Sunderland midfielder Sebastian Larsson has stoked the fire ahead of his side's meeting with Arsenal today, claiming that Gunners boss Arsene Wenger is under pressure.

Arsenal have gone three league matches without a win ahead of the trip to the Stadium of Light and currently sit in seventh position in the Premier League.

Larsson, a former Gunner himself, believes that Wenger's average start to the campaign will have the Frenchman feeling the heat.

He told the Northern Echo: "Arsene Wenger is under a bit of pressure, but that's the nature of the game isn't it?

"They are a big club with their own ambitions and their own targets. If you are not living up to those standards, at any specific moment, the pressure will build like it did for us last week.

"I'm sure it will be two teams desperate to put on a good performance and claim the points. I don't think you will find a more desperate team to do that than us this week."

Sunderland manager Gus Poyet is looking for a response from his players on the back of their 8-0 drubbing at the hands of Southampton last weekend.