• Date: Sat 04 October 2008
  • Venue: Stadium of Light
  • Ref: Mason, L
  • Attendance: 40,199
Sunderland

Sunderland

Leadbitter (86)

1 - 1
Arsenal

Arsenal

Fabregas (90)

Sunderland vs Arsenal

Team Lineups

Sunderland

Craig Gordon
Anton Ferdinand
George McCartney
Danny Collins
Pascal Chimbonda
Dwight Yorke (Grant Leadbitter, 84)
Steed Malbranque (Michael Chopra, 87)
Kieran Richardson
Andy Reid
Dean Whitehead
Djibril Cisse (Daryl Murphy, 88)

Arsenal

Manuel Almunia
Gael Clichy
William Gallas
Bacary Sagna
Kolo Toure, K
Cesc Fabregas
Pereira Neves Denilson (Samir Nasri, 73)
Alexandre Song (Carlos Alberto Vela, 87)
Theo Walcott (Nicklas Bendtner, 66)
Emmanuel Adebayor
Robin van Persie


Live Text Commentary
Full time
 

FULL TIME SUNDERLAND 1-1 ARSENAL: Cesc Fabregas' injury time header cancels out Grant Leadbitter's late strike to salvage a share of the spoils for Arsenal in an exciting clash at Sunderland.

90
Goal
 

SUNDERLAND 1-1 ARSENAL: Deep in stoppage time Arsenal snatch a point as CESC FABREGAS heads in Robin van Persie's corner.

90

There are four minutes on the clock here and Sunderland are defending in numbers to keep hold of these three points.

89
Yellow Card
 

Emmanuel Adebayor goes into the book for a handball that is the fourth of the game for the Gunners.

89
Yellow Card
 

Nicklas Bendtner is now booked for unsporting behaviour.

89

Arsenal are piling forward to try and get something out of this match here with Cesc Fabregas seeing his shot saved by Craig Gordon.

88
Substitution
 

Sunderland make a late swap here now with Djibril Cisse replaced by Daryl Murphy .

87
Substitution
 

Arsenal make a desperate change here with Alexandre Song Billong replaced by Carlos Alberto Vela.

87
Substitution
 

Steed Malbranque is replaced by Michael Chopra for Sunderland.

86
Goal
 

SUNDERLAND 1-0 ARSENAL: GRANT LEADBITTER the substitute hits a 25-yard strike which finds the net off the underside of the bar.

84
Substitution
 

Roy Keane makes his first change with Grant Leadbitter coming on for the impressive Dwight Yorke who has put in a man-of-the-match shift.

83

Arsenal win another corner which George McCartney clears but Manuel Almunia is on the centre circle to lift it back to the Sunderland area. The hosts clear the danger and break but an offside flag denies them.

82

Arsenal look like they have gone in front but Craig Gordon pulls off a great save to deny Robin van Persie as Arsenal are piling on the pressure.

80

Arsenal win a corner now which Cesc Fabregas plays in but Danny Collins and Anton Ferdinand combine to clear as the ball back in goes out for a goal kick.

79

Nicklas Bendtner has a pop at goal from the edge of the area but it is more poor shooting as the effort is miles over the bar.

78

A good move by Arsenal as Emmanuel Adebayor and Cesc Fabregas combine to set up Samir Nasri but his effort lacks power and Craig Gordon easily saves.

76

Andy Reid does well to create an opening for Sunderland but he just over hits his pass into the area for Djibril Cisse and Arsenal breathe a sigh of relief.

75

Pascal Chimbonda tries a cheeky effort from he edge of the area but it goes just over the Arsenal goal.

74
Substitution
 

Another change for Arsenal as predicted with Neves Denilson going off to be replaced by the more attack minded Samir Nasri.

74
Yellow Card
 

Dwight Yorke is booked now for Sunderland after pulling Alexandre Song Bilong to the ground.

73

It looks like the Gunners are set to make another change here as Arsene Wenger appears t want maximum points from this match.

71

Inside the final 20 minutes and it is finally looking like we could get a goal in this match as both sides try and push forward more.

