Germany centre back reflects on win over Black Cats
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Live Text isn't live anymore, this is a record of the match events.
90
REMINDER: Stay online for our post-match debate. Dan Roebuck and Kenny Sansom will be taking your calls as well as your e-mails so phone the studio on 020 7607 3200 (from inside the UK) or +44 20 7607 3200 (from outside the UK).
Full Time IT'S ALL OVER! Arsenal have done it! For a long time it looked as though this one was heading for a draw, but captain fantastic does it again to hand the Gunners all three points. The fans go home happy from this.
90
BODY ON THE LINE: Koscielny throws himself in front of Wickham's powerful drive to avert danger.
90
SZCZESNY SEES OUT DANGER: Ji chases down the ball in an attempt to keep it in play, but Szczesny is there to usher the ball to safety.
90
SONG HOOFS CLEAR: It's flicking and bouncing around inside the Arsenal box but Song take the situation by the scruff of the neck to rifle clear.
90
THEO'S FOUND HIS LEGS: The Black Cats are tiring, and Walcott is having a field day down the right. His final touch is too heavy for him this time, though.
90
FIVE MINUTES ADDED ON: It's going to be a tense finish, with a healthy amount of time left in this one.
90
ARSENAL SEEING THIS OUT: All the ball is inside the Sunderland final third at the moment, as Benayoun watches his shot deflect for a throw-in.
89
WALCOTT INVOLVED AGAIN: The winger fires in an effort at goal which is blocked over the bar for a corner.
88
CAN THEY HOLD ON? Wenger's side are naturally happy to keep possession, but they're not finished yet as Walcott looks for a runner inside the box.
87
Substitution Craig Gardner will replace Lee Cattermole.
87
HANDBALL APPEALS! But Howard Webb says no to the Gunners' frantic penalty calls.
86
EMIRATES CROWD ON THEIR FEET: And that's not just to leave early. They know their side are within touching distance of a vital, vital win.
86
ARSHAVIN FORCES THE SAVE: The Russian has been involved ever since his introduction and calls Mignolet into action with a solid save.
83
Yellow Card VAN PERSIE BOOKED: His celebration was understandably excitable and Howard Webb didn't like that
83
THE CAPTAIN HAS DONE IT AGAIN! Van Persie hasn't scored from a free-kick for a long, long time but he curls that one into the top corner. Fantastic goal!
83
GOAL! - Robin van Persie 2 : 1 YEEESSSSSSS! STUNNING GOAL FROM RVP!
82
FREE-KICK TO ARSENAL: Dangerous position, 20 yards out to the right. Come on RVP - time to get one on target
81
ARSHAVIN ON THE MOVE AGAIN: Jenkinson loses out but Andrey nips in to claim the ball and goes on a run. He cuts inside but runs out of room
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CORNER COMES IN... it's half-cleared and Arteta on the volley! No, he scuffs it completely. Another half-chance goes begging
78
Substitution SUNDERLAND CHANGE: Sessegnon is replaced by Wickham
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ARSHAVIN SHOOTS: And that cannons off a defender and behind for a corner. It's taken short and Brown concedes another corner
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Substitution FINAL ARSENAL SUB: A tired Rosicky comes off and on comes Benayoun
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ROSICKY TRIES HIS LUCK: That's blocked and, frustratingly, the rebound bounces for John O'Shea
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BRAVE FROM SONG: He's not been at his best but he's never stopped battling and he wins the ball back for the umpteenth time to get Arsenal going again
Top Comments:
@MoHussein on Twitter says:
That could've been goal of the season from Arshavin!
73
WONDERFUL PLAY FROM ARSHAVIN! That deserved a goal. He wriggled past three challenges but his toe-poked finish rolls a yard wide.
Top Comments:
Kenny Sansom on Arsenal Player says:
What a fantastic run, he was so unlucky there. He should be patted on the back for that.
72
NO ONE THERE! Van Persie clips in a cross from the right but with him out of position no one gets into the box to meet it. Promising move up until then but this could go either way
71
CORNER TO SUNDERLAND: Danger for Arsenal now. Elmohamady wins a corner off Santos and Vaughan will take it... in it comes and Szczesny gets a touch to clear the danger.
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REMINDER: Stay online after the final whistle for our post-match debate. Dan Roebuck and Kenny Sansom will be taking your calls as well as your e-mails so phone the studio on 020 7607 3200 (from inside the UK) or +44 20 7607 3200 (from outside the UK).
