Arsenal 3 - 1 Sunderland

Olivier Giroud scored for both teams as Arsenal scraped victory over Sunderland to end a run of three Premier League games without a win. 

Arsenal were poor for long periods, but led when Joel Campbell finished from a Mesut Ozil through ball.

Sunderland deservedly levelled through a free-kick that Giroud deflected into his own net.
But Giroud made amends with a header from virtually the same spot, before Aaron Ramsey scrambled a late third.

Sunderland, who could be dragged back into the relegation zone depending on the results of Bournemouth and Newcastle, can rightly feel hard done by after a performance of both disciplined defence and incisive attacking play.

Arsenal were hampered by the absence of both Santi Cazorla and Alexis Sanchez and looked ponderous going forward, while a shaky defence was indebted to the excellence of goalkeeper Petr Cech.

Still, they climb to second in the Premier League, two points behind leaders Leicester.

 

 

Giroud makes amends

                                  Giroud turned into his own net on the stroke of half-time 

Giroud's performance was almost Arsenal in microcosm - the own goal an error caused by Sunderland pressure, but ultimately enough quality to secure a victory that was barely deserved.

A lacklustre first-half display looked set to be behind the Gunners when Campbell finished a seven-pass move underneath the on-rushing Costel Pantilimon.

But they were ahead for only 12 minutes as the impressive Duncan Watmore won a free-kick on the left that was swung in by Yann M'Vila and accidentally steered home by the leg of Giroud.

Arsenal showed little sign of improving in the second half, but, as in the first, one flowing move was enough to cut through an otherwise organised Sunderland defence.

Nacho Monreal was heavily involved as Arsenal came down the left, with Giroud stooping to head Ramsey's cross into the same part of the net he erroneously found in the first half.

The third, in the dying moments, was harsh on a Sunderland team looking for an equaliser. With visiting defenders outnumbered, Ramsey pounced to leave a scoreline that did not reflect the contest.

As with their opening goal, Arsenal opened up Sunderland for the second with a moment of rare quality. Eight players were involved in a 15-pass move before Giroud headed in.

 

Big Gunners stand up

With so many players out injured, Arsenal needed their most experienced men to perform and Ozil and Cech delivered.

Virtually all of Arsenal's attacking play went through Ozil, but it was the performance of Cech that was perhaps most telling.

He made saves from Fabio Borini and a Mathieu Flamini deflection in the first half and, most importantly, brilliantly denied Steven Fletcher in the second.

As Fletcher arrived at the back post from a corner, Cech moved across his goal to stop the ball virtually on the line. Moments later, Arsenal were ahead.

 

Willing Watmore

Sunderland arrived at the Emirates on the back of two wins and two clean sheets.

While they defended with nine behind the ball, that also carried an attacking threat, particularly through the industry of Watmore - indeed, Arsenal ended with six defenders on the pitch.

Making only his second Premier League start, the 21-year-old not only did his defensive duties but regularly had the legs to get up in support of Fletcher.

He won the free-kick that resulted in Sunderland's goal and also, with the score still at 2-1, got behind the Arsenal defence only to fire a tame shot straight at Cech.

And, while it was Watmore who impressed, the Black Cats demonstrated that Sam Allardyce has brought both enough solidity and potency to suggest that fight against relegation can be won.

The graphic shows the average position in which each player touched the ball. Sunderland are on the right. Watmore (number 41), not only was asked to defend when Arsenal had the ball, but also had an average position higher than any Arsenal player.

 

Man of the match - Petr Cech

It says plenty about Sunderland's performance that Cech was forced to make at least five quality saves. The one to thwart Fletcher was a pivotal moment. From possibly being 2-1 down, the Gunners were soon 2-1 up.

 

What they said

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger: "We started a bit nervous and edgy in the first half. We were unlucky to come in at 1-1, so I was positive. I told the players they still had 45 minutes to win the game, and play with more pace and different angles. You see this Premier League is a battle. Sunderland played a dangerous game on the break.

"It could have been one of those days, but we kept our determination and the mental aspect was good. We have lost players in the heart of our game, so we had to find a balance again. It took us time to get going.

"Leicester have been very impressive. The best you can do is to win games, and hope that they drop points, but that is not happening. We go to Olympiakos in midweek, which Leicester don't do, so they have an advantage in that way too.

Sunderland manager Sam Allardyce: "I couldn't ask for any more in terms of the way we played, I couldn't have asked for more in terms of the chances we created, but we failed to create the chances we had.

"It makes me wonder what would have happened if we'd had Jermain Defoe on the field. He could have had two or three goals. I'm really disappointed we haven't got anything out of the game, but I have to be satisfied with the performance.

"I think we've got goalscorers. We've got Steven Fletcher, we've got Duncan Watmore. We've got Jermain to come back. We just haven't taken the chances we've created."

 

What next

Arsenal go to Greece on Wednesday, needing to beat Olympiakos either 2-0, or by any margin if they score at least goals, in order to progress in the Champions League. They travel to Aton Villa in the Premier League next Sunday, while Sunderland host Watford the previous day.