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FT:Sunderland 0-1 Arsenal: Arsenal end the season with a victory but they had to work hard for this one and Sunderland probably deserved something at the end.
O'Donovan hits a snap shot on the turn and Fabianski makes a superb diving stop to deny the Irishman a trademark late late Sunderland equaliser.
Sunderland love scoring late goals and they have a chance here with a corner in the final seconds now.
Mark Randall has a real attacking verve about him and he again has a chance but is only denied this time by a good stop from Fulop.
A shame for young Mark Randall on his Premier League debut as he has a goal disallowed - correctly - for offside as he taps home Adebayor's pass.
Sunderland are still pressing to try and grab a point that in the balance of play they would deserve but they haven't taken the chances they have created.
Traore put in a superb cameo on the left of midfield last week and he tries to repeat it again as he takes on Nosworthy and whips the ball in but its too high.
Gael Clichy picks up Arsenal's first caution of the game as he brings down Ross Wallace - who needs treatment.
Arsenal make a double change as Mark Randall and Armand Traore make their way on in place of Nicklas Bendtner and Emmanuel Eboue.
Sunderland want a penalty for a foul on Michael Chopra as he is bundled to the ground in crush situation in the penalty area but the referee is not interested.
Arsenal are failing to mount any meaningful attacks and the pressure is all around their final third but Sunderland just haven't got behind them often enough.
Dwight Yorke now exits to a standing ovation in what could be his final game for the club as Michael Chopra comes on.
Roy O'Donovan with a great chance to equalise as he gets in behind the defence but drags it wide of the far post.
Dwight Yorke is seeing a lot of the ball and spreading the play all over the park as Sunderland look to pick their way through the Gunners back line, but Fabianski has been relatively untroubled today.
Roy Keane is making another change as Liam Miller enters the fray in place of Carlos Edwards.
LIttle goalmouth action to talk about - although now Walcott sprints through the defence but his ball is just a foot behind Adebayor who is unable to tap home as a result.
Everyone inside the stadium is having fun again as the Mexican Wave passes round the entire ground - you can tell it is the final day!
The pace has dropped again here but Sunderland are the livelier side still and at the moment if anyone is going to score it will be them.
Gilberto is the one who has it rolled back to him but he pulls it wide of the post and he really should have done better there.
Dean Whitehead has flicked the ball slightly and Fulop collects - the referee has deemed it a backpass and it is a free-kick on the 6-yard box.
Arsenal have once more put their foot on the gas a little and are starting to threaten more regularly but Adebayor and Bendtner have hardly had a kick all game.
Danny Collins is booked for a mistimed tackle on Djourou on the right hand side.
Carlos Edwards is causing Clichy a lot of problems - which is rare for the full back - and he again skips away from him and a good block at the near post from Senderos stops Reid having a tap-in.
Again Sunderland come forward and Danny Collins curls a ball into the box and O'Donovan's header is only a fraction over the bar.
Sunderland have started brightly again here and only poor decision making from Grant Leadbitter stops them creating a chance as he chooses to flick it wide when O'Donovan was well positioned centrally.
The second half is underway with both sides hopefully intent on playing in the same fashion as that opening period.
Kenwyne Jones is having to be replaced at the break and in his place is Roy O'Donovan.
HT:Sunderland 0-1 Arsenal: A brilliant 1st half in a carnival atmosphere at the Stadium and Theo Walcott's superb strike separates the sides at the interval.
Kenwyne Jones is down with a wrist problem having fallen awkwardly after blocking a shot and is receiving lengthy treatment on the touchline - it does not look good.
The breaking speed of Arsenal is a joy to behold as they change from calm passing in their own half to lighting pace as they flood forward.
Danny Collins hits boots hopefully upfield but Jones could be in behind but Fabianski is out sharply to clear to touch - a close shave for Arsenal.
Despite the score, its party time at the Stadium of Light as a group of stewards join the fans in a conga down the touchline.
A half chance for Danny Collins on the turn from a Reid corner but its blocked by a pocket of Gunners defenders and its away.
