Diaby and Vermaelen miss trip north

Arsenal will again be without Abou Diaby (ankle) and Thomas Vermaelen (Achilles) for Saturday's trip to Sunderland, kick-off 5.30pm. England youngster Jack Wilshere is pressing to retain his starting place alongside captain Cesc Fabregas, while winger Tomas Rosicky and England full-back Kieran Gibbs could be involved having sat out the midweek 6-0 Champions League victory over Braga as manager Arsene Wenger considers rotating the squad. Theo Walcott, Robin van Persie (both ankle), Nicklas Bendtner (groin) and Aaron Ramsey (leg) remain out. Arsenal (from): Almunia, Gibbs, Squillaci, Koscielny, Sagna, Rosicky, Fabregas, Song, Wilshere, Arshavin, Chamakh, Fabianski, Nasri, Eboue, Denilson, Vela, Djourou, Clichy.