Arsenal brush aside Black Cats to extend their supremacy at the top of the Premier League

Gunners v Black Cats by @JTaylorSport

Arsenal 3 Sunderland 0

If Arsenal, as widely anticipated, do go on to lift the Premier League title for the first time since 2004, it is likely to prove more prosaic than one would expect of champions.

For all the verve of a 4-0 win at Leeds United lately, there are other outings to consider, such as this rudimentary 3-0 win over spirited Sunderland.

Not that the Gunners fans will particularly care. Twenty two years is an eternity on football, more so for some of these nearly men and boss Mikel Arteta.

A sense of the workmanlike impinged on Arsenal’s performance levels at the Emirates, in this, the latest staging point for Arteta’s charges.

Martin Zubimendi’s strike just about lit up the north London gloom before half time to put the hosts ahead, before Viktor Gyokeres came off the bench to strike twice and add the gloss.

Manchester United’s recent smash-and-grab at the Emirates ignited more than a few questions on Arsenal’s resolve to go the distance. And while this present outfit answered those queries in total style at Elland Road, they clearly lack the serenity and steel of the Thierry Henry’s, Robert Pires’ and Dennis Bergkamp's of that decorated and invincible, bygone age.

For all that, there does appear to be enough on offer by the current incumbents to take the title - one that a fully committed Arteta needs, frankly - especially given Liverpool’s puzzling slide this term. Closest challengers Manchester City face Liverpool at Anfield tomorrow, with Arsenal holding a handsome nine point lead at the summit.

Luxury

Arteta had the luxury of rotation for his squad, amid a pressing, ambitious campaign. The Gunners prevailed over Chelsea to reach the Carabao Cup final in midweek. Then there is also an FA Cup tie against Wigan Athletic next Sunday, three days after a visit across the capital to face Brentford on league duty.

At this stage of the season, there was a certain logic in resting those such as Ben White, Ebere Eze, Gyokeres and Gabriel Martinelli, with captain Martin Odegaard injured. Kai Havertz was fit once more and Leandro Trossard called upon to start, the Gunners were confident of three points even against a Sunderland side, who, in eighth place have surprised many. And a front three of Gabriel Jesus, Trossard and Noni Madueke possessed sufficient potential.

The Black Cats arrived in north London with a backdrop of mixed fortunes. Regis Le Bris’ side may have eased to victory at home to Burnley last week, but their last visit to the capital, on 24 January, resulted in a surprise 3-1 loss at relegation-threatened West Ham. Regrettably, there was to be no return to action for injured Granit Xhaka, the injured former Gunner obliged to balefully watch from the side lines.

With the league leaders unsurprisingly holding most of the possession, there was a surplus of labouring across much of the first half. Sunderland’s rear guard – headed by Northern Ireland internationals Trai Hume and Dan Ballard – soaked up much of the largely pedestrian promptings by Trossard and Madueke on each flank. Wisely, Sunderland opted for a containment and counter attacking strategy.

A long range Declan Rice effort which went a couple of inches past the post was the clearest opportunity Arsenal managed to create. That it came with half an hour gone spoke enough in regard to the level of performance. Arteta, looking exasperated at times, needed his team to produce a bit more craft.

Sunderland, other than the occasional nibble, rarely caused concern at the other end. Yet their organisation and pace of Reinildo Mandava provided a reasonable outlet. Le Bris, presumably was content with the Wearsider’s resistance for much of the first half, until Arsenal went ahead. And the manager was fortunate, too, not to see Brian Brobbey get sent off for an over the top swipe at Martin Zubimendi.

However, events changed oh-so-quickly in favour of the hosts. The Gunners’ midfielder responded perfectly – by breaking the deadlock four minutes before the interval. Picking up possession from Trossard approaching the edge of the Sunderland penalty area, he rifled a low shot which cannoned into the net off the post.

With the boost of going ahead at the right time, there was a general assumption that Arsenal would grow in confidence. However, Sunderland started brightly after the break, causing a few jitters for Gunners’ keeper David Raya. Was this surprising anxiety to spread.

Spark

Perhaps sensing the temperature, Arteta made a double switch on the hour mark, sending on Gyokeres and Martinelli for the below-par Madueke and Jesus. A spark was certainly needed, a view possibly echoed at this point of a nervy clash by ex-Gunners forward Niall Quinn, today’s special guest, who also starred for Sunderland.

The moment to settle the contest arrived soon, in the 66^th minute.

Alert to possibility, and observing the Black Cats needlessly shilly-shallying around their own penalty area, Gyokeres picked up a pass from Havertz, before crashing a right footed shot which took a deflection into the visitor’s net. Game over.

There was time for Eze to feature in the latter stages. The Gunners’ creator-in-chief helped pin back Sunderland in their own half once the business end of the task in hand became clearer.

In added time, and with Sunderland wilting, Mandova lost possession to Martinelli - the Arsenal substitute raced through on goal and supplied a simple pass for Gyokeres to tap home.

Comfortable by the climax, Arsenal were worthy of the points. They carry on, and keep answering any diminishing concerns.

Gunners: Raya, Saliba, Gabriel, Jesus (Gyokeres 60), Timber, Trossard (Norgaard 88), Madueke (Martinelli 60), Havertz (Eze 66), Calafiori (Hincapie 66), Zubimendi, Rice