Arsenal team confirmed with Ramsey in middle and Walcott on bench

While the Arsenal squad has been wracked with injury problems, Arsene Wenger has at least had some good news with the England international striker Theo Walcott returning to the squad and Kieran Gibbs and Laurent Koscielny also coming back off the injury list.

Only one of those three returning Gunners is in the starting line up chosen by the bodss though, with the France international centre back completing the strongest possible Arsenal back four alongside Mertesacker, Bellerin and Monreal and with Flamini preferred to Chambers in the holding role in front of them.

Aaron Ramsey is the man Wenger thinks can replace the injured Santi Cazorla and Oxlade-Chamberlain comes in for Alexis Sanchez, although we will have to wait and see which of the flanks he and Joel Campbell will be used on. This is a massive game for Olivier Giroud as well because he will be under pressure after a couple of poor games and with Walcott sitting on the bench ready to replace him.

Cech
Bellerin, Monreal, Mertesacker, Koscielny
Flamini, Ramsey
Oxlade-Chamberlain, Ozil, Campbell
Giroud

Subs: Ospina, Debuchy, Gibbs, Gabriel, Walcott, Chambers, Iwobi.

Sunderland will surely set out to frustrate Arsenal so the first goal, as well as the timing of it, could be crucial. Let-s hope we score it and before too long as well.