Arsenal 3; Sunderland 0; Two days after a home meeting with Sunderland last season, Arsenal visited Charlton and suffered a 1-0 defeat that confirmed their inability to challenge Manchester United. When Arsene Wenger's team return to The Valley today, they intend to demonstrate their progress.
With United and Liverpool out of action because of midweek Champions League commitments, Arsenal will go top with a game in hand if they win.
Having disposed of a crisis-ridden Sunderland by half-time on Saturday, energy has been conserved. "I'm very confident," Wenger said of a title race that remains in his hands. "I think we will win it." Alan Curbishley's side are unbeaten in 12 London derbies and won 4-2 at Highbury in November.
Although Arsenal's defending was hardly water-tight and Sunderland had enough opportunities to have avoided defeat, Wenger's team were cruising after scoring twice in the first four minutes and again inside half an hour. They seemed capable of going up through the gears if necessary.
For Sunderland, three points above the relegation zone, today's game at home to Leicester must be won. "It's imperative," said their manager Peter Reid. "We are down in a dogfight."
The first two goals were gifted to Arsenal; the space Arsenal had was ridiculous. Sunderland never coped with Thierry Henry's movement or the willingness of Freddie Ljungberg and Sylvain Wiltord to dart through the centre off the flanks. Reid's half-time talk was presumably less measured than his post-match words. "We let ourselves down," he said.
Hopes of a comeback were ruined by Kevin Phillips's failure to make more of two excellent chances at 2-0. Reid needs him to rediscover his range as Patrick Mboma is doubtful for today.
Arsenal have no such luck with Robert Pires but the midfielder's absence was not felt. Ljungberg filled in on the left for the most part and Edu later switched there from the centre. The Brazilian continues to improve, catching the eye with his passing and dynamism.
An error by Paul Thirlwell allowed Patrick Vieira to score after 83 seconds and Bergkamp soon added a second from Henry's cross-shot. Wiltord got number three from Bergkamp's pass and is reported to have said he "would leave" if another "big club" gave him the chance to play as a central striker, claiming he was "not completely happy" in his wide role.
Sunderland's more competent second-half display was largely an irrelevance. Arsenal sat back and should have scored more late on. "\ Ferguson has said it is our title to lose," Wenger reflected. "I would say it is our title to win." Today offers a test of how far they have come.
ARSENAL: Seaman, Cole, Luzhny, Campbell, Adams, Ljungberg (Kanu 77), Vieira, Edu, Wiltord (Grimandi 68), Henry, Bergkamp (Jeffers 78). Subs Not Used: Dixon, Wright. Goals: Vieira 2, Bergkamp 4, Wiltord 30.
SUNDERLAND: Sorensen, Gray, Reyna, McCann, Bjorklund, McAteer (Butler 45), Craddock, Williams, Thirlwell, Phillips (Kilbane 76), Mboma (Quinn 21). Subs Not Used: McCartney, Macho. Booked: McCann, Reyna, McAteer.
Referee: P Durkin (Dorset)
