Arsenal down Sunderland to go second in Premier League
Arsenal took advantage of Manchester City's stumble to keep up their title charge, downing Sunderland 3-1 at home, albeit in labored fashion. Olivier Giroud scored the winner just after the hour, heading home from six yards at the near post. The result, combined with Leicester's big win over Swansea, put the Gunners second in the Premier League behind the Foxes.
But with ten injured players, Arsenal's depleted roster was the story of the day: their lack of energy in midfield was keenly felt against a Sunderland team that is starting to pull away from the bottom of the pack and could bode ill ahead of a tough, must-win Champions League game this coming week.
Arsenal could not field the energetic Santi Cazorla (out until March), stopper Francis Coquelin, or the speedy Alexis Sanchez. Theo Walcott made an appearance at the end of the match to little effect, but the lack of a passer in the heart of the field was keenly felt as the Gunners were largely reduced to playing a series of insipid sideways passes, rarely connecting with Giroud up top.
Sam Allardyce's men were more than good for their value and Fabio Borini might have seized the Black Cats an early lead, but his third minute breakaway was well-saved by Petr Cech.
When Arsenal did score, it came somewhat against the run of play, and off a rare incisive pass. Mesut Ozil received the ball from Giroud at the top of the arc and seeing American back DeAndre caught on the wrong side, slipped a nice pass in to Joel Campbell for a fine goal through Costel Pantilimon. Yedlin had been targeted by Arsenal through much of the game, and it must be said he looked badly off the pace for much of the first half.
But the goal was not enough as Arsenal quickly conceded. A needless, cynical foul by Laurent Koscielny on Duncan Watmore allowed Yann M'Vila to flight a free kick in from the far left side that was touched by no one - until Giroud hammered it into the back of his own net whilst trying to clear. Ola Toivonen rather cheekily tried to claim the goal, but Giroud's hamhanded attempt had no assistance.
Arsenal nearly drew level moments before the first half whistle, with Nacho Monreal screwing Yedlin into the turf before feeding Aaron Ramsey with a shot at the near post that was put agonizingly wide.
Steven Fletcher almost had Sunderland back into the lead on the hour when he forced a fine save from range off Cech and then almost bundled the ball over the line when the ensuing corner kick caught the Gunners wrong-footed. Cech came up with the ball well ahead of the goal-line, but Fletcher drove his shin into the post and had to hobble off for stitches, bloodied.
That was when Giroud made his amends, slamming the ball home off fine service from Aaron Ramsey. Losing marker Younes Kaboul, Giroud gave Pantilimon no chance with a lunge to beat the keeper at his near post. Sunderland nearly collapsed completely, with Yedlin foiling the follow-up moments later, heading another Giroud attempt away off his own line.
Sunderland were not done and dusted: Arsenal's habit of poor passing in their own final third nearly cost them dearly as Watmore and M'Vila both had late runs on Cech's net as the Gunners tried to close up shop. But Patrick van Aanholt was nearly the late hero, beating Hector Bellerin before blazing his shot just over the crossbar.
Aaron Ramsey then punished Sunderland deep in stoppage time, latching on to a bobbling ball fed in by sub Callum Chambers to chip Pantilimon and pad the scoreline. It was a bit harsh on a Sunderland side that had done enough for a draw on the day, but Arsenal will certainly not care.
