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Sunderland’s recent rich vein of form will be tested to the max when they play hosts to Arsenal at the Stadium of Light on Saturday.

Under Martin O’Neill the Black Cats have embarked upon an exceptional run that has taken them from the midst of a relegation struggle to 8^th in the Premier League, just nine points behind their fierce rivals Newcastle.

Arsenal meanwhile saw their challenge for a top four place stutter in January as they failed to record a single victory in the league, but received the shot in the arm their season so badly required with an emphatic 7-1 win over Blackburn last week at the Emirates Stadium.

With Gervinho and Marouane Chamakh still to return from the Africa Cup of Nations, the Gunners look capable of growing stronger as the season goes on, especially with the continued form of Robin Van Persie and the emergence of Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, whose brace agaisnt Rovers demonstrated the talent that persuaded the north London outfit to spend £12 million on him over the summer.

Now the Gunners sit in 5^th place, but thanks to the indifferent form of the team that occupy the fourth and final Champions League spot, Chelsea, they remain just three points off the pace and can land a major blow in the race if they can negotiate their way past a tricky encounter at the Stadium of Light.

While in the build-up to Arsenal’s 7-1 win on Saturday news of Jack Wilshere’s injury setback gave manager Arsene Wenger his latest bad news from the physio room, the Frenchman could be in line to receive an injury boost in the full-back area that has hit Arsenal so hard this season.

Both Kieran Gibbs and Karl Jenkinson could be in contention for a start after returning from long-term injuries, while Bacary Sagna’s latest substitute appearance against Blackburn will give hope the 28-year-old may start against Sunderland.

For Sunderland, they will have to cope without a host of first team players as an injury crisis threatens to develop in the North East, with club captain Lee Cattermole, Wes Brown, Craig Gordon, Tes Bramble and Nicklas Bendtner all unavailable for the game.

Arsenal edged the game last time these two sides met, with a Robin Van Persie brace enough to see off the threat of Sunderland at the Emirates Stadium back in October, and with close rivals Liverpool going up against Manchester United they’ll be hoping for a similar result this time round.

Match Winner

In what is expected to be a close encounter, the bookmakers have Sunderland as fairly sizeable outsiders, something which may make the Black Cats a tempting option for punters.

The Gunners, who haven’t won on the road since December, are 6/5 with Coral while Sunderland are temptingly placed at 3.50 (5/2) with Ladbrokes.

The draw is priced at 3.40 (12/5) with SkyBet.

First Goalscorer

Robin Van Persie was on the scoresheet inside the first minute when the two teams met earlier this season, and the Dutchman is favourite to open the scoring again this time, with SportingBet placing him at 5.00 (4/1) to do just that.

Stephane Sessegnon and Sebastian Larsson, a former Arsenal youngster,  are Sunderland’s joint top-scorers this season and are priced at 9.00 (8/1) and 15.00 (14/1) with Bet365 to score first, while Frazier Campbell is 9.00 (8/1) also with Bet365 to continue his recent rich vein of form and get on the scoresheet first.

Recommended Bets

Outright winner: Sunderland, 3.50 (5/2) Ladbrokes

First Goalscorer: Robin Van Persie, 5.00 (4/1) SportingBet

View the rest of this betting tip at: http://www.bigfreebet.com/previews/2012/sunderland-v-arsenal-betting-odds.html

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