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An action-packed week of soccer continues with a loaded schedule from the Premier League.
Sunderland hosts Arsenal in the marquee matchup of Saturday's slate, with fans able to follow the action on TV and live streaming apps starting at 3:00 p.m. ET.
Will the Black Cats make home-field advantage count and grab a second win of the season, or will Arsenal keep its perfect start to the campaign intact?
The top sportsbooks featured on this page offer a wealth of pregame markets, including moneyline, total goals, and first team to score. There's plenty to choose from, and plenty to get excited about.
Need help finding the value? Keep reading as trusted soccer betting writer Frank Monkhouse breaks down his big-game predictions.
Sunderland v Arsenal betting tips
Arsenal win @ -240 (FanDuel) | -210 (BetMGM)
Under 3.5 goals @ -350 (FanDuel) | -375 (BetMGM)
Saka 2+ shots on target @ +190 (FanDuel) | +180 (BetMGM)
This article contains affiliate links to advertisers. The analysis is our own. Age, location and other restrictions apply. Please play responsibly.
Moneyline – Arsenal win
I'm expecting a competitive, entertaining match from Tyne and Wear on Saturday evening, but I have the road team as my best bet.
Both teams played in midweek. Sunderland edged fellow Premier League side Hull City 1-0 in the 3rd round of the League Cup on Tuesday. Arsenal was in UEFA Champions League action in Naples 24 hours later, also winning 1-0.
Fatigue will hit both teams, so head coaches Régis Le Bris and Mikel Arteta will need to get creative with their rosters.
Sunderland started the week down in 12th place, with four points from a possible nine. Arsenal sits tied atop the Premier League standings with Man City, thanks to three wins in three games. The Gunners have scored three more goals than their hosts and allowed two fewer.
The numbers tied to this matchup do little to inspire confidence among the home fan base. Sunderland has managed just one win in its last 29 league meetings with Saturday's opponent. In that span, Arsenal has 18 wins, with 10 games ending in a draw.
Darren Bent scored in a 1-0 win for Sunderland over Arsenal back in 2009, but the Black Cats have gone winless in the 17 years since.
The Stadium of Light doesn't appear to hold any fear for Arsenal either, with the Londoners taking 29 points from the last 42 available, thanks to eight wins and five draws.
Stick with the defending champions, and bet on Arsenal to win its first four games of a top-flight season for only the sixth time in club history, and the first time since 2022.
Tip: Arsenal win @ -240 (Fanduel) | -210 (BetMGM)
Bet explanation: If Arsenal leaves the Stadium of Light with all three points, your bet wins and you'll collect the profit.
Total goals - Under 3.5
Moving to my second Sunderland vs. Arsenal wager, I'm dipping into the Over/Under market, backing under 3.5 goals.
Bettors aren't concerned here with which team wins or who scores the goals. All you need is for the game to end with fewer than four combined goals. A 2-0 home win pays the same as a 1-1 draw or a 2-1 win for the visitors.
Arteta has made his squad difficult to beat over the last 12 months. Arsenal allowed just 27 goals last season, the fewest in the Premier League. Its closest competition for goals allowed was Manchester City, but the Cityzens gave up eight more. That's impressive.
This season, Arsenal has played three games and allowed just one goal. Only Hull City has a better defense at this stage, having yet to allow a goal at all.
Helpful stat: Arsenal has the lowest xG allowed of any team in the top flight at 0.93. The Gunners allowed five shots on target against Chelsea, two at Villa Park, and one against Coventry City in the season opener.
That's impressive enough, but there's more.
Sunderland is the only team in the Premier League to face fewer shots on target than Arsenal.
A bet on under 3.5 goals has cashed in each of Arsenal's three league games this season. The same is true for Sunderland's matches.
Tip: Under 3.5 goals @ -350 (FanDuel) | -375 (BetMGM)
Bet explanation: Sunderland vs. Arsenal must end with fewer than four combined goals.
2+ shots on target - Saka
Moving on to my third and final pick, I'm turning to the player props market for a shot at better odds.
Opta Stats show that Arsenal winger Bukayo Saka has recorded at least one shot on target in 11 of his previous 12 league starts away from the Emirates Stadium.
Saka is Mr. Reliable on the road, and he scored at this stadium last November. The 25-year-old has also found the net at Wolves and Brighton, among others.
Looking at the early stretch of this season, Arsenal's number seven was on target in a 3-0 home win over Coventry City on Matchweek 1. He was also the difference-maker when the Londoners won 1-0 at Villa Park in their previous road game.
Arsenal fans would love to see Saka add to his tally for the season, pushing his team into first place. Bettors backing this pick don't need him to find the net or even for Arsenal to win the match.
You'll boost your bankroll if Saka records at least two shots on target at the Stadium of Light. He could score two highlight-reel goals, or the Sunderland goalkeeper could turn away two weak attempts. As long as Saka gets more than one shot on target, your bet wins.
Tip: Saka 2+ shots on target @ +190 (FanDuel) | +180 (BetMGM)
Bet explanation: Bukayo Saka must have two or more shots on target during Saturday evening’s match in Sunderland.
Sunderland v Arsenal betting odds
Sunderland win @ +650 (FanDuel) | +600 (BetMGM)
Draw @ +310 (FanDuel) | +320 (BetMGM)
Arsenal win @ -240 (FanDuel) | -210 (BetMGM)