Arsenal vs. Sunderland: match thread

Arsenal v. Sunderland
Saturday 18 August 2012, 10am ET
The Emirates Stadium, London, England
Matchday 1
Televisual Coverage: ESPN
SBN's Sunderland Internet thing: The Roker Report

Arsenal take on Sunderland in the first Premier League match of the year. If you ain't stoked, you ain't alive, as far as we all can tell. Let's take a look at the lineups, shall we?

Arsenal (4-3-3): Szczesny, Jenkinson, Mertesacker, Vermaelen, Gibbs, Diaby, Arteta, Cazorla, Walcott, Gervinho, Podolski.

Subs: Mannone, Djourou, Coquelin, Santos, Ramsey, Arshavin, Giroud.

Sunderland (4-4-2): Mignolet, Gardner, Richardson, O'Shea, Cuellar, Larsson, McClean, Cattermole, Colback, Sessegnon, Campbell.

Subs: Westwood, Wickham, Kilgallon, Meyler, Bramble, Saha, Elmohamad.

So. Abou Diaby will form the double pivot with Mikel Arteta--fun times! Carl Jenkinson starts at right back, which spot many expected Nico Yennaris to take, but the latter doesn't even make the subs bench. Lukas Podolski leads the line.

Feel free to comment below on all the action, but remember to please keep image heights at a maximum of 300, always always use a subject line, no links to illegal streams, and above all, be kind to one another.

COME ON ARSENAL