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Team news is updated the Friday before a set of weekend fixtures and the day before any midweek games.
Sunderland
Sunderland keeper Craig Gordon faces three months on the sidelines with a broken arm, which means Marton Fulop will start between the sticks. Kenwyne Jones is suspended so Darren Bent could continue alone up front. Michael Turner is also banned so manager Steve Bruce faces a reshuffle in defence and could play Paolo da Silva and Anton Ferdinand in the centre of defence. John Mensah and Boudewijn Zenden are back in training and should be available. Lee Cattermole remains out long term.
Predicted Line Up
Fulop; Bardsley, Ferdinand, Da Silva, McCarthy; Malbranque, Henderson, Cana, Richardson, Reid; Bent.
Injured: Cattermole, Gordon
Suspended: Jones, Turner
Doubtful: None
Late Fitness Test: Mensah, Zenden
Arsenal
Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger has a few headaches ahead of his team's trip to Sunderland as the club's injury list grew ever longer during the international break. Robin van Persie and Kieran Gibbs were both sidelined representing their countries meaning Wenger now has eight first-team players on the treatment table. Van Persie is set to be out of action until after Christmas after rupturing the ligaments in his ankle playing for Holland. It was initially feared that Gibbs has broken his foot playing for England U21s but it became evident the young full-back had just suffered a bruised foot and he should be ready for Champions League action on Tuesday. Eduardo and Mikael Silvestre will deputise. Denilson, Carlos Vela and Lukasz Fabianski all return to the squad but Wenger is still waiting to find out the availability of Andrei Arshavin following a long flight back from Russia in midweek.
To read about Aston Villa click here.
