Hello, and welcome to Sports Mole's live coverage of the match in the Premier League between Sunderland and Arsenal.

Technically, this game doesn't see top take on bottom but it may as well do. Arsenal only miss out on first place in the Premier League due to goal difference and they are the form team in the division having not lost since the opening day of the season. Sunderland, on the other hand, have failed to register three points in the top flight under David Moyes and the club's hierarchy are potentially reaching a point where they must make decisions on the Scot.

Depending on which reports you believe, Moyes's role at the Stadium of Light may or may not be in jeopardy but one thing is for sure - if he can get the better of Arsenal, he would buy himself a few weeks of security. Three points will be their aim this afternoon but in reality, a draw would also be seen as a huge result for a club who find themselves five points adrift of safety.

Anyway, without further ado, let's crack on with the team news which is emerging from the Stadium of Light.

SUNDERLAND XI: Pickford; Jones, O'Shea, Kone, van Aanholt; Rodwell, Pienaar, Ndong, Khazri, Watmore; Defoe

SUNDERLAND SUBSTITUTES: Mika, Djilobodji, Love, Anichebe, Manquillo, Januzaj, Gooch

ARSENAL XI: Cech; Bellerin, Mustafi, Koscielny, Gibbs; Elneny, Coquelin; Oxlade-Chamberlain, Ozil, Iwobi; Sanchez

ARSENAL SUBSTITUTES: Ospina, Jenkinson, Holding, Gabriel, Maitland-Niles, Ramsey, Giroud

Moyes has opted to make just the one alteration to the team which started against West Ham United last weekend. The switch comes in defence where Javier Manquillo drops out with Billy Jones being preferred at full-back. There's a boost on the substitutes' bench as Adnan Januzaj makes his return from injury. He hasn't featured since October 24.

It's mixed news for Arsenal supporters as Theo Walcott misses out through injury but midfielder Aaron Ramsey has recovered from a long-term layoff to take his place among the substitutes. Arsene Wenger has made a total of two alterations to his starting lineup with Kieran Gibbs also coming in for Nacho Monreal. Alex-Oxlade Chamberlain has been rewarded for his two goals in midweek by being named as a replacement for Walcott.

We have already touched upon the size of the task that stands in Sunderland's way today but let me give you some figures to back up that claim. Over the opening nine games, Arsenal have registered 18 more points than the Black Cats - that's an average of two per game - while Sunderland have scored three goals less than the Gunners have conceded. A stat which may cheer Sunderland fans up is the fact that Arsenal have failed to score in two of their nine league games this season and came within seconds of not finding the back of the net against Burnley. Aside from their 3-0 defeat to Everton, Sunderland have not conceded more than two goals in a match so it's easy to see where the problem has been in their previous fixtures.

You would expect that the absence of Walcott will come as a huge blow to the visitors. Of course, they still have Alexis Sanchez to lead the line but his teammate had been a rich vein of form having scored seven goals since September 17. Arsenal will also miss Santi Cazorla but Wenger will be disappointed to see Walcott back on the sidelines. It had been a while since he has shown such a ruthless streak in front of goal.

Wenger will expect each of his attacking quartet to chip in with a goal or an assist but the onus is on Sanchez to deliver. Despite receiving rave reviews for pretty much every performance he makes, he has only scored once in his last five games but with Walcott out of the picture this afternoon, he may relish the chance to lead his team from the front. He also tends to score the majority of his goals away from home - four of his six strikes this season have been on the road.

While we are talking of strikers, he must touch upon Jermain Defoe. He carries Sunderland's goal threat and has scored four of the club's six efforts in the Premier League this afternoon but he has only contributed once in his last six outings. His importance to the team is evident by the fact that Sunderland haven't scored in four of the five games in which he has failed to net. That's going to have to change sooner than later if the club are going to remain in the Premier League.

HEAD TO HEAD! Today's fixture represents the 151st time that the two teams have met in a competitive fixture but the head-to-head record is closer than you would think. Sunderland are chasing their 50th victory this afternoon while Arsenal have won 60 times. However, it has been a while since Sunderland last defeated the North London outfit - nine games to be precise. They last won in February 2012 when the prevailed 2-0 in an FA Cup tie. Kieran Richardson and an own goal from Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain proved to be the difference on that day.