Top Comments:
Kenny Sansom on Arsenal Player says:
He did it twice in the first half and this time he knows exactly what he did wrong. As a player it's important to know when you've made a mistake.
69
ARSHAVIN GETS HIS FIRST TOUCH: He lines up a shot but thinks better of it and is challenged. Here comes Song... and he completely wastes that. Should have shot, instead played a pass that Walcott was not expecting
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COME ON ANDREY: He had a good international break with Russia and Arsenal need his invention. Time is running out
68
Substitution ARSENAL CHANGE: Off comes Gervinho, on comes Arshavin
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Substitution SUNDERLAND CHANGE: Off comes scorer Seb Larsson, on comes Dong
Top Comments:
@Hulkzy_brown on Twitter says:
Chances are meant to be utilised or else you get punished. Come on guys...
65
VAN PERSIE SHOOTS: Narrow angle but he tries his luck and Mignolet blocks with his legs. Arsenal are asking plenty of questions of Sunderland
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Yellow Card BOOKING: Koscielny is the latest to incur the wrath of Howard Webb with a tackle from behind. Brown wasn't booked for his though so that's a minor surprise
63
HERE COMES THE ARTETA: He side-steps one challenge and goes tumbling on the edge of the box but no free-kick is given
62
WALCOTT TAKES THE FREE-KICK... and it flies over the bar. Arsenal's dead-balls have been below-par today and they've had plenty of opportunities to get it right
Top Comments:
@LucasArnold93 on Twitter says:
How are you supposed to beat a team who hack you down on every attack?
62
Yellow Card OUCH! Brown clatters into Walcott on the edge of the box and gets a deserved yellow card
Top Comments:
Kenny Sansom on Arsenal Player says:
That was a diabolical tackle, I think sometimes that should just be a red. He meant it and knew exactly what he was doing.
61
POOR FROM ARTETA: Arsenal win a corner and Mertesacker goes up for it but Arteta's delivery fails to beat the first man
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REMINDER: Stay online after the final whistle for our post-match debate. Dan Roebuck and Kenny Sansom will be taking your calls as well as your e-mails so phone the studio on 020 7607 3200 (from inside the UK) or +44 20 7607 3200 (from outside the UK).
59
...ARTETA CURLS ONE... but it's over the top. There's a collective groan from the Emirates crowd
59
O'SHEA BRINGS DOWN ROSICKY: Another free-kick to Arsenal and this time Santos is nowhere to be seen...
Top Comments:
@Yessra_AO on Twitter says:
Calm down please! Focus and win this game you Gunners...
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O'SHEA WITH THE HEADER: And that's a whisker wide from the former Man Utd defender
Top Comments:
Kenny Sansom on Arsenal Player says:
We had every single Arsenal player back there and they still couldn't win a header. This has to be addressed.
57
Yellow Card SONG IS BOOKED: Alex joins the two Sunderland players in Howard Webb's book for a foul
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HANDBALL! Nothing given! Walcott goes down the right and crosses, the ball appeared to hit a defender's hand and the crowd bayed for a penalty, but the ref doesn't agree. The replays show he is right
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Yellow Card LARSSON GOES IN THE BOOK: That was a cynical tug on Van Persie
Top Comments:
Kenny Sansom on Arsenal Player says:
I'd imagine Steve Bruce, knowing the player he was, doesn't mind all these bookings so long as his players don't get sent off.
54
SONG MISPLACES ANOTHER PASS: This time Alex can't find Jenkinson with a return pass after good work from the right back. Not Song's best game so far
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OH DEAR: Arteta left the free-kick for Santos but he balloons his effort well over the bar. Surprised Mikel didn't take it to be honest
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Yellow Card SONG UP AGAINST LARSSON... and Song gets the better of him. Arsenal break, here's Rosicky... and Vaughan brings him down. That's a booking
51
Substitution GIBBS IS STRUGGLING: It looks like he picked up a knock in that challenge with Elmohamady. On comes Andre Santos
Top Comments:
@kkollyy on Twitter says:
We need to sustain the pressure, then the goal will surely come...
50
RVP IS FURIOUS: He thought he'd won a corner after a challenge from Turner on the byline but nothing doing.
48
SUBS ARE WARMING UP: Arshavin forgets his green bib and we have a minor stoppage while the Russian is handed one. His red tracksuit top obviously clashes with those on the pitch
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GIBBS GETS BACK WELL: Elmohamady and Gibbs are having a decent battle on the Arsenal left and Kieran tracks back well to stop his opponent latching onto Sessegnon's pass
Top Comments:
@Callum_Hartley on Twitter says:
Arsenal need these three points, let's get us up an running!
