Premier League - Arsenal FC v Sunderland FC kick-off time

Visit Save For Later

by Crunch Sports Staff

Posted

Lukas Podolski (credit: DANIEL ROLAND/AFP/GettyImages)

Arsenal v Sunderland takes place this afternoon on the opening day of the 2012-13 Premier League season.

The game takes place at Emirates Stadium (kick-off 15:00 BST) and sees Arsenal start the season without Robin van Persie, who on Friday completed a £24million move to league rivals Manchester United.

Although Van Persie has gone, Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger has been busy in the transfer market this summer, and new signings Santi Cazorla, Olivier Giroud, and Lukas Podolski could all feature.

Arsenal have had debutants sent off in the opening Premier League game in each of the last two seasons - Laurent Koscielny and Gervinho - and Wenger is expecting a tough game against the Black Cats.

"Traditionally it is always an intense, physical game against them," said the Frenchman.

"We have to create space."

Sunderland manager Martin O'Neill is also expecting a difficult game to get the new campaign underway.

"It’s going to be a difficult game but playing Arsenal is always a difficult game," he said.

"I don’t think the departure of Robin van Persie puts any more pressure on Arsenal but that’s not my concern anyway, there is enough pressure on us without worrying about the position."

When Arsenal last met Sunderland at Emirates Stadium, Van Persie scored Arsenal’s fastest-ever Premier League goal, finding the net after just 29 seconds.

See right for full Arsenal v Sunderland team news

Like Like

All Soccer News

Recent UK Football Articles

Five reasons why Arsenal FC can win the Premiership next season
They may have gone eight years without winning a trophy, but there were some positive signs for Arsenal during the closing stages of the 2012-13 Premier League season. Can the Gunners challenge for the Premiership title during the 2013-14 campaign? writer Thomas Rooney believes they can,...
Man Utd fixtures - Man Utd and David Moyes start season against Swansea, Chelsea FC
Premier League champions Manchester United will travel to Swansea City on the opening day of the 2013/14 season. United's new manager David Moyes could not have asked for a trickier start to his reign at Old Trafford as he looks to pick up from where Sir Alex Ferguson left off – winning trophies. M...
Chelsea FC fixtures - Jose Mourinho and CFC start season against Hull, Man Utd
Jose Mourinho’s second reign as Chelsea manager will begin on August 17th at home to newly-promoted Hull City. Mourinho and Chelsea start their 2013-14 Premier League campaign by welcoming Hull to Stamford Bridge, and follow that up with a trip north to face champions Manchester United at Old Traff...
Joe Kinnear blasts Newcastle United fans
Newcastle United's new director of football Joe Kinnear has risked alienating the club's fans by claiming to have "more intelligence than them".Kinnear, who had a short spell as Newcastle manager during the 2008-09 season, was on Tuesday's confirmed as director of football, but fans have been ...
Premier League fixtures for 2013-14 season announced
Fixtures for the 2013-14 Premier League season were announced on Wednesday morning, with Premier League champions Manchester United facing Swansea on the opening day of the season. New United boss David Moyes will start with a trip to the Liberty Stadium, while rivals and neighbours Manchester City...
Alcantara to Man Utd? Liverpool FC new signings? Mata to quit Chelsea FC? Wednesday's back pages
The top stories making Wednesday's back pages in the UK... The Sun: Barcelona midfielder Cesc Fabregas has said Real Madrid would be foolish to bid £100m for Gareth Bale. Also: Luis Alberto is set to become Liverpool's third signing of the summer after they made a £5million bid for the Seville forw...
Higuain to Arsenal FC? Matic to Chelsea FC? Mkhitaryan to Liverpool FC? Tuesday's back pages
The top stories making Tuesday's back pages in the UK... The Sun: Joe Kinnear has insisted that Newcastle manager Alan Pardew is "delighted" he has returned to the club. Also: Liverpool will tell Luis Suarez to submit a transfer request if he is determined to quit England this summer. And: Manchest...
Ronaldo set to leave Real Madrid? Baines to stay with Everton? Torres in Atletico Madrid return? Friday's Back Pages
The top stories making Friday’s back pages in the UK... Daily Star: Manchester United are still in the hunt to sign Cristiano Ronaldo this summer after the winger revealed he had not signed a new contract at Real Madrid. Also: United boss David Moyes is still fighting hard to sign Cesc Fabreg...
PSG to win race for Bale? Man Utd to pay twice for Lewandowski? Fellaini eyes Arsenal move? Thursday's Back Pages
The top stories making Thursday's back pages in the UK... Daily Star: Manchester United may have to pay both Borussia Dortmund and Bayern Munich if they want to sign Dortmund striker Robert Lewandowski by persuading Munich to rip up their agreement. Also: Former England manager Steve McClaren...

