The simple fact is that 12 clubs drop out after eight games from the Champions League, and last season, even 11 points from eight games was not enough to secure participation in the additional ...

Of late, however, matters have changed, for of the last 32 games between the two teams (a run which started on 30 December 2000), Sunderland have won just three. Nine games have been drawn, and ...

Matters are evened up a bit by the fact that Sunderland have a range of injuries just as Arsenal do, with six players ruled out: Mouhamadou Habib Diarra, Omar Alderete Fernandez, Leo Fuhr Hjelde, ...