Arsenal line-ups vs Sunderland decided as Bukayo Saka and Martin Odegaard miss out

Football.London reporters Tom Canton and Ryan Taylor select their Arsenal starting XIs for Saturday's Premier League home clash against Sunderland (3pm)

Arsenal can go nine points clear of Manchester City at the top of the Premier League with victory over Sunderland on Saturday.

The Gunners have the unique advantage of playing before City travel to Liverpool (Sunday) this weekend, while Aston Villa head to revitalised Bournemouth.

Mikel Arteta has already confirmed Martin Odegaard is just "days away" from a return following a small niggle while Bukayo Saka is also on the comeback trail, even though this game is likely to come too soon for him.

Football.London reporters Tom Canton (chief Arsenal correspondent) and Ryan Taylor have had their stab at selecting Arteta's starting XI to face the Black Cats.

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Tom Canton

All-out attack! I want to see some changes with a more testing clash coming in midweek at Brentford. This means Declan Rice dropping in and both Eberechi Eze and Kai Havertz partnering one another in the midfield, and Viktor Gyokeres up top.

I would be taking no risks with Jurrien Timber, Bukayo Saka or Martin Odegaard and let them fully recover from whatever issues they’re dealing with.

I’d also rest both Piero Hincapie and William Saliba and when you have players as good as Cristhian Mosquera and Riccardo Calafiori to come in, there really is very little worry about making such changes.

Canton’s Arsenal XI vs Sunderland : Raya; White, Mosquera, Gabriel, Calafiori; Rice, Havertz, Eze; Madueke, Gyokeres, Trossard.

Ryan Taylor

For once, I actually disagree with TC! This is Arsenal's big chance to go nine points clear - even if it's only until Sunday when Manchester City face Liverpool at Anfield.

The Gunners have previously squandered chances to extend the lead and this one can't go begging.

The idea of resting key players just doesn't sit well with me as Sunderland are a tough side that can take points from anyone, as proven at the Stadium of Light.

We expect Martin Odegaard and Bukayo Saka to miss out but outside of that, Jurrien Timber starts with William Saliba, Gabriel Magalhaes and Riccardo Calafiori, who should come back in for Piero Hincapie as the Italian needs to now rebuild minutes.

Martin Zubimendi and Declan Rice start in the centre of the park with Kai Havertz operating as the attacking midfielder.

Eberechi Eze might feel hard done by not to start if Odegaard is out but he hasn't pulled up any trees during his recent starts.

The front three feels fairly straightforward with Noni Madueke featuring from the right, Leandro Trossard from the left and Viktor Gyokeres up top.

Taylor's Arsenal XI vs Sunderland : Raya; Timber, Saliba, Gabriel, Calafiori; Zubimendi, Rice, Havertz; Madueke, Trossard, Gyokeres.