Despite the fact that the Gunners fired seven past Blackburn but they will know the league’s most-in-form team will offer a far sterner test this Sunday. Sunderland will be looking for their eighth win from 11 league games under the guidance of Martin O’Neill and boast a tough defence who have only conceded 24 goals this season, only Liverpool (21) and Man City (19) have conceded fewer.

But the Black Cat’s defence could face the league’s deadliest striker as Robin Van Persie who will be looking to add to his impressive 22 league goals this season at their expense. There’s also the young exciting winger Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain who everyone is talking about who can cause any full back major problems. However, it would be remise to leave out Arsenal legend Henry as it is likely to his last league game for the club before heading back to the New York Red Bulls and would love to leave his beloved Gunners with a bang.

Arsenal will also be boosted by the long awaited return from injury of Kieran Gibbs while Marouane Chamakh will also be available for selection.

O’Neill can call upon new loan signings Wayne Bridge and Sotirios Kyrgiakos to help him deal with this attacking talent, which would be their full league debut for Sunderland. He’ll also be hoping that his danger man Stephane Sessegnon will continue his fine form as he’s either scored or set up a goal in the last seven of his eight appearances. Former Arsenal player Sebastian Larsson’s delivery and skill from set plays could once again pose problems for Arsene Wenger as he found during their encounter at the Emirates earlier this season. But Nicklas Bendtner cannot face his parent club due to the conditions of his loan.

However, Wenger will be all too aware that he also faces a very difficult away mid-week fixture against AC Milan in the Champions League before lining up against O’Neil again the following Saturday. This congested fixture list might tempt the Frenchmen to consider who willing he is to risk his injury-prone in-form striker who has 44% of Arsenal’s goal tally.

A win for Sunderland would drag them closer to, a previously unthinkable, possible place in Europe and it would double O’Neill’s winning record against the Gunners. He’s only victory against them in 16 league games came in a 2-0 away win for Aston Villa in November 2008.