Last season changed the expectations for both of these clubs. Sunderland returned to the Premier League and apparently forgot they were supposed to be fighting relegation. Seventh place, European football and a squad that looks capable of having a proper crack at the Europa League. Arsenal aren't chasing anymore either. They're defending champions now, which means there's a target on their backs instead. Sunderland won't care. They gave Arsenal one of the biggest daggers of last season. Brian Brobbey. 94th minute. And after watching Arsenal create enough chances to bury Napoli but somehow leave the game alive until the 75th minute, maybe that's a lesson worth remembering. This Arsenal does feel different though. The structure is still there, but there's more freedom within it. Ødegaard might be the best example. Arsenal now have more players capable of progressing the ball underneath him, allowing their captain to operate higher and closer to the areas where he actually hurts teams. But against Sunderland, the one to watch might be Calafiori. If Le Bris gets Sunderland compact and asks Arsenal to break them down, Cala's off the ball movement could be massive. He doesn't even need the ball to cause problems. He'll underlap, overlap, wander into midfield or suddenly appear in the box. Sometimes the run itself is the point. Follow him and you've opened space for someone else. Don't follow him and you've apparently decided Arsenal's left back can have a go at your centre backs. Add Tzolis holding the width or moving inside and suddenly there's a decision to make every time they swap. Sunderland have their own ways of making this uncomfortable. Le Bris isn't married to one shape. Xhaka gives them control underneath, while Le Fée can operate higher and help turn a regain into an attack. If Arsenal's full backs have moved forward or inside, those transitions could give Sunderland something to target. Brobbey gives them another option too. He's a physical outlet capable of occupying Arsenal's centre backs when Sunderland need to go direct rather than trying to play through pressure. And Xhaka staying was pretty important. There was interest elsewhere during the summer, but apparently European football and Sunderland were enough to convince him. Anyway. Neither club is really where people got used to seeing them. Sunderland aren't here just trying to survive anymore. Arsenal aren't the nearly-men chasing somebody else. One is trying to prove last season wasn't a one-off. The other is finding out what life looks like when everyone wants to beat the champions. And the Stadium of Light has already shown Arsenal what happens when Sunderland are left alive.