A depleted Arsenal squad face an epic trip to Sunderland in this week’s Premier League clash, in the hope that Mesut Ozil will make his English debut in after his big money move.

Ozil is in line to replace Tomas Rosicky after the midfielder limped off during the Czech Republic’s game with Italy, with the German being a like-for-like switch in the middle of the park.

Sick note city

Rosicky joined a long list of the walking wounded after his international adventures, joining Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, Gedion Zelalem, Mikel Arteta, Abou Diaby, Lukas Podolski and Yaya Sanogo on the sidelines.

Vermaelen is back in full training. He is very close to being available and he could be in the squad on Saturday.

The first team seems to be fairly intact, with Theo Walcott, Santi Cazorla, Jack Wilshere and Olivier Giroud all fit to face the Black Cats.

All eyes will be on the £42million man as he makes his debut in English football, after previously excelling in Germany and Spain.

Wenger said:

"In midfield, Jack Wilshere is more comfortable in deeper positions and Özil more in a higher position, that is why I don't think they conflict,"

"I didn't always think that, but looking at Jack over the years now, he likes to come deep to take the ball and make a difference, and then give and go again.

"Özil, though, is more behind the striker, higher up on the field."

Sunderland will be without John O’Shea after his late red card against Crystal Palace last week, where they slipped to a 3-1 defeat. Di Canio is likely to introduce new signings Andrea Dossena at fullback and Fabio Borini up front, after his summer clearout leaves the Northern side looking completely new.

Familiar side

Former Arsenal goalkeeper Vito Mannone will not face his former side with Kieran Westwood preferred in the Sunderland sticks.

Wojciech Szczesny will keep his place in goal after an impressive clean sheet against Spurs, despite pressure from new signing Emiliano Viviano to surrender his first team spot.

Wenger said:

"At the moment, Wojciech is No 1 unless I decide otherwise. They are all competing for the place of the No 1. At the moment, one and two are Wojciech and Fabianski. After, maybe I will rotate.

"Viviano is a highly-rated goalkeeper in Italy so we have three goalkeepers that are very compact quality-wise."

Expected line-up

Szczesny; Jenkinson, Sagna, Koscielny, Gibbs; Ramsey, Wilshere; Walcott, Özil, Cazorla; Giroud

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