Pep Guardiola: Arsenal look ‘almost impossible’ to stop but have long way to go
Pep Guardiola admits it may seem like stopping Arsenal is “almost impossible” but is well aware titles are not won in November.
The match is important for both clubs as they look to keep the pressure on the Gunners at the top of the table.
Chris Wilson8 November 2025 16:40
Sunderland XI: Roefs; Hume, Mukiele, Ballard, Geertruida, Reinildo; Traore, Xhaka, Sadiki, Le Fee; Isidor.
Arsenal XI: Raya; Timber, Saliba, Gabriel, Calafiori; Eze, Zubimendi, Rice; Saka, Merino, Trossard.
Will Castle8 November 2025 16:16
The line-ups will be released in around five minutes so here’s a reminder of the early team news…
Granit Xhaka will be set to face his former club as Black Cats skipper, who has been sensational since his summer move. In terms of injuries, defender Omar Alderete will be touch-and-go as he aims for a return from a concussion, while Aji Alese, Dennis Cirkin, Romaine Mundle, Leo Fuhr Hjelde and Habib Diarra remain out.
Arsenal will be without Viktor Gyokeres after the Swede suffered a cruel setback against Burnley, but Martin Zubimendi is expected to be fit to feature. Gabriel Martinelli, out with a muscle problem, joins the quartet of Noni Madueke, Kai Havertz, Gabriel Jesus and Martin Odegaard on the sidelines, all of whom are recovering from knee injuries.
Chris Wilson8 November 2025 16:10
Sunderland are winless in their last 15 Premier League games against Arsenal (D5 L10), since a 1-0 home victory in November 2009.
However, all three of Arsenal’s Premier League defeats against Sunderland have come away from home, and all by a 1-0 scoreline (January 1997, August 2000, November 2009). Indeed, they’ve never conceded more than once in 16 visits to the Black Cats in the competition.
Chris Wilson8 November 2025 16:00
Mikel Arteta responds to Thomas Tuchel dropping Myles Lewis-Skelly for latest England squad
The 25-man squad for November’s fixtures against Serbia and Albania was released on Thursday, with the Arsenal left-back left out having featured in October’s camp.
Chris Wilson8 November 2025 15:50
Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta backs former captain Granit Xhaka to become a ‘great coach’
The Spaniard acknowledged that the midfielder is a long way off hanging up his boots, however, having played every minute for newly-promoted Sunderland since he joined in July after a two-year spell at Bayer Leverkusen.
Arteta reluctantly allowed Xhaka to leave after seven seasons at the north London club in 2023, but spoke fondly of him before the trip to Stadium of Light on Saturday and tipped him for a future in management after he started his coaching badges at Emirates Stadium.
Chris Wilson8 November 2025 15:35
When is Sunderland vs Arsenal?
Sunderland’s clash with Arsenal in the Premier League kicks off at 5.30pm GMT on Saturday 8 November at the Stadium of Light in Sunderland.
Viewers in the UK will be able to watch the game on Sky Sports Main Event and Sky Sports Premier League, with coverage starting at 5pm GMT. Subscribers can also watch the game on streaming platform Sky Go.
If you’re not a Sky customer, you can grab a NOWTV Day Pass here to watch without a subscription.
Chris Wilson8 November 2025 15:25
Sunderland XI: Roefs; Hume, Mukiele, Ballard, Geertruida, Reinildo; Traore, Xhaka, Sadiki, Le Fee; Isido.
Arsenal XI: Raya; Timber, Saliba, Gabriel, Calafiori; Eze, Zubimendi, Rice; Saka, Merino, Trossard.
Chris Wilson8 November 2025 15:20
Arsenal will be without Viktor Gyokeres after the Swede suffered a cruel setback against Burnley, but Martin Zubimendi is expected to be fit to feature. Gabriel Martinelli, out with a muscle problem, joins the quartet of Noni Madueke, Kai Havertz, Gabriel Jesus and Martin Odegaard on the sidelines, all of whom are recovering from knee injuries.
Chris Wilson8 November 2025 15:13
Granit Xhaka will be set to face his former club as Black Cats skipper, who has been sensational since his summer move. In terms of injuries, defender Omar Alderete will be touch-and-go as he aims for a return from a concussion, while Aji Alese, Dennis Cirkin, Romaine Mundle, Leo Fuhr Hjelde and Habib Diarra remain out.
Chris Wilson8 November 2025 15:10