Arsenal could come face-to-face with the man responsible for one of their most frustrating moments of last season when they visit Sunderland on Saturday night.
Brian Brobbey is expected to lead the Black Cats’ attack at the Stadium of Light as Mikel Arteta’s side look to maintain their perfect Premier League start.
The striker will need little introduction to Arsenal.
Brobbey scored a dramatic 94th-minute equaliser in the same fixture last November to earn Sunderland a 2-2 draw.
Brian Brobbey expected to face Arsenal
Local Sunderland outlet Roker Report has Brobbey leading the line in its predicted XI for Saturday’s 8pm kick-off.
Régis Le Bris is expected to retain much of the side which has collected four points from its opening three Premier League matches.
Brobbey has yet to score this season, but his previous record against Arsenal provides an obvious warning.
The Netherlands international came off the bench in last season’s meeting before beating David Raya in stoppage time.
That goal prevented Arsenal from taking all three points after Bukayo Saka and Leandro Trossard had overturned Dan Ballard’s first-half opener.
The full sequence is included in ReadArsenal’s Sunderland vs Arsenal head-to-head record.
Arsenal defence faces another physical test
Brobbey’s potential inclusion could become particularly important because Arsenal are still managing defensive injuries.
William Saliba remains unavailable, while Jurriën Timber and Cristhian Mosquera have both been pushing to return.
Our latest Arsenal injury news ahead of Sunderland has the full picture.
Brobbey offers Sunderland a powerful focal point capable of turning direct passes into territory and creating problems inside the penalty area.
That physical presence caused Arsenal problems last season.
Sunderland’s overall attacking options have been weakened by the absences of Habib Diarra and Romaine Mundle, which ReadArsenal covered in the latest Sunderland team news.
However, Brobbey remains one player Arteta’s defence cannot afford to lose sight of.
Arsenal have already conceded only once in their opening three league matches.
Stopping the striker who denied them so dramatically last season would help preserve that impressive defensive start.
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