Sunderland boss David Moyes will make late decisions on Adnan Januzaj (ankle ligaments) and Jason Denayer (adductor).
The duo are back in training, but the game might come too soon with the Manchester United loanee the more likely to make it.
Midfielder Lee Cattermole is back running as he attempts to shake off a back problem, but he remains a doubt.
Goalkeeper Vito Mannone (fractured elbow), midfielders Jan Kirchhoff (hamstring) and Sebastian Larsson (knee) and striker Fabio Borini (groin) are still out.
Arsenal are set to be without Lucas Perez after he was ruled out for up to two months with an ankle injury.
The Spaniard limped out of the EFL Cup win over Reading and faces a spell on the sidelines along with long-term absentees Per Mertesacker and Danny Welbeck (both knee).
Theo Walcott (hamstring), Nacho Monreal (muscular) and Santi Cazorla (Achilles) all face late fitness tests, although Aaron Ramsey could be back after recovering from a hamstring injury.
Granit Xhaka is unavailable as he serves the last of his three-match ban.
Sunderland squad: Pickford, Mika, Love, Manquillo, Van Aanholt, Kone, Djilobodji, O'Shea, McNair, J. Robson, T. Robson, Rodwell, Pienaar, Gooch, Khazri, E. Robson, Honeyman, Defoe, Asoro, Watmore, Anichebe, Maja.
Arsenal squad: Cech, Ospina, Debuchy, Bellerin, Holding, Gabriel, Koscielny, Mustafi, Gibbs, Monreal, Elneny, Coquelin, Ramsey, Cazorla, Oxlade-Chamberlain, Ozil, Sanchez, Walcott, Iwobi, Akpom.