, character shown against Chelsea, resilience on display in Naples. Sunderland away is awkward, as last year proved, but the feeling is that Arteta’s side now carry an extra layer of steel.

The call? Arsenal to win it 2-1.

If they do, the champions walk back down the tunnel on Wearside with the result that escaped them last season – and the rest of the league will feel that familiar chill.