PREDICTION! Sunderland may have lost out at West Ham United last weekend but they showed improvements that could help them this afternoon. That said, if Arsenal turn up, you would expect the Gunners to get three points on the board and we are backing Wenger's men to run out 3-1 winners with Sanchez bagging a brace.

As always on a Saturday afternoon, this is the first of many fixtures which we have on offer. After this game, we have four fixtures from the Premier League as well as the matches involving Real Madrid and Barcelona in La Liga. We spoil you, don't we?

Here come the two teams. There's a bit of a nip in the air but the clubs was welcomed by a warm atmosphere. Sunderland most certainly require a hot start.

We are underway at the Stadium of Light.

It's been a quiet start but two Arsenal players have been in the wars. Iwobi received a knock to his ankle on the halfway line and Sanchez was clutching his arm after blocking a clearance from Pickford. Both players are fine to continue.

CHANCE! Can we call that a chance? We are going to. A wonderful cross from Bellerin finds Oxlade-Chamberlain but it appears that the winger has too much height to make up to get a clean header and the ball is forced over the crossbar by Pickford.

The first showing of Sunderland as an attacking force starts through Khazri, who turns sharply and sets up Jones to cross into the box. However, his floated ball is easily claimed by Cech.

Arsenal respond with a flowing move which begins with a raking ball from Elneny and ends with Gibbs failing to make the most of possession inside the penalty area. A couple of corners follow but nothing comes from either.

Sunderland are impressing their supporters with the aggression in which they have started this game and Rodwell epitomises that with a towering header over Coquelin, who is quickly looking for the foul. Fair challenge.

CHANCE! When you possess the quality of Ozil, you have to be disappointed with this effort. The German playmaker was found on his own in the penalty area but he failed to make a proper connection with his attempted curler towards the far post and Pickford was able to claim.

There's no doubt that Arsenal are having the better of this game but Sunderland are showing enough to suggest that the Gunners are going to have to work for the three points. Defoe is having to get through a lot of work on his own but behind him, his teammates are competing well with their more illustrious opponents.

That's some goal from Arsenal and what more, it's come from a header. Oxlade-Chamberlain delivers the perfect cross for Sanchez, who gets across the front of Kone to glance a header into the far corner of the net from eight yards. Pickford didn't move and even if he did, he was getting nowhere near that.

SHOT! Very nearly the perfect response from Sunderland! After a free kick was awarded around 25 yards from goal, Van Aanholt curled it within inches of Cech's left-hand post.

Sunderland have the ball in the net but it is clearly offside. Both Khazri and Defoe are offside after previously following the ball in after Jones attempted a 30-yard strike.

SHOT! Van Aanholt would have received the rollockings of all rollickings had Arsenal scored here. The left-back was caught napping on the halfway line and was ultimately dispossessed by Sanchez. The ball eventually found it's way to Iwobi but his 20-yard strike just cleared Pickford's crossbar. He should have at least hit the target.

Sanchez gets caught by Pienaar as he attempts a break-away and he deservedly earns a free kick. However, for some unknown reason, the referee fails to book the South African and Sanchez is furious and understandably so.

BOOKING! Khazri slips at the wrong moment and is left with no choice but to haul down Ozil around 20 yards from goal. It's an inevitable booking. Sanchez to step up...

SHOT! Despite the distance, Sanchez is odds-on to hit the target and perhaps score but his shot is always going over the crossbar.

BOOKING! Ndong follows Khazri into the referee's notebook after a foul on Coquelin. That caution was less clear-cut but he couldn't argue with the decision.

SHOT! Arsenal are starting to go through the gears and it's Oxlade-Chamberlain who creates the next opportunity. He dispossessed Khazri in the corner and after accelerating into the penalty area, his low shot towards the near post was comfortably held by Pickford.

CHANCE! What a chance for Ozil! I never understand how footballers miss these kind of chances. He was found by an exquisite ball from Oxlade-Chamberlain and had all the room in the world to lob Pickford but his shot ends up going to the side of the goalkeeper and it's a simple save.

BOOKING! Three bookings in 10 minutes for Sunderland - they are collecting them very quickly! It's Pienaar who is booked this time for a late lunge on Coquelin.

SUBSTITUTION! Sunderland have been dealt a further blow with O'Shea being forced off with what appears to be a hamstring injury. Papy Djilobodji is on in his place.

