A look back at the Arsenal victory

After yet another weekend without football it was back to business with a mouth watering clash with Arsenal. What made it a slightly less inviting task was the fact that we were without the ever improving Gordon as well as Turner, Jones and Cattermole – half of the teams’ spine. That being said, Arsenal was without 11 first team players but only the absence of Van Persie caused any case for optimism. It was good to see Mensah back in the squad after being sidelined due to a calf injury, especially with Turner out, and Cana returned from a ban much to the Gunners’ delight I’m sure. 

Well the line up produced no shocks with Fulop in goal supported by McCartney, Mensah, Da Silva and Bardsley in defence; Richardson, Reid, Cana, Malbraunque and Henderson with Bent as the lone striker in a 4-5-1 formation. I find it well worth noting that 13 games in – including games against the other components of the “top 4” – this is the first appearance of the despised and fundamentally negative 4-5-1 approach so rigorously in use throughout the Keane era. Without Jones it seemed a perfectly rational decision to boot as Arsenals midfield needed to be constrained as that is where the danger lies. 

The initial 20 minutes were slightly awkward with Fulop denying Rosicky 5 minutes in and the passing from the visitors was crisp. There were chances for Sunderland too, both of them landing at Malbraunque who lashed the first over the bar and the second, when open in the penalty area with all the time in the world, ended up amongst the away contingent. The only moment in which Arsenal really caused us danger was on the half hour mark when Eduardo’s shot looked to be drooping into the net or in off Song as he chased the ball but narrowly failed to reach it. 

The rest of the half finished scoreless and void of any real action. This is no insult, however, as this was much to the constant harrying of Arsenal by Henderson and Cana in particular. Fabregas never had more than a second to weigh up his options before Henderson was on his case. 

The second half started as the first finished with Arsenal taking the game to us somewhat but unable to make any tangible progress. We did make some half chances of our own but never really threatened Almunia. That was until the 71st minute. Bent’s header from a Reid corner was heading for the advertisement hoardings were it not for a rather fortuitously placed Campbell, whose legs cannoned the ball back into the six yard box where Bent pounced – cue pandemonium. All that mattered now was an avoidance of the same fixture last year when Arsenal grabbed a point in the last minute of the game. Fifteen long, arduous minutes awaited us. 

The arrival of Vela and Walcott seemed to unnerve the side a little and Arsenal, as expected, dominated the majority of play. Arshavin so nearly equalized with three minutes to go only to send the ball inches wide and off the side netting. That was the last real spot of danger bar a rather desperate penalty shout in injury time. Well, it’s easy to say that now; my heart was in my mouth the amount of crosses that were flying through our six yard box.

The final whistle was met with a roar of appreciation, joy and relief. Chelsea, Man U, Liverpool and Arsenal have faced us, and only one has come away with all three points. This is a huge testament to Bruce and his adroit tactics, to the team and their heroic effort and not forgetting Niall and his mate’s huge chequebook. Seven points out of twelve against the big four is a magnificent Brucie bonus (too easy I know) but let’s make sure we do the same against teams below us in the table. 

Result: Sunderland 1 – 0 Arsenal 

Man of the Match: Even though Da Silva played his heart out I have to give it to Cana, surely the best £5million spent in transfer window history? 

By Jonothan Scollen

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