46
SONG WITH THE SHOT: Good snap-shot but that's blocked and Sunderland clear. Bright start from Arsenal though
Kick Off OFF WE GO AGAIN: Arsenal get us back underway, attacking the North Bank goal in the second half
Top Comments:
Kenny Sansom on Arsenal Player says:
Jenkinson is going to be a very good player, he just needs some more experience and class around him.
Kenny Sansom on Arsenal Player says:
Jenkinson is going to be a very good player, he just needs some more experience and class around him.
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THAT'S ALL FOR NOW: It's all-square at the Emirates and, frankly, it shouldn't be. Arsenal lead within a minute and should have been out of sight before Larsson levelled. Ominously, Sunderland have been the better side since the equaliser.
Half Time HALF-TIME: ARSENAL 1 SUNDERLAND 1
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SO, SO CLOSE: Gibbs didn't challenge for the initial header and Sunderland free Sessegnon down the right. His cross is headed back across goal by the impressive Larsson and Colback volleys inches over. Dear me
44
FREE-KICK SUNDERLAND: Colback goes down and Larsson lines up another dead ball. He won't go for goal this time though, it's further out and to the right... in it comes and headed away well
42
GOOD CROSS JENKINSON: Low and fast from Carl and that's turned behind for a corner. RVP to take it... Song wins the header but Mignolet claims
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ARSENAL KEEP-BALL: Pass, pass, pass... the home side are trying to get their rhythm back. Song, Arteta and Rosicky are not being given any time on the ball though
Top Comments:
Kenny Sansom on Arsenal Player says:
Rosicky and Arteta have been good in spells but Robin van Persie has been Arsenal's best player. There isn't too much else to say.
39
CATTERMOLE TRIPS ROSICKY: Free-kick to Arsenal about 35 yards out. Arteta is behind it... he finds Jenkinson but the cross is headed away and Song is penalised
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BIT SCRAPPY NOW: You sense this is how it would have been if Arsenal had not scored so early. Having relinquished the advantage the home side are being closed down, Sunderland are snapping away in midfield and counter-attacking
Top Comments:
Kenny Sansom on Arsenal Player says:
Sunderland are doing what their manager was fantastic at - competing. That is always important.
36
BROWN CLATTERS INTO RVP: That's a tackle from behind but no card for Brown. Arsenal still trying to regroup and they must be kicking themselves for giving Sunderland renewed hope
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OH MY WORD, WHAT A SAVE! Szczesny at his best. Jenkinson lost the ball on the left, Larsson fed Sessegnon and his dinked cross reaches Cattermole but Szczesny dives across goal to make a miraculous save from point-blank range
Top Comments:
Kenny Sansom on Arsenal Player says:
Cattermole will be disappointed with the miss but what a save from Szczesny. You have to give Sunderland credit now.
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HOME FANS VERY QUIET: The nerves are jangling at the Emirates and Sunderland look full of confidence
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RVP TO TAKE IT... but it's a poor effort and easily cleared at the near post.
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ARSENAL HAVE TO START AGAIN: They had the ideal platform for three points but those missed chances - and Larsson's wonder strike - means it's back to the drawing board. They have a corner though...
31
A PERFECT FREE-KICK FROM LARSSON: That's his speciality, a right-foot curler which gave Szczesny absolutely no chance. World-class from the former Gunner
Top Comments:
@Lucas178 on Twitter says:
You have to say, that was a very well-taken free-kick.
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GOAL! - Sebastian Larsson 1 : 1 WHAT A GOAL! SUNDERLAND ARE LEVEL!
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DANGER FOR ARSENAL: Larsson has a free kick, 25 yards out, pretty much dead centre. He loves these...
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RUING THOSE MISSED CHANCES? Arsenal could be out of sight but it's only 1-0 and Sunderland are coming into the game more and more.
27
WOJCIECH, WHAT ARE YOU DOING?! Szczesny comes racing out to tackle Sessegnon on the touchline but gets nowhere near him. The striker crosses with Arsenal's keeper stranded but Song nips in and Szczesny recovers to claim. Was that a backpass? Sunderland think so, the ref doesn't.
Top Comments:
Kenny Sansom on Arsenal Player says:
I have so much respect for the goalkeeper Szczesny, but he shouldn't have been there.
