Sunderland are having an absolutely torrid time of it in the Premier League this season and their supporters here in the Tavern are not happy at all…

They’ve suffered their worst start ever to a Premier League season and to be honest, right now, there doesn’t seem much hope for their survival come the end of the season.

And with a 1-0 last-minute defeat to West Ham last weekend still fresh in the memory, the Black Cats are falling deeper and deeper into trouble.

They come up against Arsene Wenger’s Gunners at the Stadium of Light in this weekend’s lunchtime kick-off and not many are giving them hope against the Londoners.

But at one point or another, their form is going to have to change and we’re tipping it to be on Saturday.

So with that in mind, here’s our Sunderland lineup that can shock Arsenal this weekend…

GK: Jordan Pickford

Young Black Cats goalkeeper Jordan Pickford really doesn’t deserve much stick at all, despite Sunderland’s terrible start.

The youngster has been heavily relied upon for most of the season and he’s really stepping up. His colleagues can’t expect a teenage keeper to keep bailing them out, though.

RB: Javier Manquillo

On-loan from Atletico Madrid, Manquillo is a player that will really need to step it up in if he’s going to impress here and back at home.

He’s a pacy customer that could cause trouble to the Arsenal defence going forward.

CB: Lamine Koné

Despite wanting to leave the club this summer, Lamine Kone is still very much a Black Cats player.

And thank goodness too, he’s a player with real quality who Sunderland would really be missing right now, if they had moved him on this summer.

CB: John O’Shea

Veteran defender John O’Shea has been at the club long enough to know how to turn this mess around and he should be a real vocal point in the team from now on.

The Irish international has plenty of experience and should be commanding things from the back.

LB: Patrick Van Aanholt

Former Chelsea man Patrick Van Aanholt is another player who offers a fantastic option going forward and the Black Cats really need to utilise that if they are to beat Arsenal.

He’s pacy, forward-thinking and aggressive and he could be the key to success on this left-hand side.

CM: Jack Rodwell

Jack Rodwell is a player who has plenty of quality in his locker but similarly to his time at Manchester City, he’s just not showing enough of it.

He has an excellent opportunity to pick up his game against Arsenal, where he is really needed to make a difference.

CM: Ibrahim N’Dong

Summer signing Ibrahim Ndong has all the makings of a great Premier League midfielder but he really needs some quality around him if his side are to escape.

The former Lorient man is robust, quick and reads the game well – and Arsenal will have to be aware of his presence this weekend.

CM: Lynden Gooch

20-year-old American midfielder Lynden Gooch is a man who has seriously impressed when given the opportunity this season.

He’s had to bide his time for a first-team start but with nothing going the Black Cats’ way right now, it would be criminal for David Moyes to not mix it up at least a little.

LW: Steven Pienaar

David Moyes knows Steven Pienaar well from his tenure as Everton manager and you get the impression there is a real reason he brought him to the club.

He was a free agent when Moyes made his move but we think the South African international could be the man to get Sunderland firing once again, under his former manager’s guidance.

RW: Wahbi Khazri

Khazri has suffered a bit of a fall from grace since his early Sunderland days but his team need his quality more than ever if they are to survive this season.

The Tunisian international just hasn’t been at the races at times this campaign but his presence up front could really make a difference – especially if he has bodies around him in the final third.

ST: Jermaine Defoe

If there is one man that can save Sunderland, it’s Jermaine Defoe, just as we saw last season.

The striker has had a decorated top-flight career but right now his lack of goals is really making this Sunderland team struggle. If he can start hitting the back of the net on a regular basis, Sunderland could escape.