Vela goes down inside the box but the referee waves away his protests for a penalty.

The fourth official indicates four minutes of added time.

A Richardson header almost creeps in at the front post but Almunia is quick to respond.

Vela creates an opening inside the box and slides a pass through to Arshavin but the ball is just too far ahead of the Russian.

Song lifts a cross towards Arshavin whose first-time shot is hit wide of Fulop's post.

Walcott's low shot across the face of goal is turned behind for a corner by Ferdinand.

Sunderland move forward in search of another but Zenden's wild shot misses the target.

Walcott twists and turns inside the box before searching out a team-mate from the byline but fails to find a blue shirt.

The game has really livened up now and the home fans are responding with a surge of noise.

Cana deflects a Vermaelen shot around the post from close range.

Arsenal find themselves chasing this game now but do not look like breaking down Sunderland who have defended superbly.

There is very little in this game at the moment and the visitors are looking increasingly frustrated.

Traore moves forward and his decent looking cross is headed clear by Mensah.

Fabregas looks to create something on the edge of the Sunderland box but his pass runs through to Fulop.

The home side are looking more of an attacking threat now but the introduction of an in-form Arshavin may change that.

Reid sends a left-footed shot high over the bar from 20-yards out as the game begins to open up.

Both managers have players warming up on the touchline and it seems they have seen enough of the stop-start football.

Reid whips a cross into the danger area looking for Bent who is inches away from connecting with the loose ball.

A Fabregas free-kick from a decent position evades everyone in the box and runs behind for a goal-kick.

Bent latches onto a long ball and is one-on-one with Almunia but is ruled offside by the linesman.

It has been a scrappy start to the second half and the game needs something to liven it up.

Sunderland move forward and look for an opening but Malbranque's misplaced pass brings the move to an end.

The defence opens up for Fabregas and he lets fly from 25-yards but the ball sails over the bar.

The game is fizzling out as we approach half-time and it will be interesting to see whether Steve Bruce or Arsene Wenger change things around at half-time.

Reid runs at the Arsenal defence and pulls the trigger from 20-yards but his low shot is hit straight at Almunia.

Traore beats Phil Bardsley and picks out Ramsey whose shot on the volley does not cause Fulop any problems.

The visitors are showing flashes of the free-flowing football that has seen them score 36 goals in just 11 Premiership gas but Arsene Wenger may feel there has not been enough of it.

Eduardo loops a shot over the head of Fulop and Song tries to steer it goal-wards but cannot get a touch on the ball.

Neither side have really taken control of this game and at the moment they seem evenly matched in most departments.

Sunderland are working very hard to close their opponents down and allow them no room to breathe.

Eduardo picks out Nasri on the edge of the box but he runs into trouble in the form of Paulo Da Silva.

Nasri puts in a vital interception in a dangerous area as Andy Reid lines up a shot.

Malbranque is picked out inside the box but skews his volley wide of the mark

The ball drops to Steed Malbranque inside the box but he fails to find the target. He should have done better with the close range opportunity.

It has been a slow start by Steve Bruce's side and Darren Bent is frustrated at only being offered hopeful long balls.

The visitors are seeing a lot of the ball in the opening stages but have still had just the one clear cut opportunity.

Samir Nasri tries to latch onto a long ball but it runs straight through to the keeper.

Fabregas cuts inside from the left flank and bends a shot at goal but it is a comfortable save for Fulop.

Arsenal look in high spirit as Cesc Fabregas sets up Tomas Rosicky whose low shot from inside the box forces a fine save out of Marton Fulop.

Sunderland try to create something from a throw-in deep in the Arsenal half but Kieran Richardson knocks the ball straight behind for a goal-kick.