Arsenal vs. Sunderland score, stats, highlights, talking points as Premier League leaders face test

Arsenal look to maintain their lead atop the Premier League table, or even extend it, as they meet Sunderland at the Emirates on Saturday.

The Gunners hold a six-point advantage in the title race, with second-placed Man City set to face Liverpool tomorrow. Therefore, Mikel Arteta’s side can extend the gap to nine, at least temporarily, with a win today.

Yet Sunderland are no ordinary newly-promoted side. The Black Cats sit eighth in the Premier League standings, having collected seven points over their last five matches even without excellent summer signing Granit Xhaka due to injury.

The Sporting News is following the Arsenal vs. Sunderland match live, providing score updates, commentary, and analysis.

MORE: An up-to-date list of the Premier League top goal scorers for the 2025/26 season

Arsenal vs. Sunderland live score

	Score (1H)	Goal scorers
Arsenal	0	–
Sunderland	0	–

Location: Emirates Stadium (London, England)
Referee: Samuel Barrott

Keep track of every game and every goal via SN’s live Premier League scoreboard

Starting lineups:

Arsenal (4-3-3, right to left): 1. Raya (GK) — 12. Timber, 2. Saliba, 6. Gabriel, 33. Calafiori — 36. Zubimendi, 41. Rice — 20. Madueke, 29. Havertz, 19. Trossard — 9. Jesus.

Sunderland (5-4-1, right to left): 22. Roefs (GK) — 32. Hume, 20. Mukiele, 5. Ballard, 15. Alderete, 17. Reinildo — 19. Diarra, 27. Sadiki, 28. Le Fee, 7. Talbi — 9. Brobbey.

Arsenal vs. Sunderland talking points, analysis

30th min: These two teams have cancelled each other out for most of the opening half-hour. There have been a few half-chances on goal, but for the most part, Sunderland’s deep block has made life difficult for Arsenal in finding a way through, and Arsenal have not been too troubled by the Sunderland counter-attack.

William Saliba has been booked for stopping a counter-attack which could give him some pause in defending the rest of the way.

Kickoff: They’re under way at the Emirates! Kai Havertz has a chance on goal after just seconds, as he heads a cross just wide of net! Arsenal are right up for this match!

15 mins to kickoff: If Arsenal look just a little further back over their shoulder, they’ll see Manchester United have crept up into fourth place now with a 2-0 victory over 10-man Tottenham earlier today. It’s a fourth-straight victory for the Red Devils under Michael Carrick, with Bruno Fernandes cooking again in the match.

Read all the talking points and reaction from the Man United victory here, live from Old Trafford.

30 mins to kickoff: The last time these two teams met, Brian Brobbey scored a sensational late equaliser, with a 94th-minute goal to snatch a point and keep Arsenal in check. The Gunners will want to avoid such a result again, as any dropped points here could bring Man City back within a point at the top of the table.

1 hour to kickoff: Lineups are in! Bukayo Saka is held out for another match due to a hip injury, with Noni Madueke in for Arsenal. Gabriel Jesus gets a rare start at the No. 9 position, with Viktor Gyokeres rotated to the bench.

For Sunderland, Brian Brobbey maintains his position at the head of the attack, having earned the regular striker role over the past two months with his good form having scored in three of his last five starts.

Arsenal vs. Sunderland reaction

Post-match comments from Mikel Arteta and Regis Le Bris will appear here.

Arsenal vs. Sunderland team news

Arsenal team news

MORE: An in-depth rundown of all the latest Arsenal team news and injuries

• Martin Odegaard was a surprise absence from the squad to face Chelsea in the second leg of their Carabao Cup semifinal, and Mikel Arteta said his injury would be a “matter of days” suggesting this match could come too soon.
• Bukayo Saka will need to pass a late fitness test as he has been dealing with a hip injury, but Jurrien Timber should be able to participate.
• A broken foot has sidelined Mikel Merino for much of the remaining season, although he hopes to return sometime in April before it concludes.

Sunderland team news

• Former Arsenal midfielder Granit Xhaka, who arrived this summer from Bayer Leverkusen, has been missing with an ankle injury since mid-January, and is not expected back for another few weeks.
• Burkina Faso winger Bertrand Traore picked up a knee injury while on international duty at the Africa Cup of Nations and will not return until towards the end of the month.

Arsenal, Sunderland upcoming schedules

Arsenal upcoming fixtures

Date	Competition	Match	Location
Thu, Feb. 12	Premier League	Brentford vs. Arsenal	Gtech Community Stadium (London, England)
Sun, Feb. 15	FA Cup	Arsenal vs. Wigan Athletic	Emirates Stadium (London, England)
Wed, Feb. 18	Premier League	Wolves vs. Arsenal	Molineux Stadium (Wolverhampton, England)

Sunderland upcoming fixtures

Date	Competition	Match	Location
Wed, Feb. 11	Premier League	Sunderland vs. Liverpool	Stadium of Light (Sunderland, England)
Sun, Feb. 15	FA Cup	Oxford United vs. Sunderland	The Kassam Stadium (Oxford, England)
Sun, Feb. 22	Premier League	Sunderland vs. Fulham	Stadium of Light (Sunderland, England)