69

Arsenal are piling it on now but they cannot create a clear scoring chance as the game is becoming more and more stretched as it progresses.

68

Djibril Cisse puts a free kick into the Arsenal area and it eludes everyone and drops out for a goal kick.

66
Substitution
 

Nicklas Bendtner comes on to add something to the Gunners attack and the ineffective Theo Walcott goes off.

65
Yellow Card
 

Kieran Richardson picks up a booking - his fourth of the campaign - for a foul on Neves Denilson he will be close to a ban already.

64

Djibril Cisse almost gets on to a long through ball but Manuel Almunia races out to hack it away from danger for Arsenal.

63

Arsenal break now with Cesc Fabregas seeing Andy Reid block his shot, before a cross into the area is meat and drink for Craig Gordon.

62

Andy Reid gets his free kick over the wall but it is straight into the hands of Manuel Almunia who barely has to move to gather the ball.

62
Yellow Card
 

Kolo Toure is booked for a foul on Dean Whitehead as Sunderland get a dangerous free kick outside the Arsenal area on the right.

61

Sunderland break now with a good move ending with a long range effort from Kieran Richardson which Manuel Almunia holds on to.

59

Emmanuel Adebayor gets in a volley which is spilled by Craig Gordon but Anton Ferdinand is on hand to clear the danger. A lucky escape for the big keeper.

58
Yellow Card
 

Alexandre Song is the next name to go into the referee's notebook.

57

Robin van Persie blasts the ball into the net but the goal does not stand as it had gone out of play before being crossed into the centre.

56

Steed Malbranque and Kieran Richardson help create a chance for Djibril Cisse but he wastes the chance and fires wide in a two v two situation.

55

You have to wonder if Arsene Wenger will make a change soon if they fail to make a breakthrough as another Arsenal corner comes to nothing.

53

The corner is played into the middle but this time Emmanuel Adebayor gets up well and cannot direct his header on target.

52

Bacary Sagna's cross s knocked behind for a corner by George McCartney despite howls of handball from the away fans.

51

More frustration for the Gunners after another decent passing move is halted by a wayward pass, this time Cesc Fabregas is the guilty party.

50

It is a similar pattern to the first half here with Arsenal enjoying the lion share of possession but any attempt to break at the Sunderland goal is repelled.

48

Theo Walcott races down the flank and puts in a cross which goes through the Sunderland area as Robin van Persie cannot get on the end of it.

47

Dwight Yorke again does well to get in a vital tackle to deny Arsenal an opportunity as they break through Emmanuel Adebayor.

47

No changes from either manager in the second half so it is as you were from the opening half.

Second half
 

The second half is up and running and Arsenal will need to try and find their usual killer final pass, while Roy Keane will want more of the same from his side with a goal thrown in.

Half time
 

HALF TIME SUNDERLAND 0-0 ARSENAL: Arsenal have had slightly more possession but Sunderland had the better chances in a fairly even first half at the Stadium of Light.

45

Arsenal are stepping it up right on half time as Pereira Neves Denilson lashes an effort inches wide of the post.

44

The game is closing towards half time and it looks like it is going to be goalless as Cesc Fabregas just fails to pick out Emmanuel Adebayor after a mistake by Kieran Richardson.

43

Djibril Cisse does well to crate a chance for his team-mates but his cross is too high for Kieran Richardson and Manuel Almunia takes the catch.

41
Yellow Card
 

Pereira Neves Denilson is fouled by Dean Whitehead and he is the first Sunderland player to be booked.

39
Yellow Card
 

Gael Clichy hacks down Pascal Chimbonda and the Arsenal man is the first player in the book today.

38

Theo Walcott tries his luck now and has Craig Gordon stretching to parry his shot and Sunderland counter attack with Djibril Cisse bursting down the right but no team-mate can get on to his cross.

37

Dwight Yorke has stood out in the first half as the former striker has sat in front of the back four and helped repel most things Arsenal have thrown at him.

35

Sunderland will be happy in that they have not been carved open yet and are restricting Arsenal to long shots in the swirling wind.

