Match Report: Arsenal 4 Sunderland 1 - Premier League - 22.02.14

The Premier League returned this weekend after a break for the FA Cup and it was a return to winning ways for Arsenal, following defeat against Bayern. Arsenal turned up with purpose and intent, Sunderland turned up with their minds firmly fixed on the League Cup final next Sunday. It was like a training session for the Gunners and was the perfect tonic after a difficult few weeks.

The day started with a tribute to Dennis Bergkamp, as a statue of the great man was unveiled outside the stadium. The Dutch master, joins Chapman, Henry and Adams in being immortalised as part of the ongoing project to ‘Arsenalise’ the concourse and stadium area and, to my delight, the statue is right outside the turnstile that I go in on match days. Bergkamp was also pitch side at half time and received a lengthy standing ovation. The man, as ever, looked humble and cool as the stadium hung on his every word, but erupting into cheers and applause when he stated he hoped to return to Arsenal in a coaching role in the future. I don’t think any Arsenal fan would object to that. It really added something special to the day and I’m sure he’ll return to Holland with no doubt about his standing with the Arsenal faithful.

On the pitch, Arsenal had five changes from the Bayern match. Monreal, Arteta, Rosicky, Podolski and Giroud replaced Gibbs, Flamini, Chamberlain, Özil and Sanogo. Gibbs missed out with a, ahem, buttock injury, while Özil was rested from the squad ahead to our trip to Middle Earth next week. Necessary rotation for some tired legs and within four minutes, we had the lead. Some lovely passing lead to Wilshere wriggling into the area and though the ball was poked away from him by a Sunderland defender, Giroud was on hand to sweep past former Gunner Mannone. The Frenchman, who’s been in the media for the wrong reasons recently, looked relieved to get back to scoring ways and was reserved in his celebration.

It was clear from the start that Sunderland had limited ambition for the game. It seemed they’d written it off and were saving up for a big effort against City. It’s a piece of good fortune to have caught them at this time and their ambivalent nature was perfectly epitomised in our second goal. A lazy back pass from Vergini found Giroud instead of Mannone and the striker finished first time in style. Mannone seemed to set himself for Giroud attempting to round him, but he was fooled by his former team mate taking his shot quickly and the ball went through his legs and crept inside the post. Far too easy.

If our second goal was fortuitous, we more than made up for it with our third. I think the team sensed Sunderland really weren’t arsed and went for the kill, where usually this season we’ve been more conservative when leading. Even so, the goal the team conjured up was stunning. Wilshere came sprinting forward and passed to Rosicky, who passed back to Cazorla, who found Wilshere again, who laid off to Rosicky, who knocked it into Giroud, who flicked it round the corner to find Rosicky, who dined the ball over the beleaguered Mannone and into the net. After Rosicky’s pass to Santi, every pass was one touch. It was a naughty, cheeky, dirty and brilliantly Arsenal goal, the perfect type to score in front of one of Arsenal’s greats. 3-0 at half time, game over.

The second half did not start in the best of fashions. First, Jenkinson had to replace Monreal after the left back didn’t return from the half time break. Jenkinson went in at right back, while Sagna was forced to move to left back. Secondly, we started sluggishly and allowed Sunderland to get close through Borini and then Mertesacker had to clear a ball fizzed in by Giaccherini. Once we woke up, we controlled the game and Sunderland nearly helped us out as Vergini sliced a Sagna cross inches wide of his own goal, with Mannone stranded. But, from the resulting corner, the Sunderland defence focussed completely on Giroud, leaving Koscielny free to thump home a header. Yet again, our former keeper was left with no chance and was left to watch his former team mates celebrate at his expense once again.

There was huge worry a few minutes later though, as Koscielny was left on the floor following a hefty challenge and after some treatment, he limped to the sidelines to be replaced by Flamini. The midfielder was sent to left back as Sagna completed his tour of the back four by moving to centre back. Although the game was dead by this point, Sunderland did show some fight in the latter stages, perhaps motivated by our makeshift back line. Szczesny pulled off a ridiculous point blank save after a shot from Ki inside the area, but unfortunately he couldn’t maintain yet another home clean sheet. The keeper elected to punch a Sunderland free kick clear when he maybe should have caught and the ball fell to Giaccherini, who hit a low shot from 25 yards right into the bottom corner. Szczensy will probably regret not catching the cross and he might have got a hand on the shot too, but in the end you just have to say it was a brilliant hit from the Sunderland man and worthy of a goal.

Wenger stated after the game that Özil, Koscielny and Monreal should all make the Stoke game, which is great news, as away trips there are about as enjoyable as having Nicolas Cage read you Fifty Shades of Grey while your legs are being devoured by rabid wolves. Already the foul inhabitants of the Britannia stadium are preparing their abuse for Ramsey and the rest of the Arsenal team. They’re furious that Ramsey responded to their vitriolic abuse by scoring against them and then shushing them. Why couldn’t he just show them the respect they deserve and just quietly listened to them frothing at the mouth and trying to string sentences together? Lets hope the team is up for the fight because despite my disdain for that foul club, they make themselves very difficult to beat and three points are vital.

Teams

Arsenal (4-2-3-1)
Szczesny, Sagna, Mertesacker, Koscielny (Flamini 67’), Monreal (Jenkinson 45’), Arteta, Wilshere, Podolski, Cazorla, Rosicky (Gnabry 73’), Giroud
Subs
Fabianski, Jenkinson, Flamini, Chamberlain, Gnabry, Sanogo, Bendtner

Sunderland (4-5-1)
Mannone, Bardsley, Vergini, O’Shea, Alonso, Ki (Scocco 73’), Bridcutt, Colback, Johnson (Larsson 45’), Borini, Altidore (Giaccherini 45’ (Y))
Subs
Ustari, Larsson, Gardner, Celustka, Giaccherini, Scocco, Cuellar Ratings

Szczesny - 7/10 - Made two brilliant saves, but could have done better for their goal
Sagna - 8/10 - Had to play all three positions at the back and did so brilliantly
Mertesacker - 7/10 - Putting up Altidore against him was almost an insult
Koscielny - 7/10 - Ditto, but with a goal
Monreal - 7/10 - Had an uneventful 45 minutes
Arteta - 8/10 - Metronomic and professional as always, absolutely quality player
Wilshere - 8/10 - Very good performance, gave Sunderland all sorts of problems
Podolski - 7/10 - Relatively quiet, one shot from long range came close
Cazorla - 8/10 - Busy and ran circles round the Sunderland defence
Rosicky - 8/10 - My man of the match for his sublime skill and a very naughty goal
Giroud - 8/10 - Two goals and an assist, back to his majestic best
Subs
Jenkinson - 7/10 - Solid performance and I’m convinced he has a bright future
Flamini - 7/10 - Forced to play left back and did a solid job
Gnabry - 6/10 - Was a bit ambitious with what he tried and most of it didn’t work

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