This wasn’t a brilliant performance. Even for the twenty minutes when we were in total control we couldn’t deliver the knockout blow, but it was sufficient for a day that we started fifteenth in the league. We ended the day tenth, which is a good day at the office in anyone’s book.
The start we got was exciting enough. A loose clearance collected by Rosicky and fed to Gervinho, a little run and the ball squared to Robin Van Persie who fires it in. Twenty nine seconds and one nil to the Arsenal. For the next fifteen, twenty minutes Sunderland were like someone who’s slept through their alarm, charging about getting everywhere to late.
Sad fact is, Arsenal couldn’t capitalise on the space they gave us and get a second. We were dominating the game but couldn’t score. Van Persie was on fire again with two great chances. One was a great turn and chip over the keeper and if there was an Arsenal fan over ten-years-old who didn’t utter the word ‘Bergkamp’ then they weren’t paying attention. But the ball bounced back off the post along the line and the sliding Walcott couldn’t make contact to direct the rebound in.
But we weren’t dominating because we were playing that well. Sunderland slowly woke up and started to close the midfield gaps. They got it together and started to play. No-one is scared of Arsenal and the pressure started to build. Their goal came from a freekick, carelessly conceded by Arteta handling. Sebastian Larsson’s kick was unstoppable. Perfect. He got the ball up over the mountainous Mertesacker and down again under the bar in the corner.
A few Arsenal fans moaned that he could have started further to his right, but that’s what the wall’s there for and when the freekick is placed that well the keepers got no chance. Ask Sunderland keeper Mignolet who suffered the same fate when Van Persie got Arsenal’s winner.
But before that winner came we had to endure a dismal spell where we kept losing possession. Those passing triangles that people used to rave about were gone and Arsenal players weren’t moving for each other. So the passes were made to players under pressure and ball was often lost.
Szczesny had one nightmare moment and one dream save. With Jenkinson caught out of position he came along way out of his box to try and beat Sessignon. The Benin international showed exactly why it was a bad choice, beating him easily and sending in a cross. Fortunately, Sunderland hadn’t got too many players into the box and Song was able to tidy up.
Another cross in from Sunderland’s left found a big gap in the middle of the box and gave Lee Cattermole the chance to put Sunderland ahead. But Szczesny spread himself across the goal and kept out. Fantastic save that probably made the game for Arsenal. Our confidence is such a brittle thing at the moment, that if we had gone behind I think we would have stayed there. And everyone’s mood today in those circumstances doesn’t bear thinking about.
Apparently it would have been Lee Cattermole’s first goal for Sunderland. If had been a proper striker there it would probably have gone in. But it didn’t and we breathed again. Arsene Wenger took off Gibbs, who seemed to be struggling, and Arshavin replaced Gervinho who had gone off the pace after the first half hour.
These substitutions were very effective, with a renewed threat down the left that re-energised the rest of the team. Arshavin made a fantastic run into the box, making fools of three Sunderland defenders, but couldn’t quite find the target.
Sunderland responded with some tough and late tackling and body checking that yielded a series of cards and freekicks. Arsenal were applying the pressure and then releasing it with some hopeless strikes from Arteta, Van Persie, Santos and then Walcott.
It was looking more and more like a draw. But then another freekick, ideally positioned for a left-footed master in the form of his life. Robin Van Persie’s strike was even better than Larsson’s. The keeper was just as helpless.
Could we hold on, just about, despite the fourth official bizarrely finding an extra five minutes. It was a nervous five time, especially as we were still giving the ball away, but we made it. Job done.
Mentions needed Rosicky, Mertersacker and Koscielny who all played well. Rosicky in particular was full of energy and drive for most of the game. Arteta was quiet, Song was mixed – good tackles, not so good passing. Walcott wasn’t exciting but didn’t get played in much either.
Arsenal were good enough thanks to Captain Fantastic, who leads our man of the match poll, and for the first time this season we took more points from a game than last season.
Come on you reds!
