Arsenal 2-1 Sunderland - Match Report
Robin van Persie put in a true captain's performance as Arsenal got a vital three points to go some way to turning around their rather dismal season, as they ran out 2-1 winners against Sunderland at the Emirates Stadium.
Robin van Persie put in a true captain's performance as Arsenal got a vital three points to go some way to turning around their rather dismal season, as they ran out 2-1 winners against Sunderland at the Emirates Stadium. It was a fantastic 90 minutes of football which started 29 seconds in as van Persie took the lead for the hosts. Then two magnificent free kicks first from Sebastian Larsson, then from van Persie again completed the scoring. There are certainly still issues for Arsene Wenger to address, but a good performance nevertheless by both teams. Sunderland fans wont be too worried with their poor start to the season if they can replicate this performance on a more regular basis. Two underachieving sides met at the Emirates Stadium as Arsenal took on Sunderland. The Black Cats had never beaten the Gunners on their home soil, but did manage to hold them to a 0-0 draw last season. Both managers were desperate to dispel the scrutiny around their futures Arsene Wengers Arsenal started the day in an unprecedented 15th place, and Steve Bruces side were even worse sitting in 16th. Bacary Sagnas fractured fibula will likely put him out until the New Year so Carl Jenkinson was hoping to improve on his somewhat inauspicious start in an Arsenal shirt he started in right back. Tomas Rosicky shrugged off a groin injury to start in the centre of the park and Laurent Koscielny also returned from injury and went straight into Arsene Wengers starting line-up. Nicklas Bendtner was ineligible to play his parent club so Stephane Sessegnon played out of position as a lone striker. Connor Wickham must enjoy the fact that Steve Bruce is so desperate not to play him hell resort to playing a tiny midfielder up front rather than start the youngster. Then again he does apparently have a slight groin injury. Michael Turner made his 50th appearance as a Sunderland player, there wasnt much to say about Bruces chosen formation other than the fact it simply didnt look strong enough in terms of attacking threat, but holding Arsenal to a draw at the Emirates would probably be seen as a very good result considering their current form. It didnt take long for Arsenal to take the lead just 29 seconds in Gervinho squared it to Robin van Persie who drilled it into the bottom corner of Simon Mignolets net. Sunderland had barely had a touch since they kicked off, unsurprisingly the quickest Premier League goal this season. The two almost linked up again Gervinho used his dribbling skill to get him deep him into the Sunderland area before attempting to square it to van Persie. Wes Brown was alert to clear it behind though. A brilliant bit of play by van Persie, a patient passing move culminated with Mikel Arteta passing to the Dutchman, who used terrific skill to turn Kieran Richardson before dinking it over Mignolet, the ball came back off the inside of the post though almost an Eric Cantona-esque wonder goal. He really was on fire and came close again moments later, this time it was Michael Turner who committed himself, allowing van Persie to strike it from outside the area but it flew just past the left post. It seemed Sunderland really were doomed although playing Sessegnon as a loan striker isnt completely ludicrous, repeatedly hoofing long balls up to the 57 Benin international was never going to work. In the Black Cats defence though it seemed Arsenal had simply decided they were going to win this one a mentality that has been all too often missing this season for Wengers men. Gervinho evidently felt van Persie was getting too much of the ball, he skipped past Turner and Lee Cattermole before firing a shot of his own away but it cleared the bar. Sunderland simply couldnt deal with the Ivorians skill he once again got into a dangerous position but John OShea managed to put in a last ditch challenge. Just when you thought the Gunners were on the mend... Wojciech Szczney apparently not content with his reputation as the only decent Arsenal keeper of the last five years, charged at Sessegnon despite the makeshift striker not being in a particularly dangerous position out wide. Said position suddenly became very