Source: PA
Dogged Black Cats hold Gunners
Arsenal were left frustrated in their quest to close the gap on Premier League leaders Manchester United as Sunderland battled through a goalless draw at Emirates Stadium.
In the first chance Nicklas Bendtner's angled shot was tipped over by man of the match Simon Mignolet. The crossbar saved Sunderland in the second half, while Andrey Arshavin should have been given a penalty and then had a goal incorrectly ruled out for offside.
It needed a good save from Wojciech Szczesny to deny Stephane Sessegnon after 17 minutes.
Arsenal had a free-kick just outside the area when Jack Wilshere was tripped by Sessegnon. Samir Nasri lifted it over the wall, but Mignolet touched the ball onto the crossbar. The same woodwork saved Sunderland again when Marouane Chamakh crashed in his header from Wilshere's cross.
Arshavin then darted onto Nasri's throughball ahead of Titus Bramble, but just as he was about to pull the trigger, the Russian was pushed in the back by the stumbling defender and yet no penalty was given.
Sunderland almost snatched the points when Danny Welbeck's shot on the turn was saved by Szczesny, while Arshavin looked to have beaten the offside trap as he rounded the keeper, but the assistant flagged incorrectly.
