Arsenal – Sunderland : 2-0

By Walter Broeckx

Arsenal team: Cech, Holding, Mustafi, Monreal, Bellerin, Ramsey, Xhaka, Gibbs, Ozil, Alexis, Giroud
On the beach: Ospina, Gabriel, Coquelin, Elneny, Iwobi, Walcott, Welbeck

Sunderland trying to press high but the first shot was from Alexis but well over the goal.  Alexis has a shot from distance that is diverted by the arm of Giroud and the ref cancels the goal. His arm was raised so I can sure live with the decision. At the other end Cech has to catch a low cross and Arsenal immediately attack at the other end and Ramsey finds Giroud but a wonderful stop from the keeper prevents the opening goal. Bellerin can only win a corner from the rebound. Bellerin then cuts inside but his shot goes over.  Alexis sends Ramsey away but the keeper is first on the ball and Sunderland can clear the ball. Holding on a long run a 1-2 with Giroud but the shot from Holding is blocked. 0-0 after 15 minutes.

A low shot from Xhaka ends a long attack but straight at the keeper. Alexis has his shot blocked and the rebound is shot wide by Xhaka. A hand from a Sunderland player stopping the shot from Alexis. Giroud tries to flick the ball to Ramsey who is blocked and then Giroud is held completely by his defender but the ref gives no penalty. Alexis on the turn but he misses his shot. Bellerin then gets a yellow card for handball. Looked as if his arm was in front of his body. So far the ref reluctant to give fouls in favour of Arsenal. Arsenal then trying to play a bit too fancy at the back and giving the ball away and giving Sunderland a spell in front of the Arsenal goal. Still 0-0 after 30 minutes.

The passing a bit sloppy from Arsenal in this part of the game. Holding with a header after a corner but no other Arsenal player can put a foot to the ball and the keeper can pick it up. Özil with a pass to Alexis but his first touch lets him down. Sunderland counter and Cech has to make a low save to the near post. Cech again has to make a low save when Sunderland counter. At the other end Giroud just can’t beat the last man as he cuts for his left foot.  Mustafi heads towards goal and the ball comes off a defender but the ref gives a goal kick. The ref continues to blow every contact from an Arsenal player while at the other end Sunderland players can hold their opponent and no fouls are given. Bellerin is send away by Özil but he only finds the outside of the post. In the last 15 minutes the passing is letting us down a bit. Need a bit more precision. A nice passing move with precision finds Özil who gives it to Ramsey but the keeper with a great save. Holding with a free header after the corner but straight at the keeper. 0-0 after 45 minutes and we should have been well in front by now.

Monreal with a bad back pass that results in a corner for Sunderland. Cech had gone a bit outside the goal and the ref decides to give an indirect free kick. Cech touched the ball with his hand even though it went out for a corner. Should have let it run. A free kick at the edge of the goal area for Sunderland. A lob but Xhaka heads it over for a corner. That took some 3 minutes of the clock. Arsenal under some pressure as a result but they finally can clear the danger. Özil almost finds Ramsey but the ball just escaped him. Larson throws himself to the ground and gets Özil booked. The free kick is whipped in front of the goal but the diving header is missed by a Sunderland player. Arsenal counter but it is stopped at the expense of a foul and yellow card. Ramsey with a shot but too close to the keeper who saves. After an Arsenal corner a shot from Mustafi is cleared off the line by a defender. 0-0 after 60 minutes.

A Sunderland defender elbows a free kick in to a corner. The ref doing nothing when Sunderland player refuses to take the required distance when Arsenal want to take a free kick. Özil on the end of a long ball from Xhaka but his control let him down when he would have been one on one with the keeper. A cross finds Giroud but his header went just wide.  Ramsey then going down with what looks like an ankle injury. Welbeck comes on for him after 67 minutes.  Gibbs also goes off and Iwobi comes on. Welbeck with a low shot but again the keeper with a great save. Arsenal with a corner that is half cleared and comes to Xhaka. A lovely ball to Özil who pushes the ball towards Alexis who can push it over the line. GOAL!!!! 1-0 to The Arsenal after 72 minutes.

Catermole goes in the book for stopping a promising attack. A shot from Iwobi is deflected to Alexis who handled the ball and then hit the crossbar. Handball given.  Arsenal 1-0 in front after 75 minutes.

Monreal to Alexis who forces a save the keeper and who is then given offside…that looked level to me. The Sunderland keeper twice with a great stop on shots from Xhaka and Iwobi. Alexis goes down in the penalty area but guess what nothing given. Arsenal really going forward to score more goals. A cross from Bellerin finds Giroud who forces another great save from the keeper but the ball comes to Alexis who heads it over the line. GOAL!!!! 2-0 to The Arsenal after 81 minutes.

Özil to Welbeck but the keeper rushed off his line and could stop effort. Alexis and Özil combine in the Sunderland penalty area but neither can come with the finish. After 84 minutes Giroud came off and Walcott came on. Another corner for Arsenal that is headed against the crossbar by Mustafi after the keeper had fingertips to the ball.  At the other end Januzaj with a run but his shot was deflected for a corner. Monreal with a shot from distance but two meters wide. Larson with a studs up tackle, red card for Xhaka anyone but not even called a foul. Walcott being held back by a defender having a shot on the turn but the defender can block the shot. Iwobi tackles the ball, Januzaj goes down and the ref gives a foul…. this is getting laughable. The ref really doing all he can to help Sunderland. Mustafi also going in the book….

Arsenal won with 2-0 but with some better finishing and if it wasn’t for some great goalkeeping by the Sunderland keeper we should have won by a far bigger margin.