Sunderland vs Arsenal preview and betting tips – November 8th 2025

Sunderland host Arsenal in a 5:30 pm GMT kick-off on Saturday at the Stadium of Light in a hotly-anticipated Premier League clash between two early-season in-form sides.

Odds Now football writer Steve Day picks out his betting tips for this upcoming game in the top flight of English football.

Sunderland vs Arsenal betting tips – November 8th 2025

Big test for the Gunners

It's been a positive start to the season for both Sunderland and Arsenal. The Black Cats are in 4th place with 18 points from their first 10 league games after promotion from the Championship via the playoffs. The Gunners lead the way at the top of the table on 25 points.

Mikel Arteta's side are already being tipped to finally go on and win their first Premier League title since 2004. The club kept their 8th consecutive clean sheet in their 3-0 win away to Slavia Prague in the Champions League in midweek. It's a record that has stood since 1903 and will be broken if the Arsenal back-line stands firm once again in this game.

Sunderland have surprised many with their impressive start to the league campaign. Regis Le Bris continues to work miracles with the Wearsiders. The team have only failed to score in 2 of their 10 league matches so far. However, Arsenal are priced at 11/10 with Sky Bet to keep a clean sheet in this one.

Arsenal absentees a concern?

The obvious sticking point in this fixture is that Arsenal are rumoured to be missing several key players for this game. The standout missing player is striker Viktor Gyökeres. The Swedish international has scored 4 league goals this season and has been influential in the Gunners' play in the attacking third.

Other important players reported to be absent for this game include Martin Ødegaard, Gabriel Jesus, Kai Havertz, Noni Madueke, and Gabriel Martinelli. The pressure will be on the likes of Mikel Merino, Eberechi Eze, Bukayo Saka, and Leandro Trossard to deliver the goals.

Merino bagged a brace in midweek and is likely to deputise for Gyökeres in this game. The Spaniard is 15/8 with QuinnBet to score anytime. Saka has scored two goals in his last three appearances for the club, and he is priced at 19/10 with Coral to score anytime. Declan Rice to score or assist at 5/2 with BetMGM is also appealing.

Interestingly, this match will also see former Arsenal captain Granit Xhaka facing his old club as skipper of Sunderland now. Wouldn't it be poetic for the Swiss international to back a goal against his ex-employers? He is available at 16/1 with Betfred to score anytime.

Low-scoring game likely

Despite missing many of their key attacking players for this game, Arsenal still have their entire back line fit and ready to continue this clean sheet streak. Each of the last 4 league matches involving Arsenal have seen less than 2.5 goals scored. Backing that outcome is available at 4/5 with Coral. Opting for an Arsenal win and under 2.5 goals scored is listed at just over 1.5/1 with AKBets.

This approach is supported by the fact that Sunderland league games this season have seen fewer than 2.5 goals scored in 7 of their 10 league outings. It certainly lends towards the feeling that this will be a low-scoring game.

Head-to-head record

Arsenal are by far and away the dominant team in this fixture of recent times. The North London club are unbeaten in each of the last 12 meetings, including winning 5 of the previous 6 encounters.

The last time these two clubs met was in the EFL Cup Quarter-Final on 21st December 2021, when Arsenal prevailed as the 5-1 winners. The last league meeting at this venue took place on 29th October 2016 when Arsenal once again stormed to victory by a 4-1 scoreline.

Steve Day's recommended bets for Sunderland vs Arsenal

5pts – Arsenal to win and under 2.5 goals scored - 1.5/1 (AKBets)

3pts - Arsenal to win to nil - 11/10 (Sky Bet)

1pt - Bukayo Saka to score anytime - 19/10 (Coral)

0.5pts - Declan Rice to score or assist - 5/2 (BetMGM)