Arsenal v Sunderland | Matches

FC Porto V
Arsenal
17TH FEB 2010

Saturday 20th February
Kick off: 15:00
Emirates Stadium

Arsenal
2 – 0
Sunderland

Stoke City V
Arsenal
27TH FEB 2010

HIGHLIGHTS

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Arsenal 2-0 Sunderland (February 20, 2010)

Live Text isn't live anymore, this is a record of the match events.

Full Time There goes the final whistle. Arsenal were dominant today and deserve their victory.
90

Yellow Card Anton Ferdinand was booked for his protests just before the penalty.
90

GOAL! - Cesc Fabregas 2 : 0 GOAL! ARSENAL 2-0 SUNDERLAND: Cesc seals it from the spot. The keeper went the right way but the placement was superb as Fabregas slots to the keepers' left
90

ARSENAL PENALTY: Fabregas is brought down just inside the area by Fraizer Campbell and the referee points to the spot...
90

Bardsley sends a free kick into the box for Sunderland bu Bendtner heads it down to Vermaelen who makes the clearance
90

FOUR minutes of stoppage time
89

Substitution ARSENAL SUBSTITUTION: Eboue gets a standing ovation as he leaves the field to be replaced by Denilson.
89

SUNDERLAND FREE KICK: Bent goes down on the edge of the area. It looked like Vermaelen just fell over rather but the referee believes he fouled the striker. Zenden hits the free kick and it smashes into the wall.
85

Substitution SUNDERLAND SUBSTITUTION: George McCartney is replaced by Phil Bardsley
83

REMINDER: You can get in touch with our commentators via www.arsenal.com/studio. And don't forget our post-match phone-in. The number to dial is 020 7607 3200. If you're calling from outside the UK, call us on 44 20 7607 3200. Lines open five minutes after the final whistle.
80

THE PHYSIO IS ON... to treat the assistant referee after a Sunderland player crashes into him. It looks like a sore wrist, but he's fine to continue.
79

TACTICS: Sagna comes on at right back, so Eboue move forward into attack
78

Substitution SUNDERLAND SUBSTITUTION: Kenwyne Jones is replaced by Benjani
78

Substitution ARSENAL SUBSTITUTION: Theo Walcott comes off and on comes Bacary Sagna
77

SUNDERLAND FREE KICK: Zenden delivers from deep and Song heads it out for a throw in on the right. Hutton takes it but Arsenal clear their lines initially. The ball falls for Cana and he smashes a shot from distance, allowing Almunia a comfortable save.
76

EBOUE HAS A GO: He evades Zenden and McCartney and fires a shot at goal. But it's from a tight angle and easy for Gordon to deal with.
76

Substitution SUNDERLAND SUBSTITUTION: Kieran Richardson is replaced by Bolo Zenden
74

It's raining now at Emirates Stadium. Arsenal ahead and very good value for their lead
73

Rosicky joins Bendtner and Walcott in the front three; a straight swap as the Czech international lines up on the left side
72

Substitution ARSENAL SUBSTITUTION: Tomas Rosicky comes on for Samir Nasri
71

Yellow Card John Mensah is BOOKED for a challenge on Fabregas
70

WALCOTT GETS FORWARD: He surges past McCartney and lofts the ball towards Bendtner but his cross is too heavy and goes beyond the Dane.
68

WALCOTT AND NASRI GO CLOSE: First Theo has a shot blocked by Gordon and then from the resulting throw in Nasri hits one just wide of goal.
67

ARSENAL CORNER: Eboue bursts forward down the right, cuts the ball back for Ramsey and his shot deflects out. Fabregas will deliver from the right. It's low and flashes past everyone in the area.
65

RAMSEY HAS A GO: He wins the ball and goes for goal, but his shot is always rising and sails over the bar.
63

ARSENAL FREE KICK: It's actually Vermaelen who strikes it and he forces a nice save from Gordon, who has to five to his right to keeper the defender out.
62

ARSENAL FREE KICK: Walcott brought down on the edge of the 'D' and the Gunners have a set piece in a great position. Looks like Fabregas will take it. Gordon is just lining up his wall...
61

ARSENAL CORNER: A well-built attack brings an Arsenal corner after Eboue's cross was cut out. The delivery comes in from the right by Bent heads it away.
60

