Sunderland v Arsenal: Sam Allardyce names same side for visit of Gunners

Sam Allardyce has named the same side for the fourth successive game for the visit of Arsenal to the Stadium of Light.

By The Newsroom

Published 24th Apr 2016, 15:17 BST

Updated 24th Apr 2016, 16:18 BST

Jermain Defoe and Fabio Borini celebrate

The Black Cats beat relegation rivals Norwich City 3-0 last weekend and Allardyce has kept faith with the same starting line-up, with Duncan Watmore again named on the subs bench.

Sunderland go into the game a point adrift of the Canaries, who don't play this weekend, so a point or victory this afternoon (2.05pm kick-off) would see the Cats rise out of the drop zone.

Sunderland: Mannone, Yedlin, Kone, Kaboul, Van Aanholt, Kirchhoff, Cattermole, M'Vila, Khazri, Borini, Defoe.

Subs: Pickford, Jones, Larsson, Rodwell, N'Doye, O'Shea, Watmore.

Arsenal: Cech, Bellerin, Mertesacker, Koscielny, Monreal, Ramsey, Elneny, Sanchez, Ozil, Iwobi, Giroud

Subs: Ospina, Gabriel, Coquelin, Wilshere, Campbell, Walcott, Welbeck

Referee: Mike Dean (Wirral)