The Gunners picked up their most impressive result of the season so far last weekend as they came from behind to beat Chelsea 2-1, recovering impressively after Morgan Rogers opened the scoring in the second minute.
With a winning Champions League outing in Naples also now in the rear-view mirror, a trip to Wearside may not seem so daunting.
It has been a mixed start to the campaign for Sunderland, who have fallen at the hands of Ipswich, beaten Fulham and drawn with Brentford in their opening matches of the campaign.
The Stadium of Light, a fortress for so many months last season, remains impenetrable, though its defences have only been tested once.
Regis Le Bris came out pre-match and confirmed he considers Arsenal the best team in Europe, but he hopes his side can profit from an underdog mentality: “With this togetherness, this connection with the squad, the connection with our fans as well, is really important.”
How to watch Sunderland vs Arsenal
TV channel: In the UK, the game will be televised live on TNT Sports 1, with coverage starting at 6.30pm BST ahead of an 8pm kick-off.
Live stream: TNT Sports subscribers can also catch the contest live online via the HBO Max app and website.
Live blog: You can follow all the action on matchday via Standard Sport’s live blog, with expert analysis from Matt Verri.