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The so-called Granit Xhaka derby takes center stage at the Stadium of Light on Saturday afternoon, as Sunderland and Arsenal meet in a Premier League clash with top-four implications.

The in-form hosts sit just seven points and three places behind Mikel Arteta’s side, and present a unique challenge—no team has managed to defeat the Black Cats at home in the Premier League this season.

Arsenal’s midweek Champions League encounter with Slavia Prague went exactly as expected: a Gunners victory, a clean sheet, and a standout performance from emergency striker Mikel Merino, who stepped in for Viktor Gyokeres and delivered a brace. With Merino’s double, a Bukayo Saka penalty, and a VAR-overturned Slavia spot kick, Arsenal achieved a remarkable feat—a 3-0 win that made them the first English top-flight team in 105 years to win eight consecutive matches in all competitions without conceding a goal.