Arsenal will be able to call upon record signing Mesut Ozil on Saturday when they travel to the Stadium of Light to play Sunderland. Arsene Wenger's Arsenal (2-0-1) started the season in disarray, with a lack of transfer activity providing the backdrop to their opening weekend defeat to Aston Villa. However, less than a month later, it's all smiles at the Emirates.
This is why I am at the right club. I cannot promise to win trophies, but I can promise that as a team we will give our all to win trophies. "Arsenal is a very well-known club, a very successful club with very young players, and the young players develop very well here. This was one of the reasons why I chose to come here, I want to continue to improve myself. I am really happy to be here under such a great manager. That was most important for us, what he (Wenger) thinks about me, what his plans are with me. I decided to come to Arsenal because I have the trust in this familiar environment." Paolo Di Canio's Sunderland (0-1-2) have just one point from their opening three games.
However, the Italian has brought in a host of new faces to the squad since being appointed in March, and one of those new players, Ki Sung-Yeung, is looking forward to this challenging match. "It's not easy to play against the big teams," said the midfielder, who is at Sunderland on a season's loan from Swansea City. "I played against Arsenal four times last season, including the cups, so I know them well. They are a good side, one of the best in the country, but we are at home and looking to win.
It will be a very interesting game. "There's always pressure on the new boys, but I have to overcome that and show why I'm here." Sunderland have injury doubts over John O'Shea (ankle), Connor Wickham (knock), Craig Gardner (groin), Wes Brown (knee), Lee Cattermole (knee) and Phil Bardsley (ankle). Arsenal are without Lukas Podolski (hamstring), Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain (knee), Mikel Arteta (hip), Thomas Vermaelen (back) and Abou Diaby (knee), while Theo Walcott (ankle), Tomas Rosicky (hip) and Yanick Sanogo (back) are doubts. There was just one goal in the two league games between these sides last season - a Santi Cazorla strike in a 1-0 win at the Stadium of Light.
The meeting at the Emirates ended goalless. The Black Cats have not won any of their last seven against Arsenal, losing four and drawing three. The Mackems have also failed to score more than once in any of their last 11 matches against the Gunners, and managed more than a single goal only once in their last 13 Premier League games.
Match Facts Via BBC
The Gunners have won six successive Premier League away games for only the second time. It is their best form since winning their final eight away matches in the 2001-02 season.
Olivier Giroud has yet score a Premier League goal outside of London, with 12 of his 14 strikes netted at the Emirates Stadium.
The Gunners have conceded two goals in the final 15 minutes of Premier League games this season - as many as they let in during the entire 2012-13 season.
I don't see anything but an Arsenal win here. Sunderland are struggling - they've got no kickers like Lee Cattermole in the team, and it's a nice place for Arsenal to go and play their football.
If you take away the great result against Newcastle last season, Paolo Di Canio's record hasn't been great and they need to get a result quickly - but I just don't think this is the game.
Mesut Ozil's arrival gives Arsene Wenger a decision to make. Who doesn't play? I expect Ozil to play as a number 10 off the frontman, with Theo Walcott buzzing around on the right.
It'll be interesting to see what Wenger does, and it wouldn't surprise me if he leaves Ozil on the bench for this game - but I wouldn't do that.
Prediction 0-2 Arsenal
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