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Arsenal are in form but arrive on Wearside three days after Naples. Here are three ways to play a low-scoring Saturday night at the Stadium of Light.
Sunderland vs Arsenal Betting Predictions
All odds courtesy of SkyBet - correct at time of publishing and subject to change
Two controlled sides go head-to-head
Five of Sunderland's last seven games have featured two or fewer goals. Two of their three 2026/27 EPL matches have finished with two goals or fewer.
Arsenal have conceded once in five competitive outings this season. Their 1-0 wins at Aston Villa and Napoli fit the same pattern. Arteta's side control games instead of trading chances.
Le Bris will set up in a compact block and aim to counter. The obvious risk is Arsenal's 26 shots in Naples, worth 4.05 expected goals. However, an implied probability of 57.1% is slightly below par.
- Sunderland vs Arsenal Bet 1: Under 2.5 goals @ 8/11 with SkyBet
The Gunners are slow starters and short on recovery time
Arsenal only broke Napoli down in the 75th minute on Wednesday. It was goalless at the break in Naples. They also fell behind inside two minutes against Chelsea last weekend.
Slow starts have been a theme of this otherwise perfect run. Add a long midweek trip to Italy, plus a Saturday evening kick-off, and things don’t look straightforward for Arsenal.
Le Bris rotated heavily against Hull in the EFL Cup to keep his strongest XI fresh for the weekend. The Stadium of Light will be loud from the first whistle. This bet only needs Sunderland to be level or ahead at half-time. It’s the most obvious value play from our trio of Sunderland vs Arsenal predictions.
- Sunderland vs Arsenal Bet 2: Sunderland +1 (1st half) @ 8/11 with SkyBet
Backing Le Fée to be Sunderland's main outlet
Enzo Le Fée has averaged 2.4 shots per 90 minutes this season. He also tops Sunderland's charts, with 0.42 expected goals per 90.
His 0.90 xGOT suggests he is testing goalkeepers rather than shooting wildly. Le Fée converted the late penalty that rescued a point at Brentford. That confirms him as Le Bris' taker from the spot.
Sunderland are likely to spend long spells without the ball at home on Saturday. Efforts from range become the obvious outlet against a compact Arsenal defence. The Gunners restrict chances better than anyone, which is the clear risk. However, Le Fée to let fly on two or more occasions at a 43.5% implied probability looks short.
- Sunderland vs Arsenal Bet 3: Enzo Le Fee 2+ shots @ 5/4 with SkyBet
Our analysis: Form of both teams
- Score prediction: Sunderland 0-1 Arsenal
- Goalscorers prediction: Arsenal: Havertz
Sunderland host Arsenal at the Stadium of Light on Saturday evening. It is Matchweek 4 of the Premier League. The Gunners have a demanding schedule. They arrive to Wearside three days after a tough Champions League trip to Naples.
Régis Le Bris' side have four points from three games. A 2-1 defeat by Ipswich was followed by a 1-0 win over Fulham. Enzo Le Fée's late penalty then earned a battling 1-1 draw at Brentford.
Sunderland also beat Hull City 1-0 in the EFL Cup on Tuesday. Habib Diarra and Romaine Mundle remain out with hamstring problems. Deadline-day signing Juan Riquelme Angulo is still awaiting a visa.
Arsenal have won all five competitive matches this season. There has been no let-up after securing their first EPL title in 22 years. The Gunners have notched 10 goals and conceded only one. They sit in 2nd place only on goals scored. Martin Ødegaard's strike helped Mikel Arteta’s side to a 1-0 win in their first UCL league phase game of 2026/27 at Napoli.
William Saliba is still absent with a back problem. Arteta made four changes in Naples and should largely revert to the starting XI that defeated Chelsea for the trip to Wearside.
Probable lineups for Sunderland vs Arsenal
Sunderland expected lineup: Roefs, Mukiele, Danso, Ballard, Reinildo, Sadiki, Xhaka, Angulo, Meunier, Le Fee, Brobbey
Arsenal expected lineup: Raya, White, Calafiori, Konsa, Gabriel, Rice, Lewis-Skelly, Saka, Tzolis, Ødegaard, Havertz