Source: Daily_Mail
Sunderland 1 Arsenal 1: Darren Bent late-show sees Black Cats snatch point at the death
[LNB]Darren Bent left it late to deny 10-man Arsenal victory at Sunderland with a 95th-minute equaliser. [LNB]The England international struck amid a goalmouth scramble as the Black Cats launched one final attack. [LNB]Until that point, it looked as though Cesc Fabregas' freak goal would be enough to hand the visitors a hard-fought win. [LNB] On target: Bent scored in injury time to prevent the Gunners from moving to the top of the Premier League table [LNB]The Spaniard's 13th-minute blocksent Anton Ferdinand's attempted clearance sailing over the head ofstranded goalkeeper Simon Mignolet and into the net. [LNB]But the Gunners had only themselvesto blame after having midfielder Alex Song sent off for a secondbookable offence 10 minutes after the break, while substitute TomasRosicky skied a 74th-minute penalty over the bar. [LNB]Sunderland have fared well againstthe Barclays Premier League's big boys in recent times, and claimed thescalp of big-spending Manchester City in their last outing at theStadium of Light. [LNB]But manager Steve Bruce knew that ifthey were to get the better of the Gunners as they did last season,they would have to be at their best and probably enjoy some goodfortune. [LNB] He could have no quibbles withtheir first-half display as they more than made a fight of it against aside who had scored six without reply in the Champions League inmidweek. [LNB] Back of the net: Fabregas is congratulated by his team-mates after his fortunate goal at the Stadium of Light [LNB] However, what luck came their way was of the sickeningly bad variety. [LNB]The game was 13 minutes old when Fabregas closed down central defender Ferdinand as he prepared to clear. [LNB] But even he could not believe hiseyes when the ball cannoned back off him and looped in a perfect arcover astonished Mignolet, who was far enough off his line for it toevade him and drop into the empty net. [LNB]Bruce's men might have been back onlevel terms within two minutes when Nedum Onuoha met Jordan Henderson'scorner unopposed, but powered his header high over Manuel Almunia'scrossbar. [LNB]Mignolet had to produce solid savesto deny first Song and then Andrey Arshavin as the Gunners looked tokill the game off, and his team-mates stepped up a gear in the searchfor an equaliser. [LNB] Luck of the draw: Fabregas closes down Ferdinand's clearance to score [LNB]With Henderson and Steed Malbranqueharrying in the middle of the field, the visitors were unable to settleinto their renowned passing game on a sustained basis, although theservice to lone frontman Bent was too often short of the requiredquality. [LNB]However, summer singing CristianRiveros might have levelled eight minutes before the break when he metAhmed Elmohamady's cross with a diving header, but under pressure fromBacary Sagna, could not direct his effort on goal. [LNB]Gunners boss Arsene Wenger foundhimself in the headlines once again this week after calling for greaterprotection for his players, although it was the Gunners who picked upthe first half's only two bookings with Jack Wilshere and Song bothtransgressing once too often for referee Phil Dowd. [LNB]Danny Welbeck smashed a first-timeshot just wide within seconds of the restart, but it was Arsenal wholooked the more threatening as the second half unfolded. [LNB] Out of tune: Arsenal played the majority of the second-half with ten men after Song was sent off for a second bookable offence [LNB]Arshavin clipped a 47th-minuteMarouane Chamakh cross over the bar and then squandered a gilt-edgedchance after Song had picked him out, and Chamakh could not beatMignolet one on one after being set up by Samir Nasri's fine52nd-minute pass. [LNB]But Sunderland got a break threeminutes later when Song, who had been cautioned for a foul on Hendersonbefore the break, picked up a second booking for a challenge onMalbranque and was dismissed. [LNB]The home side perhaps should havemade their numerical advantage count within three minutes whenHenderson squared for Bent inside the penalty area, but he shotuncharacteristically high and wide. [LNB] Czech mate: Rosicky failed to convert a second-half penalty after blazing his attempt over the bar [LNB]Bruce sent on record signingAsamoah Gyan for Riveros with 26 minutes remaining, but it was theGunners who went close when Rosicky shot just wide six minutes later atthe end of a flowing move. The Czech should have wrapped up thevictory with 16 minutes to play when Elmohamady tripped Nasri insidethe box and Mr Dowd pointed to the spot. [LNB]However, Rosicky blazed high over from 12 yards to keep Sunderland's hopes alive. [LNB]Gyan glanced an 81st-minute headerstraight at Almunia, who had to get down well to claim Henderson'slast-minute half-volley, but salvation arrived deep into added timewhen Gael Clichy's clearance dropped perfectly for Bent to smash ithome from close range. [LNB] MATT LAWTON INTERVIEW: Chamakh - Idol Blanc secured my dream movePremier League live: Sunderland 0 Arsenal 1 - follow all the action as it happensAndy Cole call kept Sunderland star Bent believing in his first England goalARSENAL FC
