With Thomas Vermaelen already out, Arsenal were sweating over the fitness of Laurent Koscielny. They subjected him to a late fitness test, and the defender passed... only to then injure his calf in the warm-up.
Sunderland vs. Arsenal: Lineups, Laurent Koscielny withdrawn during warm-up
Carl Jenkinson will come in to replace him, although which one of him and Bacary Sagna will play at centre-back is unclear. Elsewhere, Santiago Cazorla is on the wing, while Jack Wilshere, Mikel Arteta and Aaron Ramsey are all in the starting lineup.
For Sunderland, Alfred N'Diaye comes into the team, with the Black Cats appearing to make a chance from their usual 4-4-1-1 formation to play Stephane Sessegnon on the wing.
Sunderland (4-3-3): Simon Mignolet; Craig Gardner, Titus Bramble, John O'Shea, Danny Rose; Lee Cattermole, Alfred N'Diaye, Jack Colback; Adam Johnson, Stephane Sessegnon, Steven Fletcher.
Arsenal (4-3-3): Wojciech Szczesny; Bacary Sagna, Per Mertesacker, Jenkinson, Nacho Monreal; Mikel Arteta, Jack Wilshere, Aaron Ramsey; Theo Walcott, Olivier Giroud, Santiago Cazorla.
See More:
