Arsenal defender Mikael Silvestre admits he has a lot of time for this weekend's opponents Sunderland.

Arsenal have displayed a new-found resilience this season which they will need once again at the Stadium of Light, with Steve Bruce's men in eighth place having won four out of six at home.

Silvestre is relishing the challenge.

"They have a good crowd and it is a good test for us," the 32-year-old former Manchester United defender said.

"It is going to be after an international break, so it won't be easy.

"The atmosphere is going to be really hot and hard for us so we have to make sure we don't concede a goal, control the game, and then we will find a way to score."

Silvestre added: "Sunderland are proof that the Premier League is more competitive now. That's why it is one of the most attractive leagues in the world.

"You don't see much of a difference between the teams who are first, second and third in the league and the ones that are 10th, 11th or 12th."