It’s fair to say that it is squeaky bum time for Arsenal fans in the Transfer Tavern.

With the season ending Sunday and just two games remaining in the season, the Gunners need either Manchester City or Liverpool to slip up before the end of the season in order to have a chance of making the top four, and guaranteeing Champions League football next season.

Failure to do so will see Arsenal fans in the Tavern most Thursday nights next season to see their side in the Europa League.

Furthermore, the future of boss, Arsene Wenger is no certain than a couple months ago and although contract talks with Alexis Sanchez and Mesut Ozil will resume in the summer – it is still an uncertain time for all involved at the Emirates Stadium.

With all these distractions around, the Gunners must keep focus on their top four ambitions and that will start tonight against a relegated Sunderland side who have been majorly disappointing this season.

When these two sides met earlier in the season at the Stadium of Light, Alexis Sanchez’s opener was cancelled out by a Jermain Defoe penalty, before the Gunners fired in three goals in nine minutes via another Alexis goal and an Olivier Giroud double.

It was a strong XI that took the field for the Gunners will need an XI of similar strength to really put the Black Cats to the sword in this one.

Let’s take a look at who our landlord feels Wenger should pick for this one….

GK: Petr Cech

The Czech keeper has been in decent form in the last couple of weeks for the Gunners and it has really contributed to the upturn in the club’s fortunes.

Our landlord predicts tonight will be a quiet night for the former Chelsea keeper.

CB: Rob Holding

The young centre back has been a real shining light for Arsene Wenger’s men in the remaining games of this season, and the Arsenal fans in the Tavern cannot wait to see more of the England U21 international.

There is no doubt that Holding has come a long way from joining the Gunners from Bolton Wanderers last summer.

CB: Shkodran Mustafi

It seems that the jury is still out on Mustafi even though our landlord believes the German has not done to much wrong every time he’s played this season.

The German international will be looking to do a job on Sunderland star man, Jermain Defoe in the last game at the Emirates for this season.

CB: Laurent Koscielny

Koscielny was regarded as an injury doubt following an indifferent spell of fitness in recent weeks but our landlord expects the Frenchman to be okay for this one.

There is no doubting the Arsenal fans in the Tavern are more comfortable when their stand in captain takes the field.

RWB: Hector Bellerin

With a hamstring injury hampering Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, our landlord expects Bellerin to retain his place in the right wing back position for Arsenal.

Perhaps more suited to the role, many Arsenal fans believe Bellerin will be the main occupant of this position for the Gunners next season.

CM: Aaron Ramsey

Ramsey was on the bench for last weekend’s game at Stoke but our landlord expects him to return to the middle of the park for Arsenal in this one.

The Welshman has been impressive since the formation change for the Gunners and Arsenal fans in the Tavern have really been singing his praises lately.

CM: Granit Xhaka

It doesn’t matter what has happened previously, Xhaka’s deflected goal against arch rivals, Manchester United, a couple weeks a go has really endeared him to the Gunners in the Transfer Tavern.

Our landlord believes Xhaka has really shown his potential of late and now he is settled in English football, we may see the best from the Swiss international next season.

LWB: Nacho Monreal

With no update of Kieran Gibbs’ injury, our landlord can only believe that Monreal will again make the transition from left centre back to left wing back for this one.

If Gibbs is fit, we may see Monreal slot in the back three for Arsenal which is a position he has also impressed at in recent weeks.

CAM: Mesut Ozil

Really impressive at the weekend against Stoke, what Arsenal fans in the Tavern would give to see Ozil produce those types of performances consistently.

There is no doubting the German’s quality and he could well be the difference in this one.

CAM: Alexis Sanchez

Substituted against Stoke with a thigh injury, our landlord believes Alexis will take the field against Sunderland.

It is well documented that the Chilean loves to play football and you’d be a brave individual to bet against him playing in this one.

Alexis has been in sensational form this season and will see this shaky Sunderland defence as a chance to increase his goal tally this season.

ST: Olivier Giroud

Given a chance against a physical Stoke side last weekend and took it with aplomb, surely Giroud’s two goal performance will be enough for him to get the start ahead of Danny Welbeck in this one.

Another player that is subject to transfer speculation, if Marseille get their way – this could well be Giroud’s last game at the Emirates in a Gunners shirt.