Big names miss out for Gunners

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger is expected to rest several key players for his team’s Carling Cup tie at Sunderland.

Captain Thierry Henry is likely to be left out along with fellow Frenchman Robert Pires, forward Dennis Bergkamp and midfielder Gilberto for the third-round clash at the Stadium of Light.

Freddie Ljungberg, Alexander Hleb, Jose Antonio Reyes, Sol Campbell and Ashley Cole are all virtually certain to miss the game through injury.

Provisional squad: Almunia, Poom, Hoyte, Senderos, Eboue, Cygan, Clichy, Djourou, Fabregas, Flamini, Song, Larsson, Muamba, Murphy, Cregg, Van Persie, Owusu Abeyie, Lupoli, Bendtner.