Turning their attention to the EFL Cup quarter-finals on Tuesday evening following a successful three-game blitz in the Premier League, Arsenal are expected to follow precedent and make a number of changes to their starting side.
The Gunners host Sunderland at the Emirates Stadium having retained the same XI for the last four league matches, but will now introduce several cup regulars, such as young striker Eddie Nketiah and the defensive pairing of Rob Holding and Calum Chambers.
Mohamed Elneny - soon to leave for Cameroon to represent his nation in the Africa Nations Cup - Nuno Tavares and Ainsley Maitland-Niles are among other fringe players set to play a role against the League One side, but both Pablo Mari and Albert Sambi Lokonga were recently ruled out until after Christmas due to contracting COVID-19.
Furthermore, Sead Kolasinac is yet to return from an ankle injury, so Tavares should get the nod to replace the rested Kieran Tierney at left-back, while first-choice goalkeeper Aaron Ramsdale makes way for Bernd Leno.
Having hogged the headlines amid Arsenal's recent hot streak, captain Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang's absence due to disciplinary reasons is set to continue, so Alexandre Lacazette once again deputises as centre-forward and skipper on Tuesday, though Folarin Balogun provides Mikel Arteta with a wildcard option.
In support of the front man, Nketiah and Nicolas Pepe are most likely to be selected on the flanks, with the former having hit the target in each of the previous two rounds.
Due to spending a spell on the sidelines earlier this month, chief creator Emile Smith Rowe may be offered another chance to shine from the start, but Bukayo Saka will be protected with a packed fixture schedule ahead.
Arsenal possible starting lineup: Leno; Soares, Holding, Chambers, Tavares; Maitland-Niles, Elneny; Pepe, Smith Rowe, Nketiah; Lacazette
