Arsenal vs Sunderland preview - Jenkinson set for Gunners start

Posted Sunday, October 16, 2011 by PA

Carl Jenkinson is likely to replace right-back Bacary Sagna against Sunderland at the Emirates Stadium on Sunday.

Sagna fractured a fibula in the derby defeat at Tottenham and is due to be out for a minimum of three months.

Tomas Rosicky should be available after suffering a groin problem on international duty with the Czech Republic while Laurent Koscieln and Johan Djourou are also fit

Abou Diaby has resumed training and should be back for the Carling Cup tie against Bolton while Thomas Vermaelen is two weeks away from a return.

Goalkeeper Lukasz Fabianski has also recovered from a slight groin injury.

Arsenal have taken just seven points from seven matches so far this season and lie just one point ahead of their opponents in the Premier League table.

Boss Arsene Wenger, whose team lost to Tottenham in their last league match and now lie 12 points adrift of leaders Manchester United, is confident his players can climb the table quickly.

He said: "I am convinced we have good potential, we have rebuilt the team and of course we were a bit disturbed at the start of the season for different reasons. But we just want to focus on the short term at the moment, we are not in a position to make long-term plans.

"You can never say that the confidence is at the top when you lose a big game, but we still believe in the way we play and want to behave.

"We had a good series of results just before we lost to Tottenham and from that game I think there were many positives. We have to respond quickly now because there is a big gap between us and the top teams and we want to reduce that as quickly as possible.

"I believe that this team will surprise many once we get on a series of results because the behaviour is fantastic."

Wenger also refused to rule out Nicklas Bendtner, currently on loan with Sunderland and ineligible to play against the Gunners, from playing for Arsenal again.

"In our job, you never say never," said Wenger. "You do always what is right for your club. If it is right for the club to get Nicklas Bendtner back, the club will do it. I like him as a player.

"It will not only depend on us, it will depend on him. But we are not there yet - there is a long way to go."

Bendtner's absence could present an opportunity to summer signings Connor Wickham, who has recovered from a groin problem, and Ji Dong-won.

Full-back Phil Bardsley completes his four-match ban and Titus Bramble is suspended pending police and club investigations, while Craig Gordon and Fraizer Campbell (both knee) continue to work their way back to fitness.