REMINDER: You can get in touch with our commentators via www.arsenal.com/studio. And don't forget our post-match phone-in. The number to dial is 020 7607 3200. If you're calling from outside the UK, call us on 44 20 7607 3200
58

Yellow Card YELLOW CARD: Richardson is booked for a challenge on Almunia
56

Carlos Vela, Tomas Rosicky and Bacary Sagna are all warming up in front of me. Don't think we'll be seeing them on the pitch just yet though.
55

SUNDERLAND FREE KICK: The visitors have a set piece 30 yards out, just right of centre. Richardson will take it. His delivery is punched away by Almunia but Walcott's counter-attack breaks down
52

WALCOTT HAS A GO: Theo comes down the right and looks for goal, but his low shot towards the near post is pushed wide by Gordon.
51

WELSH WIZARD: Ramsey skips through a number of Sunderland players before picking out Walcott on the right. His cross drifts out of play but that was good football from Ramsey.
50

Yellow Card BOOKING: Fabregas is booked for a foul on Mensah
49

GUNNERS GO CLOSE: Vermaelen is about an inch away from connecting with Fabregas' free kick from the left. The defender's outstretched leg would have turned that in had it made a connection
48

ARSENAL ATTACK: A bright start to the second half from Arsenal. Nasri clips the ball into the box from the right but it's cleared before reaching Bendtner.
Kick Off The second half is underway
Half Time There goes the half-time whistle. The Gunners deservedly lead the the break
44

Yellow Card YELLOW CARD: Michael Turner is booked
43

SUNDERLAND CORNER: Richardson will deliver it from the left, it comes to Turner and he heads back across goal. However, Bendtner clears.
42

ARSENAL OPPORTUNITY: Ramsey lifts the ball towards Bendtner but couldn't quite pick out the goalscorer, and Sunderland have a goal kick
39

SUNDERLAND CHANCE: Jones could, and perhaps should, have equalised. Richardson fed him through the middle, and his run was well timed to leave him one-on-one with Almunia. However, the striker dragged his shot wide to Almunia's right.
36

Eboue is back on the pitch
34

Yellow Card EBOUE DOWN: Referee Steve Bennett waved play-on when Arsenal attacked just now. The reason he needed to do that was because of a late challenge on Eboue by Sunderland captain Cana, who earns a booking. Eboue receives treatment off the pitch as play continues.
33

ARSENAL ATTACK DOWN THE RIGHT: Eboue feeds Walcott and the Englishman links up with Nasri. However, the latter's cross into the box is met by a Sunderland defender.
31

Arsenal really do deserve that lead, they have been in complete control of this game. What do you think? Get in touch with our commentators via www.arsenal.com/studio. And don't forget our post-match phone-in. The number to dial is 020 7607 3200. If you're calling from outside the UK, call us on 44 20 7607 3200
28

BENDTNER HAS ANOTHER GO: But his volley from the edge of the area goes over
27

GOAL! - Nicklas Bendtner 1 : 0 GOAL! ARSENAL 1-0 SUNDERLAND: It's been coming! Eboue gets into the box on the right, tries his luck and his low shot is deflected into the path of NICKLAS BENDTNER who fires Arsenal ahead
24

ARSENAL FREE KICK: Bent knocks Eboue to the floor near the byline on the right. Fabregas will deliver the free kick. Vermaelen meets it but heads wide of the back post.
22

ARSENAL FREE KICK: The Gunners have a set piece 25 yards from goal on the left. Fabregas will look to get a cross in from here. It sails into the mix but after Jones' header away, Ramsey's shot is too high to trouble the keeper.
20

ARSENAL IN THE SUNDERLAND BOX AGAIN: This time Cesc is thwarted by a well-timed block by Lorik Cana, who gets in the way as Fabregas unleashes a shot at goal.
20

Emirates Stadium is a lively place now. 'Come on Arsenal' chant the fans.
18

ARSENAL HIT THE BAR: Bendtner's shot from close range loops up off McCartney and onto the bar! It rebounds into Gordon's hands.
16

