Image source, PA

Get in touch using #bbcfootball,, external text 81111 (UK only and include your name) or go to the Match of the Day Facebook page., external

Ooofff. First effort of note for Arsenal. Aaron Ramsey finds space in the middle of the park, gets to the edge of the D and pulls the trigger. Well wide, but Sunderland defence AWOL.

It's very much a 5-4-1 in defence for Sunderland, with Borini and Watmore dropping in. Those two will have to put the yards in on the counter.

Early on, Sunderland have got plenty behind the ball. Arsenal will have to get through a wall of green. They're quick on the counter, though, Fabio Borini gets through on the right for a clear sight of goal. He can only hit the ball straight at Petr Cech.

Arsenal are playing left to right, traditional red and white. Sunderland are in a lime green - think of the Pakistan cricket team. Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain tries some trickery down the left, but only runs the ball out.

Lots, and I mean lots, of empty seats. Problems on the tube? 

Under way, ever so slightly early too.

Players out. Shakey hands. 'Nice to see you'. Right Here, Right Now by Fatboy Slim. Frenzy whipped. 

The players are in the tunnel. Rousing hip hop music is playing. Must be close to kick-off...

Why do Arsenal struggle with so many injuries? It's one of the Premier League's biggest mysteries. BBC Sport pundit Pat Nevin reckons he has the answer...

“The pitches are the problem. They are far too hard – they are like concrete," he tells 5 live Sport.

"When I play on them now, as an ex-pro in charities matches, I think they are horrible. It is like playing on a green concrete playground. No wonder everyone is getting injured. You can’t twist and turn because your feet  just give way.”

The Clash's London Calling is playing inside the ground. I wonder if they spun the same track on the Sunderland supporters' coaches that must have left the north east very early this morning.

The air hostesses that are a permanent fixture at Arsenal home games are also in position. Are they always the same? Are there some select members of cabin crew who never actually fly anywhere? Ceremonial staff, if you will.

Petr Cech, by the way, is after a 169th clean sheet today. That would equal David James' Premier League record.

Arsenal v Sunderland is a mid-table battle today. Not in the Premier League of course, but in the BBC Sport Predictor league. Gunners fans are ninth in our table, a place below Sunderland supporters. You can change all that now by predicting the outcome of this match and the rest of the weekend’s fixtures here.

See how Mark Lawrenson and The Charlatans frontman Tim Burgess, his opponent this week, reckon the rest of this weekend's Premier League games will pan out.

John Motson
BBC Match of the Day commentator

"These matches Arsenal and Sunderland have got a history. Four of the last seven have ended in goalless draws."

The players are warming up at a very lush-looking Emirates.

The stands are pretty empty, so the concourse cafes must still be selling plenty of wild boar burgers.

There are two young Sunderland fans running around on the front row. One is called Luke. He's got that written on the back of his shirt...

If you're expecting an exciting spectacle at the Emirates this afternoon - forget it. Former Republic of Ireland captain Andy Townsend says new Sunderland boss Sam Allardyce will not turn up with an adventurous approach. 

"Sam is not going to make any excuses about his gameplan – they will be hard to break down, be resilient, and if the game isn’t a spectacle he will have no complaints," Townsend told 5 live Sport on Friday.

"His mantra to his new squad is ‘let’s stop conceding goals. Then we can win matches’.”