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Confirmed line-ups: Arsenal vs Sunderland: Jesus and Havertz start for Gunners

By on February 7, 2026

Arsenal can move nine points clear at the top of the Premier League table with a win over Sunderland at the Emirates Stadium this afternoon.

We head into the weekend action having booked our place in the Carabao Cup final with a 4-2 aggregate victory over Chelsea. Tuesday’s 1-0 second leg win finished the job after winning at Stamford Bridge last month.

However, focus must now shift back to the league and we have a terrific opportunity to tighten our grip at the top of the table. A win today would see Arsenal open up a nine point advantage ahead of Manchester City’s trip to Liverpool on Sunday.

Mikel Arteta has recalled David Raya to start in goal today while Jurrien Timber is passed fit to start despite not training on Friday. William Saliba and Gabriel Magalhaes both keep their places in the middle of Arsenal’s defence and Riccardo Calafiori comes in for Piero Hincapie at left-back.

Martin Zubimendi anchors the midfield with Declan Rice also keeping his place in the middle of the park. Kai Havertz scored the late winners against former club Chelsea in midweek and the German is rewarded with a recall to start today.

Martin Odegaard is ruled out so Havertz replaces Eberechi Eze in the attacking midfield role. Noni Madueke continues on the right wing in the absence of the injured Bukayo Saka while Leandro Trossard comes in for Gabriel Martinelli.

Gabriel Jesus is recalled to start up front so Viktor Gyokeres drops to the bench.

These are the line-ups:

Arsenal

Raya, Timber, Saliba, Gabriel, Calafiori, Zubimendi, Rice, Havertz, Trossard, Madueke, Jesus.

Subs: Arrizabalaga, Mosquera, White, Hincapie, Eze, Martinelli, Gyokeres, Norgaard, Lewis-Skelly.

Sunderland

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

Subs: Ellborg, Cirkin, Geertruida, Rigg, O’Nien, Angulo, Mayenda, Mundle, Isidor