When your team are bottom of the table, the last thing you want is your keeper messing around with the ball in the opening two minutes.

But that is what Sunderland's Jordan Pickford does as he takes a touch to control a backpass and can only hit his clearance against the closing Alexis Sanchez.

Luckily for Sunderland, Sanchez used his arm to block the ball, so panic over.

Pat Nevin
Ex-Chelsea winger on BBC Radio 5 live

The oddest thing happened, Arsenal kicked off, passed it back to the centre-backs and then lumped it forward to Alexis Sanchez. It was so un-Arsenal! 

It'll be interesting to see if that continues, I'm guessing it won't...

Send us your thoughts on the action from the Stadium of Light by tweeting us using #bbcfootball and we will put your comments on this page.

Arsenal get us under way.

Is today the day where David Moyes finally wins a Premier League game as Sunderland manager?

Will Arsenal move to the top of the table? We will soon find out.

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John Hartson
Ex-Wales striker on Football Focus

Games like last week and Middlesbrough at home are the games where you have to nail down three points and that's where Arsenal have struggled in recent seasons. Points like that ultimately cost Arsenal.

Can the Gunners respond from that goalless draw?

Paralympic stars of the summer in Rio including gold medal-winning swimmer Matthew Wylie and sailor John Robertson take their seats ahead of the early kick-off at the Stadium of Light.

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Paul Emeka Kalu: Watford disgracing Manchester United ranks tops.

David Wynde: Has to be Spurs beating Man City. First hiccup for Pep and a breathtaking performance from Spurs.

Andy White: A win for Boro at Sunderland ranks high but I think the point at Arsenal last week is above it. If only it had been three....

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Steve Bower
Match of the Day commentator

When you feel like everything is against you, the last thing you need is an Arsenal team, unbeaten in 13 games, in town.

That though is the latest of the huge challenges facing David Moyes and bottom club Sunderland, at the end of a week where the manager was sent to the stands in their EFL Cup defeat at Southampton.

Sunderland are in desperate need of a lift and any kind of injection of belief, but the odds of that arriving at the Stadium of Light are long.

Arsenal will be keen to show their failure to find the back of the net against Middlesbrough was an isolated one and continue their impressive away form in this calendar year.

Arsene Wenger has said he believes he has the squad to win the title, and he'll know these are the matches they have to be winning.

Sunderland manager David Moyes, speaking to Sky Sports, says: "The big thing was we have been in all the games. There's only been the odd game where we haven't been. We go again. We have confidence in the players and we have told them that. 

"We want to make it as hard as they can for Arsenal and then play when they can. We are going to have to defend well. We have to make sure we stop Arsenal at every opportunity."

Pat Nevin
Ex-Chelsea winger on BBC Radio 5 live

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Arsenal are a stronger team than in the past but have they got the depth?  

I would always like to see Santi Cazorla on any pitch, he’s a fantastic player, the most creative player they’ve got as well as Mesut Ozil. 

But Arsenal have great strength, Iwobi will only get better and Elneny is improving.

Arsenal are without Santi Cazola and Theo Walcott today.

Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger, speaking to Sky Sports, says: "It's a good opportunity for us because we start today and it is good to play before everyone else, but only if you win.

"We have to find enough resources and solutions to solve the problem we face. We have to play at a pace and sharpness that gives them problems."

Chris Sutton
Ex-Chelsea striker

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At least one element of their struggles seems to be self-inflicted, with everyone at the club feeling sorry for themselves - and not just because they have lost some players to injury and conceded some costly late goals.  

There is a negative feeling about the place with the manager David Moyes, external and his players, external talking about how they have gone backwards since last season, when they should be searching for any kind of spark that could change things around.

From the outside, looking at the way they play and their lack of creativity, it is hard to see what that spark might be or what could fundamentally change under Moyes until the January transfer window opens.

You can read more of Chris Sutton's take on Sunderland by clicking here.

Right, let's focus now on the first of today's Premier League games as a Sunderland side, with a pitiful two points from nine matches, entertains an Arsenal team that will go top if they avoid defeat.

However, any spell at the top of the table for the Gunners could end when Manchester City take on West Brom later on today.

Simon Brotherton
Match of the Day commentator

Christian Benteke scored the winning goal in this fixture last season for Liverpool, but will be trying to add to an impressive scoring rate against them this weekend; when he was with Aston Villa, the Belgian managed four goals in five appearances against the Reds.

Benteke is up against his old team-mates for the first time since being deemed surplus to requirements over the summer. , external

He'll be hoping for better luck than in the last couple of games though.

He hit the woodwork against both West Ham and Leicester, also missing a penalty against the Hammers and had a shot cleared off the line against the Foxes.

It's Crystal Palace defender, Joel Ward's birthday today and he'll be hoping for a birthday present in the form of three points.

The Eagles - who have lost their last two games - host Liverpool at Selhurst Park at 17:30 BST. 

Palace will need to beat the statistics though, as the last four league and cup games between these sides have resulted in away wins (two for Crystal Palace, two for Liverpool).

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Despite shoving Christian Benteke towards the Anfield exit door, Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp has been very complimentary about the Crystal Palace striker.

The Belgian meets his former employers for the first time since his summer switch. Probably worth throwing a couple of quid on him scoring... 

"Every player needs space to perform, to develop and to show things. For different reasons we couldn't give him the time he needed, you lose a little bit of confidence, you feel pressure," said the German.

"We couldn't change it and it made sense (to move). He made the transfer so, for Crystal Palace, what a player. We know it best because we had him all the time in training and in all moments he showed his quality."

So the last game today is the late kick-off, between Crystal Palace and Liverpool.

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Will Vincent Kompany feature today at the Hawthorns? Kompany does have a future at Manchester City, well, according to boss Pep Guardiola.

Ahead of their EFL Cup defeat at Manchester United in midweek, City's website said their captain was "arguable one of the best defenders in the world".

What do you think? He is pretty special when fit and firing. But fitness has been his major issue for a long time now and on just his second start of the season, Kompany had to come off at half-time at Old Trafford claiming he was "tired".

Guardiola said on Friday: "He was injured many times. We're trying to give him faith to play."  

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West Brom take on the league leaders Manchester City today and Baggies boss Tony Pulis has signed a new deal meaning he'll be at the Hawthorns until 2018 unless an unforeseen sacking comes along.

Interestingly, Pulis has opened up a bit about the Chinese investment group which took charge of the Baggies in September, stating he likes what they are trying to do and that buying better players gradually was key.

"This is a time of great change at Albion and when that happens you need continuity," said Pulis.

"I want to build things here and play my part in improving the club. You cannot do these things overnight but I do believe, step by step, we are making advances."