26
GOOD PRESSING: Rosicky loses the ball but works hard to win it back. That's been a feature of Arsenal's first-half display
Top Comments:
@Yessra_AO on Twitter says:
Van Persie will score another goal, I know that capitano!
25
'SMALL CLUB IN TOTTENHAM': That's the song of choice for the travelling fans. Events on the pitch are not giving them much to cheer
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E-MAIL OUR COMMENTARY TEAM: Visit www.arsenal.com/studio to send your comments to Dan Roebuck and Kenny Sansom. They'll read them out during the game.
22
CORNER TO ARSENAL: Gervinho shows excellent pace and skill again and Sunderland clear from inside their own six-yard box. In it comes... oh, headed down by Gervinho and then headed into the keeper's arms by a defender!
Top Comments:
@mhallscouse on Twitter says:
Gervinho is class, just sometimes he needs to release the ball sooner.
21
GERVINHO! Great skill to take him past his marker but he gets underneath the shot and the ball flies a couple of yards over. Bit more composure needed but great promise
Top Comments:
Kenny Sansom on Arsenal Player says:
He did everything right but score. Everything you could think of, getting himself into space and then smashes it over.
21
LARSSON IS MIFFED: He fouls Arteta and the ref eventually blows for a free kick but the former Gunner thinks that was a fair challenge
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NICE IDEA: RVP clips the free kick to Arteta and he chips it into the box for the skipper to run onto but the ball runs out of play
Top Comments:
@AdmCole on Twitter says:
Van Persie is looking like Bergkamp today!
18
SONG'S RADAR IS OFF: That's another poor pass and he has his head in his hands. Gervinho beats Turner to the ball and gets tripped... free kick to Arsenal. RVP territory
17
MERTESACKER HEADS CLEAR... and Arteta completes the job. That's a rare Sunderland foray
Top Comments:
@nicoob86 on Twitter says:
If Arsenal and Sunderland could just pass the ball to each other for a while that'd be great. I'll be at the pub in 20 minutes!
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IT'S ALL ARSENAL: RVP drops deep to collect Rosicky's deflected pass, he finds Walcott, he finds Song... but his pass goes astray. Sunderland chasing shadows at the moment
14
VAN PERSIE AGAIN! He turns away from his marker and flashes another effort a yard wide. He could have a hat-trick already
Top Comments:
Kenny Sansom on Twitter says:
Van Persie is just insane today. He's enjoying himself and it is fantastic to watch.
13
WONDERFUL FROM RVP: In his captain's notes in the programme Robin said he'd never felt fitter... and he's proving it
Top Comments:
@bannerbluejay on Twitter says:
Unreal skill from RvP! Man on a mission today...
12
SO, SO UNLUCKY! Incredible skill from RVP! Arteta finds him on the right corner of the box and he feigns a power drive, instead chipping a Bergkampesque effort over Mignolet which hits the inside of the post and rolls agonisingly along the the line to safety
Top Comments:
Dan Roebuck on Arsenal Player says:
That would have been absolutely fantastic from Van Persie. Brilliant turn, chip and then hits the post.
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CORNER TO SUNDERLAND: Larsson swings it in towards the near post and Elmohamady meets it with a flick header but that flies wide
10
CROSS COMES IN... and Walcott is up to meet it but he can't get sufficient power and Mignolet claims
9
FINE WORK FROM GERVINHO: Great trickery on the left and his low cross into the six-yard box forces some desperate defending as Gibbs lurks with intent.
Top Comments:
Kenny Sansom on Arsenal Player says:
Gervinho for me has been so exciting, so positive. That's what Arsenal Football Club needs. He enjoys himself it's great.
7
FREE KICK TO ARSENAL: Arteta swings it in from the right... but Mertesacker can't get anything on it and the ball eludes everyone else too
6
SONG TRIES TO FIND WALCOTT: That's a decent ball but it's just too heavy to pick out Theo's run from right to centre
Top Comments:
@nnajiprincec on Twitter says:
That's a true leader and that is why he is the captain! Sanity restored, let's get this game going now.
5
PRETTY EVEN SINCE THE GOAL: Sunderland have one up front - that's Sessegnon - and a five-man midfield.
4
STEVE BRUCE LOOKS DISGUSTED: The Sunderland boss has a face like thunder. His gameplan - keep it tight, hit Arsenal on the counter - did not include conceding a first-minute goal
3
FANS ARE STILL ARRIVING: And they've already missed a goal. They would have heard the roar from outside though. Back come Sunderland with a free kick from Larsson but that's headed away well
Top Comments:
Kenny Sansom on Arsenal Player says:
He's the captain of the Club and his performances have been absolutely superb.
