Sunderland v Arsenal: Ozil to start with a clinical away win

All eyes will be on Arsenal’s new boy Mesut Ozil at the Stadium of Light and the silky German shouldn’t have too much trouble laying on a goal or two for the Gunners at the home of the Premier League’s joint-dodgiest defence of the season so far.

This is not a great time for Sunderland, in the midst of sweeping transition, to play a settled Arsenal side, bang in form, and boosted yet further by the prospect of blooding the Premier League signing of the summer.

In fairness to Paolo Di Canio, there was much need for personnel change on Wearside, though a 3-1 chastening by newly promoted Crystal Palace last time out reminded the Italian that there is little time to find the right balance in this division.

A fifth straight win in all competitions for Arsenal has an air of inevitability about it at 7/10, it’s working out the scoreline which is the next question.

Sunderland have only won one of their last nine home league games against the Gunners, succumbing to a Santi Cazorla strike last season, in a 1-0 defeat.

The fact the Gunners have conceded just one goal in their last four games, while the hosts have notched just two in their opening three league games, does lend weight to a flutter on the Arsenal win to nil at 9/5.

For those expecting a floodgate-opening exercise, it will have to buck a long trend of tight affairs in this contest.

This also brings into play the attractive prospect of the coupled correct score with Ladbrokes, which has Arsenal’s odds at 3/1 to record a 1-0 or 2-0 victory.

Only two of the last 12 renewals have breached the 2.5 goals mark, while neither of those went over the 3.5 line either.

The under 2.5 goals market is therefore handy as a back-up bet at 17/20.

All Odds and Markets are correct as of the date of publishing.

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