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Sunderland v Arsenal team news: Merino up front again

8 November 2025 421 comments
Skonto Rigga Skonto Rigga
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The first of two evening kick-offs is Sunderland v Arsenal at the Stadium of Light.

The action gets underway at 5.30pm GMT.

TEAM NEWS

Sunderland name an unchanged side from their 1-1 draw with Everton on Monday.

There are three changes for Arsenal from midweek.

Martin Zubimendi returns, while Eberechi Eze and Riccardo Calafiori also come back into the XI.

Mikel Merino continues to start up front.

There’s no Viktor Gyokeres in the Gunners’ squad, nor is there any of the other players – such as Gabriel Jesus, Kai Havertz and Noni Madueke – who are nearing a return.

Compared to the side Arteta sent out to face Burnley in Gameweek 10, the only difference is Merino in for Gyokeres.

The most-bought defender and midfielder of Gameweek 11, Gabriel Magalhaes and Declan Rice, respectively, both feature in this contest.

LINE-UPS

Sunderland XI: Roefs; Hume, Mukiele, Ballard, Geertruida, Reinildo; Xhaka, Sadiki, Traore, Le Fee; Isidor.

Subs: Patterson, Neil, Talbi, Brobbey, Rigg, Mayenda, O’Nien, Adingra, Masuaku.

Arsenal XI: Raya, Timber, Saliba, Gabriel, Calafiori, Zubimendi, Rice, Eze, Saka, Trossard, Merino.

Subs: Arrizabalaga, White, Lewis-Skelly, Hincapie, Mosquera, Norgaard, Nwaneri, Dowman, Harriman-Annous.

LIVE GAMEWEEK PAGE!

New to Fantasy Football Scout is the Live Gameweek page, which you can see on the side menu.

Here you can follow the scores, watch the defensive contribution (DC) points roll in, see who the leading players are for xG and more as the games play out, as seen below:

King
421 Comments Login to Post a Comment
  1. mixology
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 13 Years
    3 months, 20 days ago

    As much as Raya seems a wasted Arsenal spot, who’s going to match him in the GK spot?

    Plenty of good defender options and decent enough midfield options

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    1. have you seen cyan
      • 6 Years
      3 months, 20 days ago

      Yea all keepers suck bar Raya.

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      1. Hughes Your Daddy
        • 13 Years
        3 months, 20 days ago

        Nah, Raya a bad choice.

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        1. mixology
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 13 Years
          3 months, 20 days ago

          Have a preferred set and forget option? Or a low-priced option based on fixtures ?

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      2. Hughes Your Daddy
        • 13 Years
        3 months, 20 days ago

        Timing

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      3. Feanor
        • 16 Years
        3 months, 20 days ago

        Lol

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    2. didas
      • 4 Years
      3 months, 20 days ago

      The thing with goalkeepers is that you won't get assists or goals, and with Raya, unlikely to get save points or bonus.

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      1. Freshy
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 15 Years
        3 months, 20 days ago

        don't be greedy

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      2. Gizzachance
        • 11 Years
        3 months, 20 days ago

        Or a cs

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    3. Haa-lala-land
      • 5 Years
      3 months, 20 days ago

      Vicario is 5 points behind Raya
      Roefs is two points ahead.
      Cleanies alone wont win out in FPL

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  2. The Night Trunker.
    • 2 Years
    3 months, 20 days ago

    Isi barn dor

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  3. have you seen cyan
    • 6 Years
    3 months, 20 days ago

    I've not had one goalkeeper cs this season. Keeper spot is so annoying. Switched from Sels to Pope in GW8 and Newcastle fell off a cliff. Got Wolte the same time and ofc his goals dried up too.

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    1. mixology
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      3 months, 20 days ago

      Probably the only time I’ll say Raya set and forget is worth it, even at 5.9m

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    2. Feanor
      • 16 Years
      3 months, 20 days ago

      I dumped Sels in my GW3 wildcard

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  4. Feanor
    • 16 Years
    3 months, 20 days ago

    Timber going Cobra Kai

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    1. keefy59
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 7 Years
      3 months, 20 days ago

      Shame it's not white
      He could be Basil Fawlty

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      1. Feanor
        • 16 Years
        3 months, 20 days ago

        God you’re ugly…

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  5. DARK SIDE OF THE LOON
    • 9 Years
    3 months, 20 days ago

    Conor Bradley a serious option now in terms of expected minutes?

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  6. Jafooli
    • 14 Years
    3 months, 20 days ago

    Players might not get there 60mins points if it carries on like this...they've played about 10mins of footie so far. .

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    1. tiger
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 14 Years
      3 months, 20 days ago

      People pay good money to watch this

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  7. tiger
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 14 Years
    3 months, 20 days ago

    Arsenal CS busted!

