Arsenal – Sunderland: Gunners want to keep control of the Premier League 
Before they drag out the red Liverpool scarves on Sunday, Arsenal fans will be back in the club’s red-and-white on Saturday, shoving the team on that’s running on full throttle. Sunderland arrive at the Emirates dreaming of Europe, but realistically with a colossal task against the league leaders. The Gunners come home buoyed by a League Cup semi that sent them to Wembley. The Black Cats keep surprising in their first season back. Two stories collide in a Premier League that doesn’t do mercy.
Arsenal: league leaders, record breakers 
Last week a few warned of a trap. Three league games without a win, two without a goal, a tight European qualification against Kairat, and Leeds waiting at Elland Road — everything aligned for a stumble. Arsenal answered hard. 4-0. No argument. Even without late absences Merino and Saka, Arteta’s men rolled, relentless, turning every burst into a statement. Matchweek 24 favoured the Londoners. Villa got caught by Brentford, City were held by Spurs, and Arsenal stretched six points clear at the top.
Even better, the shot at a historic quadruple is still alive. The League Cup semi second leg with Chelsea wasn’t exactly a classic, but Kai Havertz’s injury-time goal was enough to send Arsenal to Wembley. At the Emirates the stats are dizzying: 43 league matches unbeaten against promoted sides. A run that goes back more than twenty years, shared only with Chelsea. A statistical fortress. Fans will watch tomorrow too, hoping Liverpool can trip up City. But first, they have to get the job done.
Sunderland: the cheek of a promoted side, checked on the road 
Winter was rough. Five games without a win around the holidays. Doubts piled up. Then Sunderland found form. Three wins in their last four outings in all competitions, including a 3-0 demolition of Burnley — Diarra, Talbi and even an Axel Tuanzebe own goal wrapped it up. The result: a tidy eighth, just three points off the top six and five off the top four. Europe isn’t that far.
But there’s a problem: away days. Seven Premier League matches without an away win since October. That nagging feeling of being on the back foot, defending too deep, giving up too many shots. Sunderland have conceded a ton this season — the third-highest total in the division — even if the defense has often held their nerve. A win here would be historic: the first promoted side to beat Arsenal and Chelsea in the same season. The Black Cats already nicked a point in the reverse, 2-2 in November. Beating the leaders at their ground? Not since 1983. A lifetime.
Likely lineups
Arsenal :
Raya ; White, Saliba, Gabriel, Calafiori ; Havertz, Zubimendi, Rice ; Madueke, Jesus, Trossard
Sunderland :
Roefs ; Hume, Mukiele, Ballard, Alderete, Reinildo ; Le Fee, Diarra, Sadiki, Talbi ; Brobbey
Match Prediction Arsenal vs Sunderland
Under 2.5 goals
Arsenal know how to win without looking like they’re trying hard when the situation calls for it. Sunderland travel poorly and give away too many situations. Everything points to a controlled Arsenal performance, not necessarily a goal-fest. Solid, patient, surgical.
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