Mesut Özil may make his Arsenal bow following his £42.5m move from Real Madrid but Sunderland have a midfield debutant of their own. Ki Sung-yueng, a South Korean loaned by Swansea, is earmarked for a key central role as Paolo Di Canio resists the temptation to switch to 4-5-1 against Arsène Wenger's side and instead retains faith with a more adventurous 4-4-2 configuration featuring two wingers in a frequently four-pronged attack. Louise Taylor

Kick-off Saturday 3pm

Venue Stadium of Light

Last season Sunderland 0 Arsenal 1

Referee M Atkinson

This season G2, Y4, R0, 2.0 cards per game

Sunderland v Arsenal: Probable starters in bold, contenders in light. Illustration: Graphic

Odds H 19-4 A 7-10 D 14-5

Sunderland

Subs from Mannone, Cuéllar, Gardner, Mavrias, Brown, Borini, Vaughan, Ba, Ji, Larsson, Cattermole, Karlsson, Wickham

Doubtful Brown (knee), Giaccherini (hamstring)

Injured Dossena (knee, Oct), Bardsley (foot, unknown)

Suspended O'Shea (one match)

Form guide LDLLDD

Disciplinary record Y2 R1

Leading scorers Fletcher, Giaccherini 1

Arsenal

Subs from Fabianski, Martínez, Viviano, Monreal, Akpom, Mertesacker, Flamini, Gnabry, Frimpong, Vermaelen, Bendtner

Doubtful Mertesacker (illness), Özil (illness), Vermaelen (back)

Injured Rosicky (thigh, 21 Sep), Sanogo (back, 21 Sep), Arteta (thigh, 28 Sep), Ox-Chamberlian (knee, Oct), Podolksi (hamstring, Dec), Diaby (knee, unknown)

Suspended None

Form guide WWLWWW

Disciplinary record Y8 R1

Leading scorer Giroud 3