promising though as he calmly skipped past the oncoming keeper, but his pass to Seb Larsson was cut out brilliantly by Alex Song. Szczney then seemed to pick up a back pass but Howard Webb didnt agree. Larsson then silenced the Emirates with a freakishly good free kick that flew over the wall and bent right into the top corner. Szczney was left with no chance despite the kick being taken from around 30 yards out absolutely brilliant from the former Gunner, he seemed reluctant to celebrate but his face broke into a smile when he remembered just how good his strike was. Despite Arsenals complete domination of the opening 25 they were now looking vulnerable Per Mertesacker was fortunate that some terrible defending wasnt capitalised upon. What was that I was saying about Steve Bruces strategy not being effective? Stephane Sessegnon was making it work, he broke down the left (Arsenals defence were elsewhere for some reason) and crossed to Lee Cattermole you would have thought all he had to do was get it on target but Wojciech Szczney defied belief to get across and keep it out. A marvellous save. Jack Colback nearly found one in first half injury time, teed up by Larsson he unleashed a volley at goal that went over. Complete silence at the Emirates, and it was only broken by boos come the whistle. A half of two halves Arsenal had completely dominated the first quarter but Sunderland fought their way back into contention. You wouldnt envy the Gunners as they traipsed into the Arsenal dressing room for a complete dressing down. HALF TIME A bizarre series of events almost ended with Arsenal re-taking the lead. Theo Walcott did well to control Rosickys cross but he was dispossessed by Richardson. The tackle turned into a shot on target though and it required good reflexes by Mignolet to keep it out, and keep it out he did. Fantastic pace by Rosicky, who knew he was this fast? He skinned the life out of Cattermole and David Vaughan before the latter decided enough was enough and mercilessly chopped him down, picking up a yellow card in the process. Mikel Arteta, Andre Santos and Theo Walcott all hit free kicks high and wide despite them being in dangerous areas. Whatever happened to that young Swedish midfielder they used to have..? Howard Webb started getting his yellow card out on a regular basis, Koscielny, Vaughan, Larsson and Brown all finding their way into the book. Robin van Persie was having a quiet half thus far but got a shot in on target from a tight angle, Mignolets foot kept it out though, it was a weak effort. Connor Wickham was still confined to his seat on the bench striker Dong-Won Ji replaced Larsson. The inconsistent Andrei Arshavin also came on for Gervinho. A ridiculous run came from the fashion-conscious meerkat that is Andrei Arshavin. Why cant we see this more often from the Russian? Cattermole, OShea, Vaughan and Turner all fell by the wayside as the winding run left Arshavin slightly off balance, and his punted shot went just wide. Wes Brown won a vital header to stop a cross destined for van Persie; the Dutchman would certainly have scored. Connor Wickham finally took to the field; he replaced Sessegnon who had put in a great shift. It was Robin van Persies turn to take a free kick. With the rotation system Arsenal have in place it wasnt going to be long until Szczney stepped up. Anyway this one was quite different; van Persie curled it into the top corner from the just outside of the box, a spectacular free kick. Perhaps not quite as good as Larssons, but Arsenal were back in the lead regardless. Dong-Won Jin put it in the back of the net but it was rightly chalked off for offside. Penalty appeals came from Jack Colback as he went down under pressure from Walcott. The winger got a toe to the ball though and Webb rightly waved play on the ref and his officials were having a great game. The five minutes of added time went by with barely an attack between the two sides. Thats not to say it wouldnt have gone sluggishly for Gunners fans but their side had it under control. Referee: Howard Webb Arsenal (4-3-3): Szczney, Jenkinson, Mertesacker, Koscielny, Gibbs (Santos, 50), Rosicky (Benayoun, 76), Song, Arteta, Walcott, Van Persie, Gervinho (Arshavin, 67) Sunderland (4-5-1): Mignolet, OShea, Turner, Brown, Richardson, Elmohamady, Cattermole (Gardner, 87), Vaughan, Colback, Larsson (Dong-Won, 67), Sessegnon (Wickham, 79)