Koscielny back for Arsenal

Laurent Koscielny returned to the Arsenal defence as the Gunners looked to bounce back from their north London derby defeat with a win over Sunderland at the Emirates Stadium this afternoon.

Carl Jenkinson replaced the injured Bacary Sagna at right-back and Tomas Rosicky came in for Aaron Ramsey, who was ruled out with a minor muscle injury, while there was no place among the substitutes for Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain despite his recent good form.

David Vaughan took Nicklas Bendtner’s place in Sunderland’s starting line-up and Jack Colback came in for Craig Gardner.

Arsenal: Szczesny, Jenkinson, Koscielny, Mertesacker, Gibbs, Song, Arteta, Rosicky, Walcott, van Persie, Gervinho. Subs: Fabianski, Park, Andre Santos, Djourou, Arshavin, Frimpong, Benayoun.

Sunderland: Mignolet, O’Shea, Turner, Brown, Richardson, Elmohamady, Vaughan, Colback, Cattermole, Larsson, Sessegnon. Subs: Westwood, Gardner, Wickham, Ji, Meyler, McClean, Laing.

Referee: Howard Webb (S Yorkshire)