The Gunners featured amongst others goalkeeper Bernd Leno, Nuno Tavares, Folarin Balogun and Eddie Nketiah, with Nicolas Pepe making his 100th appearance for the club.
It was the Gunners that looked to register first early on from the head of Nketiah before Tavares had a shot from the left of the area deflected onto the woodwork.
Although it took the host just eight minutes from the aforementioned chance to go ahead as Nketiah charged onto a loose ball from a corner-kick to tap in from point-blank range.
Sunderland conceded another chance before the half-hour mark and another goal after Pepe played a one-two with Cedric Soares to go on and blast the top corner.
The Black Cats engineered a lifeline in the closing stages of the half when Nathan Broadhead ran onto a pass from the middle of the park to tuck past Leno.
Arsenal though could've made it three off a first-time volley by Emile Smith Rowe but he was smothered, whilst an injury saw Broadhead removed and Denver Hume come on.
The Gunners restored their two-goal advantage two minutes in the second half when Nketiah attacked a teasing ball from Tavares to tuck in from close-range.
Sunderland continued to put a fight minutes apart and nearly had a second after Elliot Embleton skinned the upright through a curling left-footed attempt.
However, the Gunners upped the ante seconds later as Nketiah connected with Pepe's square-pass to apply a back-heel finish that earned him a hat-trick.
Arsenal, who had total control of proceedings, made it five late on when debutant Charlie Patino got in at the near post to tap in Pepe's crross, as the Gunners became the first side to advance to the semi-finals.