COLOGNE, GERMANY - AUGUST 12: Lukas Podolski of Arsenal runs with the ball during Pre-Season Friendly game between FC Cologne and FC Arsenal at Rhein Energie Stadium on August 12, 2012 in Cologne, Germany. (Photo by Friedemann Vogel/Bongarts/Getty Images)
Lukas Podolski starts up front for Arsenal with Olivier Giroud on the bench, while Sunderland hand a debut to Carlos Cuellar.
Arsenal will be glad of a home fixture to start their Premier League campaign as they begin to adjust to life without Robin van Persie.
The Gunners have decided to use Lukas Podolski as a lone striker, with Theo Walcott and Gervinho providing support from the wings. French striker Olivier Giroud is on the bench, as is Aaron Ramsey, while Carl Jenkinson starts at right-back in place of the injured Bakary Sagna.
Sunderland's team is little-changed from last season, apart from Spanish defender Carlos Cuellar making his debut at the back. Their team has an otherwise familiar look, with Lee Cattermole, James McClean, and Stephane Sessegnon all in the starting eleven.
Arsenal: Szczesny; Jenkinson, Mertesacker, Vermaelen, Gibbs, Diaby, Arteta, Cazorla, Walcott, Gervinho, Podolski. Bench: Mannone, Djourou, Coquelin, Santos, Ramsey, Arshavin, Giroud.
Sunderland: Mignolet, Gardner, Richardson, O'Shea, Cuellar, Larsson, McClean, Cattermole, Colback, Sessegnon, Campbell. Bench: Wickham, Kilgallon, Meyler, Bramble, Saha, Elmohamady, Westwood.
We'll have live updates in our Premier League Week 1 StoryStream. You can read more about the Gunners at Arsenal blog The Short Fuse, and you can check out Sunderland blog Roker Report for more on the Black Cats.
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