Squad sheets: Arsenal v Sunderland

After their trauma at Wembley last Sunday, this now feels like a pivotal weekend for Arsenal's title aspirations. Manchester United were beaten in midweek and must travel to Anfield, meaning Arsène Wenger's side could potentially end the weekend a point behind the leaders with a game in hand. The management will plead for focus with the trip to the Camp Nou to come on Tuesday, Wenger claiming that beating Sunderland had become his "obsession". The visitors are on a downturn, eighth in the table but beaten in their last four fixtures. Their last league win at Arsenal came in 1983. An awkward afternoon awaits. Dominic Fifield Venue Emirates Stadium Tickets Sold out Last season Arsenal 2 Sunderland 0 Referee A Taylor This season's matches 9 Y 36, R 3, 4.22 cards per game Odds Arsenal 2-5 Sunderland 25-4 Draw 3-1 Arsenal Subs from Almunia, Shea, Gibbs, Eboué, Squillaci, Denílson, Miquel, Rosicky Doubtful Koscielny (hamstring), Injured Song (knee, 9 Mar), Fábregas (hamstring, 9 Mar), Walcott (ankle, 19 Mar), Van Persie (knee, Apr), Frimpong (knee, May), Fabianski (shoulder, May), Vermaelen (achilles, unknown) Suspended None Form guide WWDWWW Disciplinary record Y44 R6 Leading scorer Van Persie 10 Sunderland Subs from Gordon, Colback, Malbranque, Elmohamady, Riveros, Campbell, Knott, Cook, Adams Doubtful Gordon (knee), Campbell (knee), Welbeck (knee) Injured Turner (knee, 19 Mar), Cattermole (back, 19 Mar), Zenden (calf, 19 Mar), Onuoha (calf, 19 Mar), Meyler (knee, April) Suspended None Form guide LLLLWD Disciplinary record Y44 R4 Leading scorer Gyan 9 Match pointers • Arsenal have scored 11 goals in the opening 15 minutes of matches this season – a division high • Sunderland have lost seven and won none of their nine Premier League away matches to Arsenal • Cesc Fábregas has scored in four of his last six matches against Steve Bruce's side • There have been only eight goals in the last six meetings between these sides • Arsenal have won only four of their 12 games against teams in the top half of the league while Sunderland have won four of out 14