Gabriel Jesus and Kai Havertz are both back in the starting lineup for our Premier League clash at home to Sunderland.
Fresh from scoring the last-minute winner against Chelsea on Tuesday night, Havertz comes in for just his second start in the league this season.
Gabriel Jesus starts up front in place of Viktor Gyokeres, and there are three other changes to the side that started our midweek cup win.
David Raya returns in goal, while Riccardo Calafiori starts at left back with Piero Hincapie on the bench. It’s Calafiori’s first league start of 2026. The other change comes on the left wing, where Leandro Trossard replaces Gabriel Martinelli.
Martin Odegaard is still absent from the matchday squad, as are Bukayo Saka and Mikel Merino, so Gabriel captains the team.
The visitors stick with the side that beat Burnley 3-0 at home on Monday night. That means former Gunners academy graduate Dan Ballard starts again in the heart of the defence, but Granit Xhaka has not recovered from injury in time to face us at Emirates Stadium.
LINE-UPS
Arsenal: Raya, Timber, Saliba, Gabriel, Calafiori, Zubimendi, Rice, Havertz, Trossard, Madueke, Jesus.
Subs: Arrizabalaga, Mosquera, White, Hincapie, Eze, Martinelli, Gyokeres, Norgaard, Lewis-Skelly.
Sunderland: Roefs, Mukiele, Ballard, Alderete, Mandava, Hume, Sadiki, Le Fee, Diarra, Talbi, Brobbey.
Subs: Ellborg, Geertruida, Cirkin, Rigg, O’Nien, Mundle, Angulo, Isidor, Mayenda.
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Preview: Arsenal v Sunderland
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