Arsenal Predicted XI vs Sunderland: Tzolis Starts, Havertz Leads the Line

Arsenal travel to the Stadium of Light to face Sunderland in the Premier League on Sunday, with Mikel Arteta expected to make four changes. £34m summer signing Christos Tzolis starts on the left, Kai Havertz leads the line, and Riccardo Calafiori comes in at left-back.

  • Fixture: Sunderland vs Arsenal, Premier League matchday four
  • Venue: Stadium of Light
  • Date: Sunday, September 13, 2026
  • Arsenal form: Won all matches so far this season across competitions; both away wins were 1-0
  • Key changes: Tzolis in on the left, Havertz up front, Calafiori at left-back, Lewis-Skelly back in midfield
  • Midweek result: Arsenal beat Napoli 1-0 in the Champions League

Confirmed line-ups

The source article is a predicted XI, so the following is expected rather than confirmed.

Arsenal (4-2-3-1)

Starting XI: David Raya; Ben White, Gabriel Magalhaes, Ezri Konsa, Riccardo Calafiori; Declan Rice, Myles Lewis-Skelly; Bukayo Saka, Martin Odegaard, Christos Tzolis; Kai Havertz

Substitutes: Kepa Arrizabalaga, Jurrien Timber, Piero Hincapie, Mikel Merino, Eberechi Eze, Viktor Gyokeres

Selection notes

Mikel Arteta is expected to make four changes from the midweek win over Napoli. Riccardo Calafiori replaces Piero Hincapie at left-back, with Jurrien Timber not yet fully fit and therefore unlikely to displace Ben White at right-back. In midfield, Myles Lewis-Skelly returns in place of Mikel Merino, having emerged as a first-choice option in recent weeks. Further forward, £34m summer signing Christos Tzolis comes in on the left flank, meaning Eberechi Eze drops out. Up front, Kai Havertz leads the line at the expense of Viktor Gyokeres.

Injury and availability

Jurrien Timber is the only player mentioned as a doubt: the source states he is "yet to be fully fit", which is why Ben White is expected to continue at right-back. No other injuries or suspensions are reported, and the Arsenal squad is otherwise described as having come through the Napoli match without fresh fitness concerns.

The numbers

  • £34m – the fee Arsenal paid for Christos Tzolis, as stated in the source
  • 1-0 – the scoreline of Arsenal's midweek Champions League win over Napoli
  • 1-0 – the margin of both of Arsenal's away wins this season
  • 4 – the number of expected changes to the Arsenal XI
  • Matchday 4 – Arsenal's Premier League fixture at Sunderland

Why Arteta is shuffling his pack at Sunderland

Arteta has spent the opening weeks of the season managing a squad that is winning without being spectacular. Both away victories have come by a single goal, and the midweek 1-0 against Napoli was another example of control over chaos. Rotating at Sunderland is not a sign of weakness; it is a recognition that the fixtures are coming quickly and that certain players offer specific solutions in specific games.

The most interesting selection is Christos Tzolis. A £34m summer signing, he has been eased in, but the left flank is where Arteta wants directness. Eberechi Eze dropping out does not mean he has lost favour; it means Arteta wants a different profile against a Sunderland side likely to sit deep at the Stadium of Light. Tzolis hugging the touchline stretches the back four and creates space for Martin Odegaard, who has been Arsenal's match-winner in each of the last two matches, against Chelsea and at Napoli.

In midfield, the return of Myles Lewis-Skelly alongside Declan Rice gives Arsenal a double pivot with more legs and more willingness to carry the ball forward. Mikel Merino has been reliable, but Lewis-Skelly's emergence as a first-choice option in recent weeks reflects a tactical shift towards mobility. Up front, Kai Havertz replaces Viktor Gyokeres, offering a different kind of centre-forward: one who drops into midfield, links play, and allows Odegaard and Bukayo Saka to run beyond. Against a low block, that movement can be more valuable than a pure penalty-box striker.

The back four is largely unchanged, which tells its own story. Gabriel Magalhaes and Ezri Konsa continue as the centre-back pairing, and that partnership is becoming the foundation of Arsenal's 1-0 wins. Ben White keeps his place because Jurrien Timber is not fully fit. The one switch is at left-back, where Riccardo Calafiori comes in for Piero Hincapie. Calafiori's ability to step into midfield could help Arsenal overload Sunderland's right side, especially with Tzolis ahead of him.

Talking points

  • Starting Tzolis over Eze is a bold call. Eze offers guile between the lines, but Tzolis offers width and pace. Against a deep block, which is more useful?
  • Havertz ahead of Gyokeres suggests Arteta wants link-up play rather than a target man. Does that make Arsenal more predictable in the box?
  • Lewis-Skelly in midfield and Calafiori at left-back means two ball-carriers in the same channel. Risky or revolutionary?
  • Both away wins have been 1-0. If Arsenal keep winning narrowly, does the performance level even matter?

What happens next

Arsenal play Sunderland at the Stadium of Light on Sunday. A win would maintain their perfect start to the season across all competitions. After that, the focus shifts to the next Premier League fixture and the continued integration of Tzolis, Havertz and Lewis-Skelly into Arteta's preferred eleven.

Frequently asked questions

Is Christos Tzolis starting for Arsenal vs Sunderland?

Yes, according to the source's predicted XI, Tzolis is expected to start on the left flank against Sunderland, with Eberechi Eze dropping out.

Who is leading the line for Arsenal against Sunderland?

Kai Havertz is expected to lead the line, replacing Viktor Gyokeres in the process.

Is Jurrien Timber fit to play for Arsenal vs Sunderland?

No, the source says Timber is "yet to be fully fit", so Ben White is expected to keep his place at right-back.

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