The play has just slowed down a little now but Sunderland need to keep the tempo high if they are going to get back in this.
Sunderland have just been put back on their heels by that Walcott goal and Arsenal might look to try and finish it off before the half time whistle if they can.
Arsenal have just stepped up a gear in the last ten minutes or so and are really starting to move the ball well in teh Sunderland half.
The home fans are still in high spirits as their side have actually made a good start here but that goal showed just what electrifying pace can do to a defence.
GOAL:Sunderland 0-1 Arsenal: (24mins) Fabulous run and finish from Theo Walcott as he latches onto a through ball and cooly slots home
Ross Wallace is everywhere on his comeback from a broken leg and is really enjoying himself at the minute.
Arsenal respond in kind with a game of keep-ball of their own and the Gunners fans reciprocate the Black Cats supporters chant.
Sunderland were atrocious last week in defeat at Bolton but they are totally different this week and are managing to keep the ball away from the Gunners - the crowd even stant the 'Ole' chant.
For the first time really there is a lull in the play as Arsenal begin to get on the ball but the pace and fluency of their play has not arrived yet.
A blast from the past as Dwight Yorke meets it superbly on the edge of the box with his left foot and forces another save from Fabianski.
Arsenal have failed to score in just one of their last 18 league games so if Sunderland are going to win this game you get the feeling they will need to breach the Gunners defence a couple of times.
Sunderland have a free-kick around the edge of the penalty area and Leadbitter and Reid are over it - and Leadbitter curls it just over the bar but the keeper was comfortable there.
Now at the other end Ross Wallace clips it to the far post where Jones rises and Leadbitter arrives on cue and Fabianski makes an equally superb stop to keep the scores level.
And almost immediately Bendtner rises to meet an Eboue clipped cross and Adebayor meets the knock down but Fulop makes a stunning stop low down at the feet of the Togolese to keep Arsenal at bay.
Eboue is back on and seems fine now without any sign of a limp - no idea what was hurting so much but at least he is back on now.
Emmanuel Eboue is down already and requiring treatment from Gary Lewin and this does not look too good for the Ivorian - who is being carried off.
Early signs are that both sides are going to go for this as Walcott runs at Danny Collins and hits a shot that Fulop fumbles only to gather just before Denilson can tap home.
Sunderland make a roaring start as Carlos Edwards lets fly from range and Fabianski makes a superb diving parry to deny him.
Keith Stroud is today's match official and although his decisions may not affect who wins the title or goes down the managers will not be happy if he gets it wrong.
Arsenal: Fabianski, Song Billong, Senderos, Djourou, Clichy, Eboue, Denilson, Silva, Walcott, Adebayor, Bendtner
Sunderland: Fulop, Whitehead, Nosworthy, Evans, Collins, Edwards, Yorke, Leadbitter, Wallace, Reid, Jones
Arsenal's defence is looking weak with Gallas and Toure both missing so Djourou and Senderos partner each other in the centre while a trio of young stars could make appearances from the bench.
Sunderland give Martin Fulop a start in what is likely to be his final game for the club while transfer listed winger Ross Wallace is given the same honour with a place on the left hand side of midfield.
Arsene Wenger - if you believe everything you read - is on the verge of losing the main components with both Emmanuel Adebayor and Alex Hleb apparently set to leave North London with Mathieu Flamini.
Roy Keane has ensured his players will be up for this by telling them all this week that their future's are on the line as he looks to add to his squad over the summer.
Welcome to the Stadium of Light where two sides with nothing to play for sqaure off as Arsenal visit Sunderland, just don't tell the managers.
