Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta has told the Sunderland Echo that he believes that Sunderland will cause his side problems this evening as the two clubs meet in the Carabao Cup. 

Both teams head into the game at the Emirates Stadium in good form after performing well in their respective leagues of late and will be no doubt relishing this cup clash under the lights in North London.

The Black Cats can already boast a certain 'giant killing' pedigree from their form in the previous rounds, with Lee Johnson's side most notably dumping out Championship QPR on penalties as they earnt a good scalp away from home.

And there is no doubting that the club from the North East will be seeking to repeat such a feat this evening against the Premier League giants, with Arteta suggesting that he and his team are wary of what they might face:

"It will be a difficult night and their manager has a history of making life very difficult for Premier League clubs in this competition and we have to be ready.

"I already watched three of their games and they're the highest possession team in the league, it's the team that has a lot of resources with the ball to generate attacking situations and if you give them the right time to do so, they will create problems because they have good players to do so."

Arteta went on to state that he would be looking to rotate his side from their recent 4-1 win over Leeds United, with some fringe players sure to be given a chance to impress.

Sunderland boast a manager who previously took Bristol City to the semi-final stage of this competition back in the 2017/18 campaign and will be hoping that Johnson can repeat that feat with them this evening.

The Verdict 

Sunderland will know that they will have to get used to having their backs against the wall for long periods tonight but at the same time they will no that they can approach this game with no fear.

It presents a welcome distraction from what is gruelling league campaign and at the same time it gives them a real chance to make some more history in a competition that has served them well in the past.

There is no doubt that they will be well backed by their supporters this evening and it is fair to say that the pitch at the Emirates will suit their style of play.

It is set to be an intriguing game between two in-form sides tonight.