John Motson
BBC Match of the Day commentator at Emirates Stadium

"In any other season, especially given Sunderland's record at Arsenal, this would seem like a straightforward home win.

"But it's now three league games without a win for the stumbling Gunners, while the improving Black Cats are aiming to make it three wins in a row.

"Sam Allardyce will be especially pleased by Sunderland's recent defensive record - three clean sheets in five matches is a firm basis on which to launch a relegation fight.

"And it could be a good time for his side to face Arsenal, who have an injury crisis and a Champions League group decider on Wednesday. Arsene Wenger faces some tricky selection decisions but one thing is clear: the Gunners need to turn their form around - and fast."

Will Sam Allardyce attempt to create history by adventure? Erm, anyone expecting an exciting spectacle at the Emirates this afternoon can forget it because former Republic of Ireland captain Andy Townsend says new Sunderland boss Sam Allardyce will not turn up with a goal-fest in mind.

"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’.”

BBC Radio 5 Live

We're teaming up with the Danny Baker Show on BBC Radio 5 live to ask about matches you've played in moving vehicles, vessels or aircraft.

Simon White: Headers on the bus, easier when seats face each other at the back.  

Viktor Boskovic: I once played a game of table tennis on a motorbike.  

Not sure I believe that one Viktor. Was it moving?...

Image source, Getty Images

Let us know your best anecdotes using #bbcfootball,, external text 81111 (UK only and include your name) or go to the Match of the Day Facebook page., external

Ah, yes, 1983... the birth of TV-AM, the one pound coin is introduced in England and Wales, Microsoft Word is first released, the compact disk is first marketed in Britain - and Sunderland last beat Arsenal away from home in the league. 

It's true, the Black Cats have never won at Arsenal in the Premier League (drawing five, losing nine) and their last league victory away to the Gunners was in November 1983.

Why do Arsenal struggle with so many injuries? It's one of the Premier League's biggest mysteries. BBC Sport pundit Pat Nevin thinks 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 charity 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.”

Mr Arsene Wenger has come under criticism this week, but he's defended his decision to start Alexis Sanchez in the 1-1 draw with Norwich after the Chilean and two other players were injured.  

The Frenchman says he does not know how long Sanchez will be out for, describing Sanchez's injury as a "big blow". 

It certainly isn't good news for Arsenal, but it is a boost for Sunderland, who are aiming for a third consecutive Premier League win. 

Image source, Getty Images

It sounds like a plot Eastenders writers could steal for their Christmas special, but Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger claims Gunners forward Alexis Sanchez could have died after colliding with the camera pit at Norwich last weekend.

Sanchez fell into the boards behind the goal after an apparent shove by Ryan Bennett, although the Norwich defender denied it was a deliberate push.

"First of all it's dangerous to have a camera there," Wenger said. "He could've killed him. He didn't need to push like he did. I think the camera position was absolutely dangerous."

Image source, Getty Images

BBC Radio 5 Live

We're teaming up with the Danny Baker Show on BBC Radio 5 live to ask about matches you've played in moving vehicles, vessels or aircraft.

Let us know your best anecdotes using #bbcfootball,, external text 81111 (UK only and include your name) or go to the Match of the Day Facebook page., external

Image source, Getty Images

Image source, Getty Images

This week we're going to be looking into the state of grassroots football - and the type of facilities available to you and your teams.

So we want to hear from you about the kind of conditions you play in. Send us your pictures of the best and worst pitches, changing rooms and clubhouses that you use, giving details of where they are. You can send them to #bbcfootball., external

One final thing about the Swansea and Leicester match before we move on to other matters. Garry Monk has held "open and honest" talks with his players as they bid to arrest their Premier League decline.  

"At the start of last week after the Bournemouth game, I sat down with all the players and had good discussions with them on how we go forward and what we need to do to improve," said Monk. 

"We talked about many things. We talked about the situation: 'Let's be open and honest about it'.

"It was definitely the right step to make. It's not an easy process, but it's definitely a step in the right direction."

Image source, Getty Images

Swansea City manager Garry Monk has enough problems this season without having to come up with solutions to stop Jamie Vardy scoring against his team. 

But a solution he must find otherwise further questions will be asked about his future. 