Several Sunderland players will feel they have a point to prove when Arsenal visit the Stadium of Light on the last day of the season. Black Cats manager Roy Keane has promised wholesale changes to his squad over the summer as he attempts to lift his side into the top half of the Premier League table next season. One week after ensuring they would avoid an immediate return to the Championship by beating Middlesbrough 3-2, Keane's side produced one of their worst displays of the season when losing 2-0 at Bolton. It was a performance that infuriated Keane who blasted after the Reebok Stadium clash: "There will be changes in the summer, big changes. Seven or eight? At least. "I need to get the right people in, but whether I can remains to be seen. I'm not going to say we need 10-15 players, but we need major changes." Keane will definitely be without injured trio Phil Bardsley (knee), Darren Ward (back) and Dickson Etuhu (knee) for this weekend's game. Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger has endured a difficult week in the build-up to Sunday's match with Mathieu Flamini agreeing a four-year deal with AC Milan and several other stars seemingly on their way out of the club. Alex Hleb is being linked with a summer transfer to Internazionale, while Real Madrid have once again expressed their interest in Cesc Fabregas. Jens Lehmann played his last game at the Emirates Stadium in Sunday's win against Everton before ending his five-year association with the Gunners in the summer, while Gilberto Silva could also he heading for pastures new after growing frustrated with his lack of first-team starts this term. Hleb misses the game as he is suspended while Tomas Rosicky (hamstring), Eduardo (broken leg), Bacary Sagna (ankle) and Vassiriki Diaby (thigh) remain on the sidelines.
Sunderland finished their season on a losing note as they went down to a Theo Walcott strike at the Stadium of Light. The Arsenal star's goal was the only thing that separated the two sides, although some may claim Arsene Wenger's outfit were never at full throttle. Sunderland boss Roy Keane was furious at his side for taking their foot off the pedal down at the Reebok Stadium the previous weekend, but the Irishman could have no similar complaints this time around. The Wearsiders had started brightly and any worries home fans had of a repeat of their side's lacklustre display away to Bolton Wanderers were quickly dismissed. Keane rang the changes to his side, drafting in Marton Fulop in goal, while Dwight Yorke and Ross Wallace were given starting roles in the midfield engine room. If Keane's intention had been to stir up his troops, it certainly had the desired affect, with Yorke and Wallace both causing the Gunners problems with lively first-half displays. However, while the Black Cats showed plenty of promise in attack they couldn't find the final product early on. Arsenal, while not at the fluent best, were also asking questions of the opposition defence and could have gone ahead on six minutes. Andy Reid lost possession in the middle of the park and the Gunners broke at pace. Fulop, though, was equally quick and did well to save at the feet of Emmanuel Adebayor. A minute later it was the hosts who were on the front foot, but Kenwyne Jones' header was comfortably saved by Lukasz Fabianski. Seconds later Wallace went down to win a free-kick 25 yards out from goal, but Grant Leadbitter's effort went over the bar. Yorke then tried his luck from distance on 15 minutes, but the shot was high, wide and handsome. Then came a warning shot from Walcott as his long-range effort was saved by Fulop. Before that Walcott had already shown brief glimpses of his blistering pace, but the Black Cats failed to heed any of the warning and paid the price on 24 minutes. Brazilian midfielder Gilberto threaded through a pass and Walcott left Sunderland defender Danny Collins trailing in his wake, before sliding the ball under goalkeeper Fulop. The hosts tried to find a way back into the game with Leadbitter going closest, but the midfielder headed over from the edge of the six-yard box. Then with half-time looming the Wearsiders suffered a blow as they were temporarily reduced to ten men. Jones, who had ploughed a lone furrow up front, left the field clutching his arm and didn't return after the break, being replaced by Roy O'Donovan. That switch forced the red and whites to change their game plan and they eventually switched to two up front. Both sides continued to press without really ever going for the jugular, but the Black Cats should have been on level terms on 74 minutes when O'Donovan fired wastefully wide. The Irishman could have redeemed himself on 90 minutes, but a good save from Fabianski denied the hosts a way back into the clash. However, even the defeat couldn't dampen the celebrations on Wearside as the fans treated the Sunderland squad to a rousing reception as they took to the field after the final whistle. The Black Cats may have failed to halt the Gunners, but they lived to fight another Premier League day and that is all that mattered to red and whites among the full house.
Corners
Fouls
Goal attempts
Shots off target
Offsides
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