34

Another effort from Arsenal and again Theo Walcott has the chance but his effort from 30 yards is wide.

32

More poor play from Arsenal in the final third as Theo Walcott's cross is high, wide and not very handsome much to the frustration of his team-mates.

30

Dwight Yorke does very well in midfield to dispossess Theo Walcott as he tries to push forward as most of the action is in the centre of the field.

28

Arsenal seem to be missing their usual final killer ball in the area and Arsene Wenger is pacing around his technical area looking frustrated.

26

Sunderland put some good passes together as they try to break but Andy Reid cannot control the ball and it goes out for a throw in to Arsenal.

25

Robin van Persie plays in Emmanuel Adebayor, who tries to find a team-mate in the area, but the Sunderland back line mop up the danger.

23

Arsenal are enjoying a lot of possession which has seen all of Sunderland's players drop behind the ball in defensive mode making it hard for the Gunners to create anything.

21

Emmanuel Adebayor tries his luck from around 20 yards but the big striker's effort curls wide of the goal.

20

Roy Keane will be happy with the way his side have started as they have had the better chances in the opening 20 minutes.

19

Arsenal have survived a few scares and come forward now with some good passing play which ends with Cesc Fabregas hitting a shot from 25 yards that Craig Gordon holds well.

17

Sunderland come forward again now with Djibril Cisse lashing in a drive which was heading for the top corner until Manuel Almunia tipped it over the bar. A great save.

15

Djibril Cisse should have scored for Sunderland after latching on to a shocking back pass from Theo Walcott but his first touch is poor and it allows Manuel Almunia to make the save.

14

Nothing much to write home about then in the opening exchanges with both sides enjoying equal possession so far.

12

Robin van Persie whips the corner in and Alexandre Song Bilong gets up well but cannot get any direction on his header so it is a goal kick to Sunderland.

11

Pereira Neves Denilson shapes up for shot from distance but Kieran Richardson gets a block in and Arsenal get the first corner of the game.

9

That is the closest we have come to a goal here and William Gallas was off the pitch to change his boots so how costly could that have been?

8

Alexandre Song Bilong makes an excellent tackle to deny Dean Whitehead a scoring chance after he was played in well by Steed Malbranque.

7

It is a bit scrappy in the windy conditions and while both sides are trying to push forward there has been no real clear-cut chances for either set of players.

6

Sunderland break now through George McCartney and Steed Malbranque but their combined attempts to set up a scoring chance for Djibril Cisse is snuffed out well by Pereira Neves Denilson.

4

Robin van Persie ses an effort deflect into the arms of Black Cats keeper Craig Gordon as both teams are looking to create some early chances here.

3

George McCartney tries to get a cross into the Gunners area but it is cut out by Kolo Toure who tries to send Theo Walcott on his way.

1

It's a grey and wet day on Wearside so the pitch will be wet and slippery as Kieran Richardson burts past several players but his run is halted by the Gunners.

Kickoff
 

The game is underway at the Stadium of Light and Arsenal are aiming to avoid a rare second successive Premier League defeat after being stunned by Hull at the Emirates last Saturday. Sunderland lost at Aston Villa and will also look to bounce back.

Awaiting Kickoff
 

Arsenal starting XI: Almunia, Sagna, Toure, Gallas, Clichy, Walcott, Denilson, Fabregas, Song Billong, Van Persie, Adebayor.

Awaiting Kickoff
 

Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger makes just one change to the side which defeated Porto 4-0 in the Champions League in midweek. Alex Song returns from a hip injury in place of Samir Nasri as the Gunners aim to bounce back from the shock 2-1 defeat to Hull.

Awaiting Kickoff
 

Sunderland starting XI: Gordon, Chimbonda, Ferdinand, Collins, McCartney, Malbranque, Whitehead, Yorke, Reid, Richardson, Cisse.

Awaiting Kickoff
 

Sunderland boss Roy Keane hands 36-year-old Dwight Yorke his first start of the season in midfield for the visit of Arsenal to the Stadium of Light. Yorke comes in for the injured Liam Miller, while Andy Reid starts in place of El-Hadji Diouf.