Ahead of the hectic festive period which awaits resurgent Arsenal, the North London side must return to knockout football on Tuesday when they take on League One Sunderland for a place in the EFL Cup's final four.

As is commonplace in this competition, Gunners boss Mikel Arteta is poised to make a raft of changes to a settled side which has recently fared so well, as some stars take a well-earned rest and step aside for others to shine. However, his options have been narrowed due to enforced absences, as have Sunderland's.

Here, then, Sports Mole rounds up all of the latest injury and suspension news ahead of the teams' quarter-final tie.

ARSENAL vs. SUNDERLAND

ARSENAL

Out: Pablo Mari (COVID-19), Albert Sambi Lokonga (COVID-19), Sead Kolasinac (ankle)
Doubtful: Takehiro Tomiyasu (muscular), Ainsley Maitland-Niles (illness)

Sports Mole's predicted XI: Leno; Soares, Holding, Chambers, Tavares; Maitland-Niles, Elneny; Pepe, Smith Rowe, Nketiah; Lacazette

SUNDERLAND

Out: Luke O'Nien (shoulder), Aiden McGeady (knee), Niall Huggins (unspecified), Dennis Cirkin (hernia)
Doubtful: Corry Evans (thigh), Leon Dajaku (unspecified)

Sports Mole's predicted XI: Hoffmann; Wright, Flanagan, Doyle; Hume, Neil, Winchester, Embleton, Gooch; Broadhead, Stewart