Arsenal vs Sunderland Predictions

• Arsenal have won 13 of their last 16 at home
• Sunderland have won only two of their 12 away league games
• The Black Cats have failed to score in seven of their 12 away matches

Gunners bidding to cap off stellar week

Arsenal booked their place in the EFL Cup final with a 1-0 victory at home to London rivals Chelsea on Tuesday and they are six points clear of Manchester City in the Premier League title race.

The Gunners have lost only three of their 24 matches, winning on 16 occasions, and come into this Emirates showdown on the back of a 4-0 rout of Leeds at Elland Road.

Mikel Arteta’s side were frustrated in a 2-2 draw against Sunderland at the Stadium of Light and the Black Cats have been this season’s surprise package, sitting eighth after Monday’s routine 3-0 success over Burnley.

However, Sunderland have picked up 26 of their 36 points at their home fortress and they have won just twice in 12 away trips, which are ominous signs for a trip to the league leaders.

Black Cats have road woes to address

Only Manchester City, Liverpool and Manchester United have picked up positive results at the Emirates and ten clean sheets in 19 home games show why Arsenal remain the Premier League’s most robust side defensively.

Sunderland have scored just six goals in 12 away league games, failing to score on seven occasions, so should be fearing the worst in the capital.

An Arsenal win to nil makes the most punting appeal. The Gunners will want an easy ride ahead of Thursday’s trip to Brentford and Arteta isn’t always one to let the shackles off when his team are in the driving seat.

Sunderland have lost 3-1 at West Ham and 3-0 at Brentford in their last two away league trips and, having also shipped three without scoring in defeat to Manchester City at the Etihad, they could suffer a similar fate at the Emirates.

Arsenal are blessed with such squad depth that Arteta can shuffle his pack plenty without losing much impetus and they should be able to chalk up another win and clean sheet as they hunt down Premier League silverware.