Arsenal take on Sunderland in an all-Premier League clash in the FA Cup third round on Saturday. Both sides would doubtless have been hoping for easy draws at this early stage of the competition, but instead it's going to be another difficult match at the tail end of a hectic festive schedule. Arsenal start their campaign as the defending FA Cup champions, with their victory over Aston Villa at Wembley last season having made them the tournament's most successful club ever.
Arsenal vs. Sunderland 2016 live stream: Time, TV schedule and how to watch FA Cup online
Sunderland travel to play Arsenal in an all-top flight FA Cup clash on Saturday.
Shaun Botterill/Getty Images
It's therefore not surprising that Arsène Wenger's side are the favorites heading into this match, though their string of injuries suggests this could be a close-run thing. However, the Gunners are in good form: despite an odd 4-0 hammering at the hands of a rather poor Southampton team recently, Wenger's team top the Premier League after 20 matches, having won six of their last seven in all competitions. Their supporters will certainly be expecting a win against a relegation struggler.
Key factor: To what extent will both teams rotate?
Sunderland manager Sam Allardyce is notorious for speaking his mind, and has done so again in lodging a complaint over his side's recent fixture congestion. Quoted in London's Evening Standard regarding the possibility of rotating his lineup for this match, Allardyce said: "If the Premier League decides to put a stupid fixture midweek when they don't bloody need to, then I haven't got much choice. It's diabolical." He'll be hoping Wenger rotates too, or this game could be rather one-sided.
Recent history
Arsenal's recent record against Sunderland has been a good one, with the Gunners having won five of their last six against the Black Cats. Sunderland haven't beaten Arsenal since these sides met in the FA Cup more than three years ago, and have never managed a win at the Emirates in all of their history. One has to go all the way back to Highbury in 1983 for the last time they won away at Arsenal.
Arsenal injuries and suspensions
Out: Santi Cazorla, Alexis Sánchez, Francis Coquelin, Tomáš Rosický, Danny Welbeck (knee); Jack Wilshere (leg). In doubt: None.
Sunderland injuries and suspensions
Out: Jack Rodwell, Younès Kaboul (hamstring); Adam Matthews (ankle); Sebastian Larsson (knee). In doubt: None.
Arsenal have a fairly long and costly injury list, including important first-teamers Cazorla, Sánchez and Coquelin. Sunderland, too, have a handful of players on the physio’s table, though none that should come as too much concern for Allardyce.
Match date/time: Sat., Jan. 9, 10 a.m. ET, 3 p.m. local
Venue: Emirates Stadium, London, England
TV: FOX Sports 1 (US - English); FOX Deportes (US - Spanish); Sportsnet World (Canada)
Online: FOX Sports Go, FOX Soccer 2Go (US); Sportsnet World Now (Canada)
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