Sunderland desperately need half time. Arsenal really fancy their chances of nicking a second before the break and the pressure is mounting on the home side. Another goal would probably be enough to secure all three points.

There will be two minutes of added-on time.

The half-time whistle goes at the Stadium of Light and Arsenal take a 1-0 lead into the break thanks to Sanchez's goal. They probably deserve to be ahead by more goals but they are yet to make the most of their possession in the final third. A big half-time team talk is required from Moyes.

It's almost time for the second half in the North-East. It can only get better for Sunderland...

We are back underway.

It's been a decent start from Sunderland. Ndong accelerated past Gibbs before attempting to find Defoe in the box but the forward was eased out of it by the defender.

BOOKING! Booking number four for Sunderland - all of which have come in 17 minutes - goes to Djilobodji after a poor challenge on Sanchez. The Chilean has taken a few knocks this afternoon but while he has done his fair share of complaining, he has got on with it.

Sunderland win a free kick in a threatening area after a foul by Gibbs but another cross from Khazri comes to nothing. It can't be long before Moyes considers bringing him off...

Sunderland have started to drop everyone but Defoe into their own final third. Their desire to avoid conceding a second goal is understandable but they are just inviting pressure onto themselves. This suits Arsenal. Coquelin ends a lengthy passing sequence with a volley that is sent into the stands.

CHANCE! Perhaps this is the reason why Sunderland have been dropping so deep. As soon as they push men forward, Arsenal hit them on the break and a through-ball from Ozil finds the advancing Oxlade-Chamberlain but despite running clear of the defender, he sends a half-volley well wide of the post.

Oxlade-Chamberlain has gotten himself into threatening areas on a frequent basis this afternoon but his crossing has definitely been better than his shooting. He is again found in the box but he slips at the wrong moment and his shots goes wide.

Moments after they could, and perhaps should, have been awarded a penalty of their own after Sanchez was seemingly fouled by Kone, Sunderland go up the other end and win one of their own. Watmore capitalised on indecision in the Arsenal defence and after advancing on goal, he was brought down by Cech who was given a yellow card. Up stepped Defoe to send the goalkeeper the wrong way and Sunderland have a lifeline.

BOOKING! Sanchez had every reason to complain over his lack of a penalty but his protests have earned him a booking.

CHANCE! Koscielny hasn't had too much joy in Sunderland's penalty box today but he should have at least found the target after being found from a corner.

SUBSTITUTIONS! There's been a change for both teams with Olivier Giroud replacing Iwobi for Arsenal and Adnan Januzaj coming on for Pienaar for the Black Cats. Twenty minutes to go at the Stadium of Light.

Talk about an instant impact! Giroud has his first goal of the season and it could be a hugely important one. Gibbs whipped the ball in from the left and the Frenchman was on hand to volley into the corner from 10 yards. It's a fine finish. It was also his first touch of the ball.

CHANCE! Gibbs has had a really good game for Arsenal and he should have his second assist in three minutes. However, after finding Ozil, the German can't divert the ball into the far corner from close-range.

Unbelievable. He has barely featured all season and Giroud now has two goals in the space of five minutes. After running to the near post to meet Ozil's corner, he was able to flick a header over Pickford and into the far corner.

Sunderland have completely capitulated. Arsenal break in numbers and after Gibbs hit the post and Ramsey - who had just replaced Oxlade-Chamberlain - saw his shot blocked, Sanchez picked up the pieces to convert from inside the six-yard box.

To their credit, Sunderland are still giving it everything but they are doing so in front of a crowd which is decreasing by the minute. They've seen enough.

They reached the 70-minute mark on level terms but the story of this match is told by the number of chances created. Arsenal have had 20 shots on goal, whereas Sunderland have had just three.

SUBSTITUTION! Coquelin has been withdrawn for the final few minutes with Ainsley Maitland-Niles being given a taste of top-flight action.

There will be three minutes of added-on time.

The full-time whistle goes at the Stadium of Light and Arsenal have sealed a 4-1 win over a Sunderland team who look a long away way from their first league win this season. It took a late surge from the Gunners to make sure of the points but they were levels above their hosts as they made it nine games unbeaten in the top flight.

That will be all from Sports Mole for this game but we hope that you can stick around for all of the rest of this afternoon's action in both the Premier League and La Liga. Goodbye for now.