DOUBLE CHANCE: Walcott gets onto the end of a ball down the right from Eboue. He goes for goal from a tight angle and is prevented by Gordon. The ball comes to Bendtner and in similar fashion to Theo's chance in the fourth minute, sends a shot just wide of goal. Arsenal looking good
14

ARSENAL CORNER: Nasri takes a short one to Fabregas, who returns the ball. Nasri gets inside the area and unleashes a shot which takes a deflection, looping out for a second ARSENAL CORNER. This one is delivered straight into the box but is cleared first time by Sunderland.
12

ARSENAL ATTACK: Nasri gets past his man on the left and delivers a cross to Bendtner. The Dane rises for it but is beaten to the ball by Sunderland keeper Craig Gordon.
8

TACTICS: Vermaelen is on the right side of central defence with Silvestre on the left. Further up the field Bendtner is supported in attack by Walcott from the right and Nasri from the left
6

EBOUE DOES WELL: He gets past McCartney on the byline to earn the applause of the home supporters. His cross was a little too heavy to land for anybody inside the area.
4

WALCOTT GOES CLOSE: The visitors have a set piece 35 yards out, Richardson delivers into the box and as Arsenal clear Theo launches a counter attack down the right. He surges forward and gets into the area. He looks for the bottom corner with a shot across goal but it goes marginally wide of the far post.
1

RAMSEY COMES FORWARD: The young Welshman collects the ball in midfield and paces away from his marker. However, a one-two with Fabregas inside the area is defended by Sunderland and the danger is cleared.
Kick Off Sunderland get the action underway
GET IN TOUCH: Kenny Sansom is in the commentary box alongside Dan Roebuck today, and you can contact them throughout the game via www.arsenal.com/studio
And here come the teams... Manuel Almunia returns in goal, while Alex Song is back in the midfield. Wenger has made a total of six changes from the side that lost in Porto. A quick reminder of the Arsenal team in full: Almunia, Eboue, Silvestre, Vermaelen, Clichy, Song, Ramsey, Fabregas, Nasri, Walcott, Bendtner. SUBS: Fabianski, Sagna, Campbell, Traore, Denilson, Rosicky, Vela
Ahh, that time of the afternoon where 'The Wonder Of You' rings around Emirates Stadium.
I've just made my way to the press box, The Who's 'My Generation' is playing out at the moment. Everton have beaten Manchester United 3-1, meaning that Arsenal could cut the gap on Sir Alex Ferguson's side to just two points with a win here today. Chelsea are taking on Wolves in a game that kicks off at the same time as this one here at Emirates Stadium.
Some of you may have noticed a new link just above where you are reading these updates. The 'PREM SCORES' tab in the Match Centre brings you all the latest scores from around the Premier League, so you can keep an eye on our title rivals at the same time as enjoying our coverage of Arsenal's latest match. In fact, why not take a peep at the latest from Everton v Man United. It might just bring a smile to your face.
So Almunia returns from a finger injury and Song is also fit again. However, Diaby is out with a medial knee ligament injury.
Arsenal team in full: Almunia, Eboue, Silvestre, Vermaelen, Clichy, Song, Ramsey, Fabregas, Nasri, Walcott, Bendtner. SUBS: Fabianski, Sagna, Campbell, Traore, Denilson, Rosicky, Vela
So the six players coming in are Almunia, Eboue, Silvestre, Song, Ramsey and Walcott and those who make way are Fabianski, Sagna, Campbell, Denilson, Diaby and Rosicky.
We've just spoken to Arsene Wenger. He has told us the team and there are six changes to the side that lost in Porto...
I'm Nick Teale, here to bring you live text updates to compliment the TV Online coverage. The MatchDay Show gets underway at 2:30pm (UK time) today, and ahead of kick-off you can expect an exclusive interview with Arsene Wenger, highlights of last season's home clash with Sunderland and a word on the Black Cats. Plus, we'll be giving away a pair of tickets to Brazil v Republic of Ireland after the conclusion of today's game.
Good afternoon! Welcome to Arsenal TV Online for live coverage of today's Premier League game against Sunderland. It's a another important game in the title race and you can expect the usual first-class coverage of the game in our MatchDay Show. Joining Dan Roebuck in the commentary box today is Kenny Sansom, and you can speak to him after the final whistle in our post-match phone-in.