son takes place at the Emirates on Wednesday night as Arsenal host Sunderland.
The duo have a game in hand on the rest and both still have plenty to play for, with Arsenal trying to secure a top-three place and Sunderland hoping to beat the drop.
Arsenal
Make it 11 seasons without a Premier League title for the Gunners, who have enjoyed some of the best form this season but not quite had the consistency to match fellow Londoners Chelsea.
However, it's now 19 seasons in a row that the North London side have finished in the top four. They are guaranteed to be in the Champions League next season, but a win here will ensure a top-three spot which secures automatic entry to the group stage.
Sunday's 1-1 draw at Manchester United also means that one more point will all but seal third place because of their superior goal difference over the Red Devils.
A week ago it looked like Arsenal would finish second as they were on a run of nine wins in 10 league games, but a surprise defeat at home to Swansea last Monday and yesterday's draw at Old Trafford means that the Gunners must win their last two games and hope that Manchester City lose at home to Southampton on Sunday to snatch a runners-up spot.
For the first time in over 10 years in the Premier League, Arsene Wenger's side failed to have a shot of any kind in the first half against United, but they improved after the interval and earned a point thanks to Tyler Blackett's own goal as the defender deflected Theo Walcott's cross-cum-shot into the far corner.
Ander Herrera's opener at Old Trafford was the first time since New Year's Day that the Gunners had conceded in the first half in the league. In total this season, they have conceded just 13 times in the opening 45 - the fewest of anyone in the division.
Recent Premier League form: WWDWLD
Recent form (all competitions): WWDWLD
Sunderland
At the start of May Sunderland were in the bottom three and in real danger of being relegated back to the Championship after eight seasons in the top flight.
Although they're not yet safe, a haul of seven points out of a possible nine since the start of the final month has put Dick Advocaat's side within a point of guaranteeing their Premier League status.
However, their last two games are both away at Arsenal and champions Chelsea, so it's likely that they will not add to their points total of 37. If both games are lost and Hull City beat Manchester United on the final day of the season, Sunderland could go down.
They would have secured safety with a win against Leicester City on Saturday, but a 0-0 draw meant that it was the Foxes dancing wildly at the final whistle having guaranteed another season in the top flight.
No side has drawn as many games as Sunderland (8) at home, while Burnley are the only side to score fewer goals in front of their own fans.
Like Arsenal, Sunderland have taken 11 points out of a possible 18 from their last six games. Ignoring the 4-1 loss at home to Crystal Palace, Advocaat's men have conceded just two other goals since the end of March.
Recent form: WLDWWD
Team News
Mathieu Debuchy and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain remain out of action for the hosts, while Danny Welbeck could return after missing the last three games with a knee injury.
Walcott will hope to start after making an impact on Sunday, but Wenger could name an unchanged XI and if he does, it will be the seventh game in a row that he has done so in the league - the first time he has ever done this as Gunners boss.
Advocaat, meanwhile, is likely to be without Billy Jones after he was forced off late on against Leicester. Anthony Reveillere took his place at right-back and could start at the Emirates.
Elsewhere, Jack Rodwell is close to returning from a hamstring strain, while Steven Fletcher could get the nod over Danny Graham in attack.
Arsenal possible starting lineup:
Ospina; Bellerin, Mertesacker, Koscielny, Monreal; Coquelin, Cazorla; Ramsey, Ozil, Alexis; Giroud
Sunderland possible starting lineup:
Pantilimon; Reveillere, O'Shea, Coates, Van Aanholt; Bridcutt, Cattermole, Larsson; Defoe, Fletcher, Wickham
Referee: Anthony Taylor
Head To Head
Arsenal have won the last four meetings between the two sides and not suffered defeat to the Black Cats in the last 10 Premier League encounters, winning seven times.
The reverse fixture in October was settled by Alexis Sanchez, who pounced on a pair of sloppy Sunderland errors to score two of his 16 league goals so far this season.
The Gunners have been winning at both half time and full time in their last four matches against Sunderland.
Kick Off Time - 19:45HRS
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