Arsenal vs Sunderland live: Latest team news and line-ups from Premier League

Sunderland XI: Roefs; Mukiele, Ballard, Alderete, Reinildo; Hume, Le Fee, Sadiki, Talbi; Diarra, Brobbey

Arsenal XI: Raya; Timber, Saliba, Gabriel, Calafiori; Rice, Zubimendi, Havertz; Madueke, Jesus, Trossard

Arsenal and Sunderland face off against each other at the Emirates Stadium in what could be a clash that has ramifications on the title race.

Should Sunderland get something out of this match Arsenal could lose momentum and ground to their rivals.

The official line-ups are dropping soon so we’ll see how the teams match up against one another….

“We don’t have much time [to focus on it],” Mikel Arteta revealed.

“We are so busy with games, training sessions, and planning that we are a bit far from that. But it’s normal, and I think it’s something very positive, whether it’s positive feedback or not.

“I think we are here to learn and improve and the fact that we are there is the most important thing at the end.”

Jurrien Timber believes winning the Carabao Cup could serve as a springboard to even greater riches for Arsenal this season.

Mikel Arteta’s side are one match away from ending their six-year wait for a trophy after they saw off Chelsea at the Emirates to book their place in next month’s final.

Le Bris certainly thinks so and he’s trying to instil that mindset into his players.

“We spoke early in the season about the different challenges. If we say we just want to win or we expect to win against the second part of the table, you might miss the opportunity to win against the first part of the table,” he explained.

“I think it’s still possible if you believe that it’s possible. So you have to have this confidence, this belief against those kind of teams.”

Sunderland manager Regis Le Bris says taking on one of the best teams in Europe is an ‘exciting challenge’.

“We have to show the best version of Sunderland with an underdog mindset,” he said.

“They are playing at a huge level. They are impressive in the Premier League, outstanding in the Champions League.

“They are probably one of the best teams in Europe at the minute, so it’s a tough challenge, but an exciting challenge.”

Mikel Arteta also explained the feeling inside the Arsenal dressing room after they confirmed their place in the Carabao Cup final at Wembley.

“The energy that winning a big tie against a great Chelsea side brings and the fact that you’ll install yourself in Wembley in a couple of weeks, obviously it’s exciting, it’s what we want,” he said.

“You could feel the excitement around our supporters as well which is great, so yes, on to the next one now.”

Mikel Arteta says the clash with Sunderland is just ‘another opportunity to be better than the opposition’ as Arsenal look to move nine points clear at the top of the Premier League.

“Another opportunity to win, to be better than the opposition and earn the right to win the game, that’s it,” Arteta said of the game.

“The statement is that we do what we have to do, and it’s going to be a really tough match.

“I think they have been on an incredible run all season, and what they’ve been doing, so we know the complexity of the match.”

A long-awaited return. Not just Arsenal’s first cup final in six years but – perhaps more importantly to the wider season – another comeback goal from Kai Havertz. Many at the club see him as the difference.

He made the difference in an otherwise poor match, ending any late tension as he rounded Robert Sanchez in stoppage time to secure a 1-0 victory that was a 4-2 on aggregate, to secure a place in the Carabao Cup final.