Bottom of the league Sunderland welcome Arsenal to the Stadium of Light this weekend.
When you are rock bottom of the Premier League without a win to your name, the last thing you want is to play one of the top teams in the country. However, that is exactly what faces David Moyes and Sunderland this weekend when they welcome Arsenal to the Stadium of Light.
The Black Cats were knocked out of the EFL Cup on Wednesday night, where Moyes made multiple changes to his side, but could this be the team the Scot picks to face Arsene Wenger’s side?
Lamine Kone captained Sunderland in the cup, but should hand the armband back to John O’Shea, whom he will partner at the back. Billy Jones started at right back at St Mary’s, but could miss out in place of Javi Manquillo.
Jack Rodwell’s barren run of Premier League starts could continue should he be selected, but Moyes may be more inclined to go with Paddy McNair and Didier Ndong, although the latter has struggled in recent weeks after a positive start to his career on Wearside. Steven Pienaar should return to the starting line-up, adding much needed experience to the Sunderland midfield.
Width will come from the energetic Duncan Watmore and the technically sound Wahbi Khazri, and both will need to increase their efforts to create chances for Jermain Defoe, who again will start up front on his own.
Victor Anichebe played the full game against Southampton but may return to the bench, with Moyes unlikely to go with two strikers and risk getting overran in midfield by Arsenal’s big guns.
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