The Swans, 15th in the league, have won one of their last 10 league games, failing to score in six of those matches, and should they lose at home to second-placed Leicester this afternoon they will be dragged into a relegation battle. 

Image source, Getty Images

Conor McNamara
BBC Match of the Day commentator at the Liberty Stadium

"Can Swansea accomplish what Leicester's last 11 Premier League opponents have failed to do - can they shackle Jamie Vardy?

"Of all the incredibly talented strikers who have played in England, only an Irishman - Jimmy Dunne - has ever scored in 12 top-flight games in a row.

"Dunne passed away in 1949, aged just 44. Vardy's recent exploits have revived Dunne's name and legend. Achievements like that are never forgotten. , external

"Leicester's current number nine doesn't need the 12 gifts of Christmas; not two turtle doves, nor a partridge in a pear tree. Jamie Vardy needs a 12th goal for immortality."

Jamie Vardy is, of course, the Premier League's top scorer with 14 goals, but what makes the former non-league striker so special? 

Leicester boss Claudio Ranieri has had a go at explaining: "My friend in Italy asked me 'what has this Vardy got?'

"To explain I said I believe if Vardy takes a light bulb, the bulb switches on - he is electric.It is good energy - I'll bring him into my house so I don't pay the electricity. He wants to play every week and is very brave."

Perhaps manufacturing hundreds of Jamie Vardys should be on the agenda at the Paris climate change summit...

Image source, Getty Images

How to stop Jamie Vardy scoring? It's a difficult task, though sending him to Hollywood might work. No team has managed to stop Vardy finding the net in his last 11 Premier League outings. 

Should he score for a 12th successive league game today, the 28-year-old will equal the English top-flight record set by Sheffield United's Jimmy Dunne in the 1931-32 season.

Swansea, you've been warned. 

Image source, Getty Images

As I was saying earlier, the story of a former factory worker turned record-breaking Premier League scorer is being touted around Hollywood, so they say, as a possible blockbuster. 

Last week Jamie Vardy broke Ruud van Nistelrooy's record to become the first player to score in 11 consecutive Premier League matches and that has caught the eye of screenwriter Adrian Butchard - the man behind the football trilogy Goal! 

According to the British-born Butchard, A-listers Robert Pattinson, Andrew Garfield and Zac Efron all have potential to fill Vardy’s boots in a film version of the 28-year-old's life, but have they an eye for goal? 

Image source, Getty Images

BBC Radio 5 Live

Every Saturday we team up with the Danny Baker Show on BBC Radio 5 live to ask for your unusual footballing stories. 

Today Mr Baker is asking about your tales of playing matches in unusual places - moving vehicles, vessels or aircraft...

It's the weather for ducks not football in Scotland, apparently. 

Celtic's Scottish Premiership match against Hamilton Academical has been called off following a morning pitch inspection.  

Hearts' match against Inverness Caledonian Thistle has also been postponed "due to extreme adverse weather conditions", while Partick Thistle's tie against Motherwell has been called off due to a waterlogged pitch.

Image source, Getty Images

BBC Radio 5 Live

We're teaming up with the Danny Baker Show on BBC Radio 5 live to ask about matches you've played in moving vehicles, vessels or aircraft.

reggie purpdrank: Tried playing keepy-ups on the back of a moving flat bed before moving houses. Tried.

Pamela Chrispin: Once played hockey match on a cross-channel ferry. Queen Mary School Lytham vs Preston HC. Does that count?

Let us know your best anecdotes using #bbcfootball,, external text 81111 (UK only and include your name) or go to the Match of the Day Facebook page., external

Image source, Getty Images

"21st century Fox," says the Guardian, external of Jamie Vardy, the man who has given them an exclusive interview. 

The Leicester striker talks about how his fiancee has changed his life – and why he is relieved not to be on the Sports Personality of the Year shortlist. Moving quickly on... 

Image source, Guardian

Leicester's record-breaking striker Jamie Vardy could be set for a nice Christmas bonus, according to the Daily Star. , external

The paper says: "The Foxes are ready to rip up Vardy’s current contract and hand him a whopping £90,000 a week package."

Do football contracts literally get ripped up? Anyway, I digress...

Image source, Daily Star