1
WHAT A START FOR ARSENAL! Gervinho makes headway down the right, he finds Van Persie and the skipper finds room to leather a right-footed effort past Mignolet. And we've played barely 30 seconds!
Top Comments:
@Midas_FingerTip on Twitter says:
Great ball by Rosicky to Gervinho by the way...
1
GOAL! - Robin van Persie 1 : 0 YEEEESSSSS! ROBIN VAN PERSIE!!
Kick Off OFF WE GO: Sunderland get us underway...
NEON ALERT: Theo Walcott has some new boots - and they are neon yellow from what I can tell. Eek!
LARSSON RETURNS: Seb is back in north London and he's obviously a big threat for Sunderland. Look out for those free kicks and corners... Arsene Wenger clearly trained him well.
Top Comments:
@Kaluz2011AFC on Twitter says:
A win today will make the rest of next week awesome!
HERE THEY COME! The players are strolling out of the tunnel and we're just moments away from kick-off
ARSENAL FOR EVERYONE: The Club is celebrating the diversity of its squad and fanbase today. Twenty flags - representing each nationalitiy in the first-team squad - are now being held aloft to welcome the players onto the pitch
KENNY SANSOM: Our co-commentator has confirmed that he is NOT on Twitter. So if a 'Kenny Sansom' is following you, it's not him!
MATCHDAY SHOW: It's getting underway now so make sure you're logged in. Look out for highlights, an interview with Ramsey and pre-match chat with Dan Roebuck and Kenny Sansom before they turn their attention to our live match commentary
#ARSENALLIVE: That's the Twitter hashtag where the Arsenal debate will be raging today. Have your say - we'll publish a selection of the comments right here
AND HERE'S THE SUBS: Fabianski, Park, Santos, Djourou, Arshavin, Frimpong, Benayoun
ARSENAL LINE-UP: Szczesny, Jenkinson, Mertesacker, Koscielny, Gibbs, Song, Arteta, Rosicky, Walcott, Gervinho, Van Persie
RAMSEY OUT: There's no Aaron Ramsey in the Arsenal line-up today so Tomas Rosicky takes his place. Meanwhile Carl Jenkinson gets the nod at right back with Bacary Sagna ruled out until after Christmas
I'm Chris Harris, your text commentator for the day, and the team news is coming right up...
Welcome to Arsenal Player for live coverage of today's Premier League clash. Our Matchday Show begins at 1.15pm (UK time) with live audio commentary from 1.30pm. Arsenal legend Kenny Sansom joins Dan Roebuck in the commentary box so get your questions to them via www.arsenal.com/studio
One week without football? Tolerable. Two weeks? Horrible. It's been a while since we saw the Arsenal but the long wait is finally over. Sunderland are in town and three points are a must
Arsenal
01 SZCZESNY, Wojciech
25 JENKINSON, Carl
04 MERTESACKER, Per
06 KOSCIELNY, Laurent
28 GIBBS, Kieran
11 SANTOS, Andre (51)
25 SONG, Alex
08 ARTETA, Mikel
07 ROSICKY, Tomas
30 BENAYOUN, Yossi (77)
14 WALCOTT, Theo
27 GERVINHO
23 ARSHAVIN, Andrey (68)
20 VAN PERSIE, Robin
21 FABIANSKI, LUKASZ
20 DJOUROU, JOHAN
11 SANTOS, ANDRE
26 FRIMPONG, EMMANUEL
30 BENAYOUN, YOSSI
23 ARSHAVIN, ANDREY
30 PARK, JU-YOUNG
Sunderland
22 MIGNOLET, Simon
16 O'SHEA, John
05 BROWN, Wes
06 TURNER, Michael
11 RICHARDSON, Kieran
06 CATTERMOLE, Lee
08 GARDNER, Craig (87)
14 COLBACK, Jack
07 LARSSON, Sebastian
DONG-WON, Ji (67)
15 VAUGHAN, David
27 ELMOHAMADY, Ahmed
28 SESSEGNON, Stephane
10 WICKHAM, Connor (78)
20 WESTWOOD, KEIREN
40 LAING, LOUIS
18 MEYLER, DAVID
08 GARDNER, CRAIG
DONG-WON, JI
10 WICKHAM, CONNOR
23 MCCLEAN, JAMES
Top Comments:
Kenny Sansom on Arsenal Player says:
You'd be surprised just how much the crowd can do to lift players at this kind of time.