English Premier
2025-11-08 - Sunderland vs Arsenal
A Sports Betting Pick by Auls
Football: English Premier League
Saturday 8th November 2025 - Kick Off 5:30pm
This game is live on TV
Sunderland
When he left Arsenal, most fans would have been glad to see the back of Granit Xhaka who had been criticised for not taking the Captain responsibility as he perhaps should have. A couple of solid years with Bayer Leverkusen has just given Xhaka's career a boost and his return to the Premier League has highlighted the maturity and quality he now possesses, which has been hugely important to Sunderland in their return to the top flight.
The Swiss midfielder and Sunderland Captain scored the equaliser on Monday night against Everton and it keeps his new club in the top four of the Premier League table. Regis Le Bris and the squad know the main focus remains Sunderland maintaining top flight status and they have moved onto 18 points, which keeps them firmly on track to do that. The Black Cats have a 3-2-0 record at the Stadium of Light where they have scored 9 goals and conceded 3.
Sunderland have now lost 1 of their last 8 games in the Premier League and 3 wins from the last 5 fixtures played means they are more than just ticking points over the line. They may have ended last season having lost 4 home games in a row, but Sunderland are unbeaten here this season in 6 games in all competitions, although 2 of the last 3 Premier League fixtures have ended 1-1.
Omar Alderete missed out against Everton and is hoping to be involved in this fixture before the international break.
Arsenal
Trophies may not be handed out in November, but you can break records at any time of the season and Arsenal have done that by earning yet another clean sheet. The 0-3 win at Slavia Prague in the Champions League means Arsenal have kept 8 clean sheets in a row for the first time in 122 years, and another win with a clean sheet on Saturday would mean the longest winning run without conceding a goal in English Football history.
This run is clearly going to make everyone very proud as Arsenal remained perfect in the Champions League and moved to 6 points clear in the Premier League standings, but there is still plenty of football to be played. The Gunners travel to the North East with a 4-0-1 away record having scored 6 goals and conceded 2 in those League matches.
Arsenal's clean sheet run is catching the eye, but it should also be noted that they have won 10 games in a row in all competitions and can match a club record of 11 wins in succession on Saturday. They will be looking to push on for a seventh away win in a row in all competitions since losing late on at Anfield and Arsenal have conceded a single goal in 6 on their travels.
Viktor Gyokeres has been ruled out and will also miss Sweden's November World Cup Qualifiers, although the hope is that he will be available for the North London derby later this month. Gabriel Martinelli and Noni Madueke are also hoping to return for that game against Spurs in two weeks time, but will miss out this weekend.
Head to Head
Arsenal and Sunderland last met in the League Cup in December 2021 at the Emirates Stadium and it ended in a 5-1 win for the hosts.
They last met here at the Stadium of Light in October 2016 in the Premier League and it also ended in a big Arsenal win.
The Gunners may have struggled in recent times in the North East when visiting St James' Park, but Arsenal have won 5 of the last 6 League games played at Sunderland.
Prediction
It was somewhat surprising to hear Granit Xhaka explain that Sunderland's poor start in the 1-1 draw with Everton was partly down to a poor last training session in preparation for that League fixture. The Captain is clearly well respected at the club that he can come out and state such things publicly and Xhaka has been a key part of the early successes that Sunderland have had.
He did also offer praise for the recovery and the second half performance, but Granit Xhaka and Regis Le Bris will be making it clear to the squad that they have to be ready to compete from the first whistle this weekend.
Fighting back against Everton is one thing, but doing that against the Premier League title favourites Arsenal is something completely different and much more challenging.
For starters falling behind Arsenal over the last few weeks has meant defeat with the clean sheet run reaching 8 games in a row in all competitions. One more in a winning effort would set a new record in English Football and there is a real confidence around this Arsenal team that is going to be hard to shake off.
Conditions in Sunderland look a lot better for football this weekend than they were on Monday when the wind was causing problems, but it is massively important for the home team to come out with much more intensity than they showed against Everton.
It is the third time in four home Premier League games that Sunderland have fallen behind and that cannot be ignored.
Set pieces and long throws have been a real avenue for Sunderland to create chances, but that looks much more difficult against this Arsenal team that have handled everything thrown at them this season. Losing Viktor Gyokeres is a blow, but Mikel Arteta's team showed what they can still do without the Swedish striker as they produced another solid away Champions League win on Tuesday.
You have to expect Sunderland to cause some problems, especially at home, but Arsenal are playing with confidence and real belief right now. Even when put under the cosh, the players have stood firm and then worn down opponents with their own threat from set pieces and with some quality performers in the final third able to make the difference.
Once again, Arsenal are similar odds to win by a margin to cover the Asian Handicap as they are to win with another clean sheet.
And again the recommendation here is to back Arsenal to cover the Asian Handicap.
They have shown a real intensity getting forward and Arsenal have continued to create a lot of chances, while they will also have seen the positions Everton got into here on Monday and expect to be more ruthless.
During this 8 game run of wins with clean sheets, only twice have The Gunners won 1-0.
However, those wins over Crystal Palace and Fulham saw them create enough opportunities to find a second goal and they will likely need one at Sunderland to dampen the home team's enthusiasm for late, game turning goals.
Sunderland will cause problems, as have the likes of Slavia Prague, but Arsenal can weather some of the storm and ultimately display their own qualities to keep the pressure on the title rivals hoping to see any chink in the Arsenal defensive armour.
The Statistics :
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The Pick :
Sunderland 0-2 Arsenal