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  8. Mr. O'Connell
    • 13 Years
    3 months, 20 days ago

    Big Dannnnn

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  9. F4L
    • 11 Years
    3 months, 20 days ago

    it happened..... 😯

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  10. Royal5
    • 14 Years
    3 months, 20 days ago

    Double CS busted for every player

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    1. Mr. O'Connell
      • 13 Years
      3 months, 20 days ago

      Single defence, non-Gabriel, Sunderland fan. That was sweet.

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    2. fedolefan
      • 11 Years
      3 months, 20 days ago

      Nope

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    3. F4L
      • 11 Years
      3 months, 20 days ago

      yeah exactly, aint too fussed really. would be nice if raya could get a save point but doesnt look likely

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    4. Gizzachance
      • 11 Years
      3 months, 20 days ago

      Always happens when you double , triple and v a promoted team !

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  11. Bigbars
    • 15 Years
    3 months, 20 days ago

    And that is why a double up is fraught with so much danger.... not bragging or anything.. just facts. Nowt in FPL is guaranteed

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    1. Not again Shirley
      • 9 Years
      3 months, 20 days ago

      Long term double arsenal defence is ok I think. Also they are all very attacking so expect some returns via that route also.

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      1. Bigbars
        • 15 Years
        3 months, 20 days ago

        i honestly agree, it was the right call for most. i just couldnt fit them into my team without drastic surgery

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  12. Jafooli
    • 14 Years
    3 months, 20 days ago

    Billy Ballard....GW1 is that you?

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  13. JBG
    • 7 Years
    3 months, 20 days ago

    Oh well...

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  14. The Bandit
    • 15 Years
    3 months, 20 days ago

    lol, double Arse def, Ballard 3rd sub 😆

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    1. Royal5
      • 14 Years
      3 months, 20 days ago

      This is the way

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  15. ‘Tis the Season
    • 7 Years
    3 months, 20 days ago

    Had to be bollard

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  16. fedolefan
    • 11 Years
    3 months, 20 days ago

    YASSSS!!! Triple def in the bin!

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  17. Jafooli
    • 14 Years
    3 months, 20 days ago

    Cracking strike....

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  18. Basileus
      3 months, 20 days ago

      I only have Raya. Triple defence from any one team was always a bad idea.

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      1. Silecro
        • 8 Years
        3 months, 20 days ago

        I also have only Gabriel. I count this as a gain

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    • CoracAld2831
      • 5 Years
      3 months, 20 days ago

      No Gabriel CS tonight then.

      Meh.

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    • Feanor
      • 16 Years
      3 months, 20 days ago

      Need goals from Gab and JT now

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    • Bobby Digital
      • 8 Years
      3 months, 20 days ago

      Ouch

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    • denial
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 16 Years
      3 months, 20 days ago

      Yep, the week I finally get Gabriel in.

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      1. FPL Blow-In
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 13 Years
        3 months, 20 days ago

        IT WAS YOU!!

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    • Absolutely Muñozed
        3 months, 20 days ago

        Great I didn't add Gabriel for a hit this GW

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      • Gazwaz80
        • 6 Years
        3 months, 20 days ago

        Do you know what, I have double Ars defence but if I had to have my clean sheet busted then I couldn’t be happier for it to be Sunderland…

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        1. Gizzachance
          • 11 Years
          3 months, 20 days ago

          Agreed

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        2. FPL Blow-In
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 13 Years
          3 months, 20 days ago

          Yep good for the league this!

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      • Gizzachance
        • 11 Years
        3 months, 20 days ago

        Upto eze an saka now !

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      • have you seen cyan
        • 6 Years
        3 months, 20 days ago

        This is probably where Arsenal derail their season, the beginning of the end.

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      • iFash@FPL
        • 2 Years
        3 months, 20 days ago

        Too many people are still underrating Sunderland this season.
        Dial up to my earlier comment: this is the toughest game for Arsenal so far this season.

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      • F4L
        • 11 Years
        3 months, 20 days ago

        as a neutral want a title race so arsenal dropping some points before they get too far clear isnt the worst thing tbh

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      • mixology
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 13 Years
        3 months, 20 days ago

        Look at all the cs+dc+goal hauls from the Sunderland defence. Gotta be a supporter out there with Ballard, Alderate, Mukiele

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        1. have you seen cyan
          • 6 Years
          3 months, 20 days ago

          I remember PlanettFPL did a video a few days before the GW1 deadline. Suj and James were making fun of their mate for picking Ballard, who got a 17 point haul.
          They tried their best to talk him out of it too, especially Suj. Suj got a horror score which I was pleased to see.

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          1. mixology
            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
            • 13 Years
            3 months, 20 days ago

            Ballard may have been top scoring defender if he hadn’t been injured/lost his place

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      • Pep Roulette
        • 8 Years
        3 months, 20 days ago

        Having just Gabriel feels like a blessing right now. People out there with triple Arsenal defence.

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