Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta is expected to make several changes to his lineup for the match against Sunderland, with Christos Tzolis and Kai Havertz likely to return from cameo appearances. Riccardo Calafiori will replace Piero Hincapie at left-back, while Jurrien Timber's availability for the game will be decided on Friday after he stepped up his recovery in recent weeks. Arteta was optimistic about Timber's chances of playing, saying he "looks in good shape" and has been training with the team. The match is scheduled to take place at the Stadium of Light on Saturday, September 12, at 8pm BST.
Written by the local model on 2026-09-11,
using this article's own text rather than the other coverage of the
same event (that is the story summary below).
Story summary
Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta may make several changes to his lineup when they face Sunderland in the Premier League. *Christos Tzolis* and *Kai Havertz*, who came off the bench against Napoli on Wednesday, are expected to start. At left-back, *Riccardo Calafiori* is set to return instead of *Piero Hincapie*. *Jurrien Timber* and *Cristhian Mosquera* are still recovering from injuries, but will be considered for selection with a late decision made on their fitness. *Ben White*, who was injured against Napoli, has been cleared to play.
Written for “Arsenal Premier League News” on 2026-09-12,
grounded in this article and the 0 other(s) covering the same event.
Why this leaning score
This article does not take a side on a contested political
question, so it has no leaning score. That is an
answer rather than a gap: a match report or a rescue can be warmly
or critically written without being left or right, and scoring it
anyway is how approval of a subject gets recorded as a political
position.
No political leaning scored for article 8004 · logged 2026-09-11
The £75million summer signing from Newcastle has endured a slow start to his career in north London due to minor injury issues.
asserted
signing → endure → issues
Guimaraes, the former Newcastle captain, is guaranteed a hostile reception at the Stadium of Light but that is unlikely to impact Arteta's thinking.
asserted
that → guarantee → thinking
Christos Tzolis and Kai Havertz should both come back into the starting lineup, after only making cameos off the bench in the 1-0 league phase win in Naples on Wednesday night.
asserted
Tzolis → come → night
Another change is expected at left-back, with Riccardo Calafiori set to return in place of Piero Hincapie.
asserted
Calafiori → expect → Hincapie
Jurrien Timber and Cristhian Mosquera are both pushing to be included in the squad and a late decision will be made on their fitness, while Ben White is available to face Sunderland after going off late against Napoli.
asserted
White → push → Napoli
Timber has made just one appearance since mid-March - off the bench in the Champions League final in May - but he has stepped up his recovery in recent weeks and travelled to Italy on Tuesday, though was not part of the squad to meet Napoli.
"Let's see, we have another training session [on Friday]," Arteta said of Timber's availability for the Sunderland trip.
uncertain
Arteta → make → trip
"He's been doing really well, he's been training with us now for a few days and he looks in good shape."
asserted
he → do → shape
Mosquera appears more unlikely to be involved, having missed the last two matches with a muscle issue suffered in the win over Aston Villa.
asserted
Mosquera → appear → Villa
"He's been doing really well," Arteta said of Mosquera.
asserted
Arteta → do → Mosquera
"Let's see if he can get this game or the next one.
asserted
he → let → game
It will be around that time, I think.
asserted
I → think → time
