Sunderland host Arsenal at the Stadium of Light in Saturday’s early kick-off.
This weekend sees Sunderland hosting Arsenal at the Stadium of Light in the Saturday’s early kick-off.
The two sides have had vastly different starts to the campaign, with the Black Cats bottom of the Premier League and the Gunners joint first alongside Liverpool and Manchester City.
The focus is firmly on the strikers at both club at present. Arsenal are discovering that Alexis Sanchez may be the striker they have long needed.
Sunderland, meanwhile, are heavily reliant on Jermain Defoe to save them once again after his efforts last season.
Whichever player has the better afternoon on Saturday is likely to be a determining factor in which sides comes out on top.
So how do the two compare in the stats so far this season? We have taken a look.
As it turns out it is the Arsenal man who comes out on top of the stats as he won in five of the eight areas analysed.
So far this season he has registered more shots on target per game, 1.33 to 0.89, and has a slightly better shooting accuracy.
Defoe, though, has registered more shots in total per game, 3.11 compared to 3. Interestingly, the two are level with four goals apiece.
Sanchez has been the bigger creative force, however, registering more assists, more key passes per game and nearly four times as many accurate passes per game.
The Sunderland star does have a better overall passing accuracy than the Chilean though.
Still, an unsurprising victory for Sanchez in this battle and Arsenal will be hoping for more of the same when they play Sunderland on Saturday.
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