SUNDERLAND LOOK TO UPSET ARSENAL AS AUBAMEYANG LEFT OUT AGAIN Hello and welcome to LIVE updates of the Carabao Cup quarter-final clash between Arsenal and Sunderland at the Emirates. Arsenal’s out-of-favour Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang is again not in contention to play, but he’s hardly been missed of late with Gabriel Martinelli helping propel the in-form Gunners into the Premier League top four. Sunderland may be the only team left in the Cup not in the top flight, but Lee Johnson’s side are in fine form – they’re seven games unbeaten in League One. Could an upset be on the cards tonight? Kick off 19.45 GMT.

League Cup / Matchday 1

Emirates Stadium / 21.12.2021

Arsenal

Completed

Sunderland

E. Nketiah(18', 50', 59')
N. Pépé(28')
C. Patino(90+2')

N. Broadhead(32')

Live

Live Updates

ByMarcus Foley

Updated 21/12/2021 at 22:09 GMT

KICK OFF!

We're underway at the Emirates, which is by no means packed out but the home fans are making a racket.

19:40

JOHNSON – ‘NO SENTIMENT’ IN TEAM SELECTION

Sunderland boss Lee Johnson has admitted he’s already “felt the wrath” of some players he’s left out for tonight’s tie, saying there was “no sentiment” involved in his team selection.

Arteta may have anticipated facing a strong starting XI as he’s told his side to “treat Sunderland as a Premier League team” after watching and analysing three Black Cats matches.

We can expect the visitors to put up a fight tonight. Five minutes until kick-off...

19:34

‘STOP COMPLAINING, NO EXCUSES’ – ARTETA CALLS FOR POSITIVITY AMID COVID DISRUPTION

Mikel Arteta: "[We have to] have a really positive approach and your mindset must be ready that unpredictable things are going to happen - and stop complaining about everything that happens. Then you will find excuses, we can find excuses for everything.

"We know what is going to happen, we know bad news will come probably so we have to expect it and try to prevent it if we can with all the protocols we have. But we have to be prepared as well with Plan B, C and D."

Arteta: Clubs needs ‘plan B, C and D’ amid Covid chaos

19:31

'A DEBUT FOR ONE OF OUR OWN - 2016'

During a previous visit to the Emirates, Sunderland gave a debut to this young goalkeeper. Whatever happened to him, then...?

WHITE AND IN-FORM SMITH-ROWE START

Emile Smith-Rowe's in fine form for the hosts. He scored in Arsenal's 4-1 win over Leeds at the weekend and will likely be a threat going forward again tonight.

19:23

AFCON TO GO AHEAD AS PLANNED

It’s been announced that the delayed Africa Cup of Nations will go ahead as planned, with Aubameyang expected to be involved for Gabon and missing from Premier League action for several weeks – if he’s still with Arsenal by then, that is.

Speculation has persisted in recent weeks that the finals would be delayed or cancelled due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

Africa Cup of Nations

AFCON will go ahead as planned next month - CAF chief Motsepe

21/12/2021 at 12:13

19:20

RUMOUR MILL: AUBAMEYANG TO BARCELONA?

The latest transfer speculation sees Arsenal’s Aubameyang linked with a move to Barcelona. Read about that and much more in today's Paper Round.

Transfers

Barca want Aubameyang loan and consider Cavani transfer too – Paper Round

21/12/2021 at 08:00

19:15

LAST TIME OUT: QPR 0-0 SUNDERLAND (SUNDERLAND WIN ON PENS)

Sunderland won away at QPR on penalties after they played out a goalless draw at Loftus Road to reach the quarter-final. The Black Cats only needed to score three penalties as Charlie Austin, Ilias Chair and Yoann Barbet missed for QPR.

If it’s level after 90 minutes tonight, there’s no second-leg and no replay – we got to extra-time. Is there more late drama in store?

Image credit: Getty Images

19:10

LAST TIME OUT: ARSENAL 2-0 LEEDS

Second-half goals from Calum Chambers - with his first touch, 23 seconds after coming on as sub – and Eddie Nketiah gave Arsenal an ultimately comfortable win in the last 16 of the Carabao Cup at the Emirates. Here’s how the match played out:

League Cup

Arsenal through to Carabao quarters with win over Leeds

26/10/2021 at 20:52

19:05

NINE CHANGES FOR ARSENAL

Mikel Arteta has made nine changes to the side that beat Leeds United at the weekend. The Gunners boss has also confirmed that Albert Sambi Lokonga, Pablo Mari and Calum Chambers are out having tested positive for Covid-19.

Sunderland have made just three changes from their draw at the weekend against Ipswich.

19:00

TEAM NEWS - ELNENY STARTS FOR GUNNERS

Confirmed teams - ARSENAL: Leno, Cedric, White, Holding, Tavares, Elneny, Odegaard, Smith Rowe, Pepe, Nketiah, Balogun... Subs: Ramsdale, Tierney, Gabriel, Partey, Xhaka, Paino, Saka, Martinelli, Lacazette. /// SUNDERLAND: Burge, Winchester, Wright, Flanagan, Doyle, Gooch, Embleton, Neil, Pritchard, Broadhead, Stewart... Subs: Patterson, Evans, O'Brien, Cirkin, Xhemajli, Younger, Hume, Dunne, Kimpioka

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