Arsenal 2 Sunderland 0: match report

Frustration has been replaced by hope this season at the Emirates and, while the gap to Chelsea may remain at six points, Arsenal still took another significant step forward in the Premier League title race. A 2-0 win against Sunderland brings Arsene Wenger's team to within just two points of Manchester United and, with the most inviting of run-ins, there remains a tangible feeling that Arsenal could yet provide Chelsea's biggest threat. With goals in either half from Nicklas Bendtner and Cesc Fabregas, an ultimately comfortable win also could not have been better timed following the disappointment of Wednesday's Champions League defeat in Porto. There were several surprises among Wenger's team, notably the return of Theo Walcott for what was only his seventh start of the season. His involvement in place of Tomas Rosicky provided an immediate injection of urgency and, most notably, pace to the Arsenal team. That was quickly exploited when what should have been a fairly tame pass behind George McCartney became a clear chance as Walcott easily out-paced the Sunderland left-back. His shot was blocked but Sunderland were immediately on the back-foot. Arsenal were dominant for the rest of the first-half, with Bendtner dragging one good chance wide before hitting the cross-bar after McCartney's block bobbled over goalkeeper Craig Gordon. A goal was coming and, with Emmanuel Eboue also providing a persistent threat down the right, it was little surprise that the assist should come from that area of the pitch. Eboue rode several challenges before piercing Sunderland's defence to provide Bendtner with the easiest of tap-ins. Sunderland's threat was sporadic but genuine and they should really have equalised when Kieran Richardson put Kenwyne Jones clear on goal only for the Trinidadian to shoot wide. The second-half followed a similar pattern of general Arsenal dominance that always threatened to be undermined by their defensive frailties. Walcott and Thomas Vermaelen both almost doubled Arsenal's lead while Samir Nasri missed a succession of good chances. The Sunderland threat largely manifested itself through Darren Bent and there were loud appeals for a penalty when he tangled with Mikael Silvestre when through on goal. Replays showed that Silvestre's arm did come across Bent, although the infringement was minimal and began outside the area. Further nervous moments came and went before Arsenal scored a second goal to seal victory in injury time. Fabregas was bundled to the floor by Fraizer Campbell and got to his feet to convert the penalty for his 12th league goal with virtually the last kick of the match.

Source: Telegraph