Samuel Osei bekoe: Why is Arsene not playing Welbeck and Coquelin? To get Giroud in the French squad for Euro 2016? Puzzling!!

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Claudio Ranieri is not the only man working wonders at Leicester because whoever the groundsperson is take a bow! Pitch looks stunning. 

Image source, Getty Images

Shola Ameobi
Ex-Nigeria striker on MOTD2 Extra

"All this builds momentum. Newcastle really had to dig in deep but the fact they came back against Manchester City a few days before gave the players the belief they could do it against Liverpool yesterday. You can see Benitez has changed the mentality of the players, it's clear. Is it too late? Only time will tell."

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Sunderland boss Sam Allardyce, speaking to Sky Sports: "It's what we do in possession today as well as defending very well. How well we use the ball will determine whether we can get a result.

"When you play one of the big boys chances become few and far between and you have to take them. We have to try and win but if not at least pick up a point.

"Getting out of the bottom three today would be a massive boost. We should have done it before today, but if we beat Arsenal it will be our biggest win of the season."

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How did Sam Allardyce spend his Saturday? Keeping an eye on how relegation rivals Newcastle got on at Liverpool maybe?

“I have enough tension and stress watching our games without sitting in front of the telly wanting this team to do better against that team,” he said.

“I leave it, relax and watch BBC drama Line of Duty. If we can play as well as that script, we’ll be alright!”

Taking time out from the tension and stress of the relegation fight by watching one of the most tense programmes on TV at the moment...

It is very good though.

Image source, EPA

Claudio Ranieri thinks so.

Leicester's top scorer is suspended for today's visit of Swansea, as the Foxes look to open up an eight-point gap at the top of the table.

"I think I have 24 stars. I have 24 Caesars - that is our strength. There isn't one Caesar but there are the other 23," said the Italian.

Vardy could be replaced by Leonardo Ulloa, while Nathan Dyer is ineligible to face his parent club.

Swansea midfielder Leon Britton returns after missing the last two matches with a back problem.

Jack Cork has recovered from a facial injury he suffered last weekend in the defeat by Newcastle.

Get all the pre-match stats, team news and quotes here.

Shola Ameobi
Ex-Nigeria striker on MOTD2 Extra

"Jamie Vardy running in behind and harrying players has been a major factor in Leicester's success this season, it's important to note that his absence will have a negative effect. Every question that's been asked of them has been answered. But there's no doubt it's going to be a big loss for them."

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BBC Radio 5 Live

There may be three hours to go but our team is in place at the King Power Stadium for what is arguably the game of the day - leaders Leicester against Swansea.

A familiar, if unexpected, face in the press room. Ex-England boss Fabio Capello is there with his snazzy cardy and BBC Radio 5 live's Jonathan Overend grabbed a quick word.

Jonathan is on air now with 5 live sport.

Pretty straightforward stuff when it comes to both starting XIs - Sunderland keep the same team that beat Norwich 3-0 and Arsenal are unchanged from their 2-0 win over West Brom.

Image source, .

Image source, .

And here are the two benches, with Jack Wilshere there for the Gunners.

Sunderland: Pickford, Jones, Larsson, Rodwell, N'Doye, O'Shea, Watmore

Arsenal: Ospina, Gabriel, Coquelin, Wilshere, Walcottt, Campbell, Welbeck

Image source, Rex Features

The big news is that Jack Wilshere is on the Arsenal bench and in a squad for the first time this season.

The England midfielder has been out with a broken leg and last played for the Gunners in last year's FA Cup final.

Both teams keep an unchanged starting XI.

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Sunderland lost 3-1 to Arsenal earlier this season, but Sam Allardyce does have experience of beating the Gunners with the Black Cats.

Back in 1980 – when Allardyce was going through his Tom Selleck in Magnum PI phase – he was part of a Sunderland side that beat Arsenal 2-0.

How he’d love to oversee a similarly comfortable win today.

Shola Ameobi
Ex-Nigeria striker on MOTD2 Extra

"Jermain Defoe hasn't scored many at the Stadium of Light but it might be the way Sunderland play away from home. Certain set-ups suit certain players better, hitting teams on the break for example. We all know Jermain likes to run off the last defender."

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Jermaine Jenas
Ex-Spurs & England midfielder on MOTD2 Extra

"One of the worst things I've heard is that Arsenal fans would rather finish out of the top four, because it's the only way Arsene Wenger would leave. That's unbelievable. Arsenal aren't in contention to be chasing for the title. I think if they were still in it there might not be have been such a reaction."

Image source, Reuters

We should be getting team news from the Stadium of Light in the next 10 minutes or so. 

It's a big game for Sunderland, but there's still plenty for the Gunners to play for. They can move back up to third with a win, while Arsene Wenger will be keen for a decent performance to keep the murmurings of discontent to a minimum.

Shola Ameobi
Ex-Nigeria striker on MOTD2 Extra

"Whether or not there's a decision about Roberto Martinez at Everton you can see the players still wanted to fight for their manager. If it hadn't been for the poor finishing of Romelu Lukaku it could have been a different result."

Image source, Empics

Shola Ameobi
Ex-Nigeria striker on MOTD2 Extra

"Martial's display had shades of the Thierry Henry of old. He's starting to really show people what he can do now, that performance was his best of the season since arriving for a hefty price tag. It was such a great finish."

Image source, AFP

Image source, Rex Features

A bit of news you may have missed from last night.

Possibly the most eccentric man in English football lost his job yesterday as Peterborough United boss Graham Westley got the chop.

Posh fans had dubbed him the David Brent of London Road. I don't think it was affectionately.

Jermaine Jenas
Ex-Spurs & England midfielder on MOTD2 Extra

"With Rooney, that yard of pace is getting away from him now. I think he will score more from attacking midfield. It could be that new lease of life that Giggs got coming in from the wing. 

"Whether it's Roy Hodgson or the Manchester United manager that gives it to him, I think that will be Rooney's new role. I don't see how Roy doesn't play Alli and Kane together, and that almost takes the forward role away from Rooney. If Rooney wasn't the England captain it would be one of those good problems."

Image source, Getty Images

We want to know who are the marathon men or women at your team - who covers every blade of grass?

Neil Williams: Who goes the extra mile at my club, Aston Villa? Only the groundsmen, apparently., external

Image source, GEt

Image source, Rex Features

So, let's start turning our eyes towards this afternoon's action and get some early team news.

Arsenal can climb to third in the league if they beat Sunderland, who in turn can move out of the relegation zone with a point.

Jack Rodwell returns to Sunderland's squad after illness but Jeremain Lens is struggling with a virus.

Defender DeAndre Yedlin is doubtful with an ankle injury but Fabio Borini has shaken off a shin problem.

Jack Wilshere could make the Arsenal squad for the first time this season after recovering from a broken leg.

Santi Cazorla and Tomas Rosicky are back in training after respective Achilles and thigh injuries but are unlikely to feature.

Read quotes, stats and team news in our preview.