Harry Redknapp makes surprise Sunderland vs Arsenal prediction: ‘Can’t win every game’

Harry Redknapp has predicted that Arsenal’s incredible winning run will come to an end when they take on Sunderland on Saturday.

The Gunners will go into the November international break at the top of the Premier League table and will have a nine point lead if they win at the Stadium of Light.

Mikel Arteta’s side have won 14 of their 16 games across all competitions so far this season. A 1-0 defeat at Liverpool and a 1-1 draw with Manchester City the only blemishes on their record.

Since that draw, they have won 10 games on the bounce without conceding a single goal, with many believing it is their title race to lose.

Ordinarily, a newly-promoted side like Sunderland would not be expected to threaten such an in-form team but the Black Cats have enjoyed a remarkable start the campaign and currently sit fourth in the table.

Only Arsenal can better their defensive record and the recent comeback victory at Chelsea proved that Regis Le Bris’ team can take the fight to the biggest clubs in the league.

As a result, Paul Merson tipped Saturday’s match to be a banana-skin fixture for Arteta, while Gary Neville thinks the home side could hold Arsenal to a draw.

That’s an opinion shared by former Tottenham manager Redknapp who believes the points will be shared at the Stadium of Light with a 1-1 draw.

‘Sunderland have been so impressive and seem to have so much belief and confidence right now,’ Redknapp told football betting site BetVictor.

‘I know they’re big underdogs here but they’ll be up for this and so too will their skipper, I’m sure Granit Xhaka will love to remind Arsenal how good he is. He’s been one of the signings of the summer and they’ll need him at his best here.

‘Arsenal are cruising right now and they just don’t look like conceding. It doesn’t seem to matter who they pick at the back, they look so solid.

‘Despite all that, I just have a sneaky suspicion that Sunderland get something from this game. Arsenal can’t win every game this season and it would be typical of the Premier League if Sunderland caused a bit of an upset.’

As mentioned, Sunderland’s efforts have been spearheaded by former Arsenal captain Xhaka, who made a surprise transfer to the club from Bayer Leverkusen last summer.

The Swiss midfielder enjoyed his best football at the Emirates under Arteta’s management and, speaking of Xhaka in his pre-match press conference, the manager said he ‘loved every minute that we spent together.’

‘When I joined, he was in a special moment of his life and his career, and between all of us, we tried to guide him, to give him a different perspective, to make him feel loved, valued, and he responded in an incredible way.

‘He made me a better coach, he helped us to develop and improve a lot as a football team and as a club, and I will be eternally grateful because I have great memories with him.’

For more stories like this, check our sport page.

Follow Metro Sport for the latest news on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.