Arsenal's hopes of finishing in the top four of the Premier League could be all but ended if they fail to beat Sunderland on Tuesday night.
A Gunners draw coupled with a Manchester City victory will leave Arsene Wenger's men three points behind Liverpool, who face relegated Middlesbrough at home on the final day of the season, with an inferior goal difference.
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Arsenal have restored confidence to their camp by winning three games in a row, though, and will hope to see off a Black Cats side already planning for a 2017-18 season spent in the Championship.
| Game | Arsenal vs Sunderland |
| Date | Tuesday, May 16, 2017 |
| Time | 19:45 GMT, 14:45 ET |
TV CHANNEL & LIVE STREAM
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In the UK, the match will be available to watch live on television on Sky Sports 2 and by stream via Sky Go.
| UK TV channel | Online stream |
|---|---|
| Sky Sports 2 | Sky Go |
In the US, the match will be available to watch live on television on NBCSN and by stream via NBC Sports Live.
| US TV channel | Online stream |
|---|---|
| NBCSN | NBC Sports Live |
SQUADS & TEAM NEWS
| Position | Arsenal players |
|---|---|
| Goalkeepers | Ospina, Cech, Martinez |
| Defenders | Debuchy, Gibbs, Mertesacker, Gabriel, Koscielny, Monreal, Bellerin, Jenkinson, Holding, Mustafi |
| Midfielders | Ozil, Ramsey, Coquelin, Elneny, Iwobi, Xhaka, Maitland-Niles |
| Forwards | Giroud, Walcott, Alexis, Welbeck, Perez |
Alexis Sanchez will face a late fitness test on a thigh injury but Laurent Koscielny should be available for Arsenal after a calf problem and Kieran Gibbs will also return.
Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain joins Santi Cazorla and Jeff Reine-Adelaide among the definite absentees, with the Englishman aiming to be fit for the FA Cup final against Chelsea.
Potential starting XI: Cech; Holding, Mustafi, Koscielny; Bellerin, Ramsey, Xhaka, Gibbs; Ozil, Giroud, Welbeck.
| Position | Sunderland players |
|---|---|
| Goalkeepers | Pickford, Mannone, Mika |
| Defenders | Jones, O’Shea, Kone, Djilobodji, Love, J. Robson, Manquillo, Denayer, Lescott, Oviedo |
| Midfielders | Cattermole, Larsson, Rodwell, Khazri, Januzaj, Pienaar, Gooch, E. Robson, Greenwood, Honeyman, Ndong, Embleton, Gibson |
| Forwards | Borini, Defoe, Asoro, Anchiebe, Maja |
George Honeyman, Victor Anichebe and Jason Denayer are all doubts for Sunderland, while Steven Pienaar and Lee Cattermole missed the defeat to Swansea City but could be in contention.
Jan Kirchhoff is yet to make his comeback after a knee injury and Paddy McNair and Duncan Watmore are out for the season.
Potential starting XI: Pickford; Jones, Kone, O'Shea, Manquillo; Larsson, Ndong, Gibson; Borini, Defoe, Khazri.
BETTING & GAME ODDS
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Arsenal are 1/9 favourites to win at home, according to Oddschecker, with Sunderland priced at a remarkable 29/1 and the draw available at 12/1.
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Alexis Sanchez is the 3/1 favourite to score first, with Olivier Giroud rated at 10/3 and Jermain Defoe the top choice for the visitors at 12/1.
GAME PREVIEW
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Arsenal will need either Manchester City or Liverpool to slip up to qualify for the Champions League, but as far as their own business goes they will surely be more concerned about their final match of the season against Everton than this one.
You get the feeling that Sunderland need to blow everything up and start again this summer as they head into the Championship, such is the depressing mood around the club after a dreadful season. David Moyes looks a beaten, tired man and hardly inspires confidence in his ability to lead a revival in the second tier.
It looks as if Moyes will be given the chance to go on, though, and it is not only his demeanour that is not filling Black Cats fans with optimism; neither is his work. It is remarkable to see the Scot continue to field lineups so devoid of youth and creative spark even with nothing to play for.
Take Saturday against Swansea City, when Jason Denayer was injured after 20 minutes with the visitors already in the lead at the Stadium of Light. Moyes had Wahbi Khazri, a rare example of a Sunderland player to have shown any invention this season, and promising 21-year-old Lynden Gooch on the bench. He brought on Darron Gibson.
Sunderland's lack of ambition under Moyes is reflected in the incredible 29/1 odds offered on them to win this game. Arsenal have had their own problems this season, but they should at least keep their top-four hopes alive until the weekend.
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