Recent Articles

Liverpool FC offload Andy Carroll as £15m move to West Ham confirmed
Liverpool striker Andy Carroll has completed a £15million move to West Ham. Carroll has joined the Hammers on a six-year contract, with an option for a further two years following his season-long loan spell at Upton Park. The England international had undergone an extensive medical on Tuesday and i...
Italy vs. Japan match preview - Mario Balotelli set to start against Japan tonight
Italy take on Japan tonight in the FIFA Confederations Cup 2013 (23:00 BST start).Italy are expected to stick with Mario Balotelli in attack as well as the 4-3-2-1 formation used against Mexico.But changes to the starting line-up could be made by coach Cesare Prandelli, with Alberto Aquilani possib...
Wimbledon 2013 - Andy Murray starting to get excited for Wimbledon
A fit and healthy Andy Murray is raring to go for Wimbledon 2013, which starts on Monday. Murray proved last weekend at Queen's Club that he's going to be one of the front runners for this year's Wimbledon title, winning the title for a third time. He's getting a little rest in before the arrival o...
Man Utd target Thiago Alcantara urged to stay at FC Barcelona
Gerard Pique insists Barcelona must try and convince Manchester United target Thiago Alcantara to stay at Camp Nou next season.Alcantara, who scored a hat-trick in Spain's 4-2 win over Italy in the European Under-21 Championship final on Tuesday, has been linked with a move to the Premier League fo...
Chelsea FC midfielder Juan Mata plays down FC Barcelona transfer speculation
Chelsea midfielder Juan Mata insists he is fully focused on his playing commitments after being linked with a move to Barcelona. There has been speculation in recent days that returning Chelsea boss Jose Mourinho is prepared to let Mata leave Stamford Bridge this summer to free up space in his squa...
Federer, Rusdeski, Golovin and more - Top 5 Wimbledon fashion sensations
From Roger Federer's jacket to Gussie Moran and her lacy underwear, ahead of the start of Wimbledon 2013, here is look at the top five fashion moments in Wimbledon history... 1. Gussie MoranMoran never won a Grand Slam title but she will be forever immortalised for her choice of atti...
Man Utd's David De Gea wants to be the best goalkeeper in the world
Manchester United goalkeeper David De Gea is determined to become the best in the world.But the 22-year-old admits he has work to do before he can earn such a tag.De Gea has been linked with a return to Spain for some time, with Barcelona believed to be showing interest in him as they look to repla...
Edinson Cavani should not be sold to Chelsea FC says Napoli legend
Napoli legend Caraca has urged his old club to stop Edinson Cavani, who has been linked with Chelsea and Manchester City, from leaving this summer. Cavani, who has been on Chelsea and Man City's radars for some time, has also been linked with Arsenal, Juventus and Paris Saint-Germain in recent week...
Liverpool FC, Man Utd on alert as Kevin Strootman wants move to England says agent
Kevin Strootman, who has been linked with the likes of Arsenal, Liverpool and Manchester United, is looking to secure a summer move to the Premier League, according to the PSV Eindhoven midfielder's agent. Arsenal have shown interest in Strootman for some time and sent scouts to watch him on m...