Two in-form sides go toe-to-toe in the EFL Cup as Arsenal welcome League One outfits Sunderland to Emirates for the quarter-final tie on Tuesday night with kickoff at 22:45.
Both sides did well to reach this stage with Arsenal beaten West Brom, AFC Wimbledon and Leeds United without conceding a goal while Sunderland defeated Port Vale, Blackpool, Wigan and QPR to get here and are the only League One outfit to still compete in the tournament.
Both sides head into the match in good forms with the Premier League side winning all their last three on the bounce. First the Gunners dispatched Southampton with a 3-0 success at home before overwhelming fellow top-four seekers with a 2-0 win at the Emirates. Now they head into the match on the back of a 4-1 win at Elland Road against a depleted Leeds side as many of their regulars are out with injuries and Covid-19.
Sunderland meanwhile are also in decent form and head into the match on the back of a four-match winless run claiming two victories and two draws in run and are coming of 1-1 draw against fellow fallen giants Ipswich Town. The run has seen them maintain their third spot in League One where they have been stuck for three seasons, but will be confident that is their year to finally get out of the third-tier.
Both will be looking to progress to the next stage in the competition but Arsenal will fancy their chances as they have been in a solid home form this season losing just one of their 10 matches at home in all competitions and they have not lost to Sunderland in their last 12 encounters at Emirates.
Arsenal vs Sunderland head to head
Both sides have met in 36 encounters since 1996 with Arsenal dominating the record as they have claimed 21 victories, there have been 10 draws while Sunderland have claimed five victories.
- Arsenal 2-0 Sunderland 16/05/17
- Sunderland 1-4 Arsenal 29/10/16
- Sunderland 0-0 Arsenal 24/04/16
- Arsenal 3-1 Sunderland 09/01/16
- Arsenal 3-1 Sunderland 05/12/15
Home
- Leeds 1-4 Arsenal
- Arsenal 2-0 West Ham
- Arsenal 3-0 Southampton
- Everton 2-1 Arsenal
- Man United 3-1 Arsenal
Away
- Ipswich 1-1 Sunderland
- Sunderland 2-1 Plymouth
- Sunderland 5-0 Morecambe
- Sunderland 1-1 Oxford
- Sunderland 0-1 Oldham
Arsenal team news
Arsenal will certainly be without Aubameyang but Arteta is expected to alternate the squad with Pablo Mari and Sambi Lokonga missing out due to Covid-19.
Sunderland team news
Sunderland will be without Leon Dajaku who picked up an injury in their draw against Ipswich.
Prediction and odds
- Arsenal win
- Goals under 2.5
- Both sides to score (no)
