Sunderland arrive in north London on Saturday above the relegation zone, after Allardyce led his side to consecutive wins for the first time this season.
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It was an action-packed game, so let’s give thanks to our friends at top Gunners blog All Arsenal, who have produced a detailed match report with fanatix video news clips.
With better finishing, Sunderland might have been three ahead before Arsenal woke up. But a much improved performance will surely be required if Arsenal are to get the high-scoring victory they require at Olympiakos on Wednesday.
The Black Cats boss saw his side fail to capitalise on a number of chances in front of goal and feels on another day it could have ended differently.
We looked defensively vulnerable, with Mathieu Flamini just not offering the same level of protection as Francis Coquelin.
Ramsey spurned one chance in stoppage time, shooting straight at the keeper, but did find the net with a second opportunity.
“We could have won this game never mind draw”, said Allardyce.
Sunderland are a proper team again. “We were nervy in the first half but in the second showed mental strength and desire”. As half-time approached, Watmore drew a rash foul from Laurent Koscielny, who was booked, and although Yann M’Vila’s free-kick was just beyond the reach of two Sunderland attackers, Giroud, forced to play the ball, clumsily diverted it past Cech. “It was our first game without the injured players and we absolutely had to win”.
“All the other lads can score goals but they’re not natural finishers”.
However, a performance which was arguably as good any produced during Allardyce’s Sunderland tenure says a lot about the progress which has been made over the last two months.
And they were rewarded for their efforts in the 63rd minute when Giroud got on the end of a cross from Nacho Monreal and headed the ball past the despairing Costel Pantillimon. Even so, Watmore and Patrick van Aanholt could – perhaps should – have supplied a second equaliser.
The Wales worldwide scored on Saturday and played the whole 90 minutes as he looks to step up his fitness – and he is now determined to make the position his own in the coming weeks.
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English football club Arsenal got a 3-1 home win at the Emirates Stadium against Sunderland, ending their three-game winless run in the Premier League.
