Ferdinand and Mensah start

STEVE BRUCE has dropped Matthew Kilgallon to the bench preferring the experience of John Mensah and Anton Ferdinand as Sunderland seek to do the double over Arsenal. Ferdinand is expected to be handed a defensive midfield role with Mensah and Michael Turner the centre-backs. Kieran Richardson returns to the side with Fraizer Campbell also restored the starting line-up as Bruce adds pace to his midfield. Manuel Almunia has recovered from a finger injury and replaces Lukasz Fabianski in goal. ARSENAL (4-4-2): Almunia; Eboue, Vermaelen Silvestre, Clichy; Ramsey, Fabregas,Song, Nasri;Bendtner, Walcott. Subs: Fabianski (gk), Rosicky, Vela, Traore, Campbell, Denilson, Sagna. SUNDERLAND (4-4-2): Gordon;Hutton,Turner,Mensah,McCartney;Campbell,Cana, Ferdinand, Richardson; Jones, Bent. Subs: Carson (gk), Bardsley, Da Silva, Kilgallon, Malbranque, Benjani, Zenden.

Source: Northern_Echo