Arsenal 0 Sunderland 0
The thought had occurred beforehand that it might have been an idea for these two clubs to simply shake on the draw. That, however, is not part of the make-up of this Premier League. There was no holding back during a game that rose nicely to the boil and it was a wonder how it finished goalless. There were chances, particularly during a gripping second-half, for both teams, many of them of crystal clarity.
Yet the point apiece could ultimately be toasted on each side, especially that of Sunderland, who are now safe from relegation before Sunday’s final games. Dick Advocaat has achieved the ends of his short-term managerial brief and as he punched the air at full time and the travelling supporters cavorted in delight, he could forget how the substitute, Steven Fletcher, had put him through the mill with a trio of misses.
For Arsenal, the point has all but ensured a top-three finish – only a radical last-day swing of seven goals could now usher Manchester United back into contention – and Arsène Wenger will sell the season as another success, particularly if his team go on to retain the FA Cup. There were familiar failings in the lack of ruthlessness in front of goal and the feeling of frustration in the stands upon the final whistle. But thoughts will now begin to turn to the cup final date with Aston Villa.
Advocaat had spoken beforehand of Sunderland as having “four chances to stay up”. That included the last-day matches for their relegation rivals, Newcastle United and Hull City, with the other two being his own team’s games. How everybody at the club, not least the supporters who packed the visiting enclosure, wanted them to make good at the first time of asking here.
The nerves have provided the backdrop to Advocaat’s brief tenure, which began in the middle of March with the club occupying 17th in the table, one point above the drop zone. He arrived in north London having taken 11 points from seven matches and with the picture looking marginally better. “Will Sunderland stay up?” Wenger had been asked on Tuesday. “Yes,” he replied. Sunderland had to turn probability into reality.
Advocaat’s starting lineup was loaded with attacking players, which reflected his determination for Sunderland to impose themselves on the game, rather than merely stand on the back foot. The reality, though, was that they would do plenty of that. There was a first start for Adam Johnson since his arrest and subsequent charges for engaging in sexual activity with a girl under 16 and he was booed by the home crowd. So was Jermain Defoe, the ex-Spur, who was asked to graft off the left wing, which really does not feel like his game.
This was not a meaningless encounter for Arsenal and they came to call the tune, with trademark quick interchanges and attractive movement. Sunderland were pressed back. Jack Wilshere returned to the starting XI for the first time since 22 November and ankle ligament problems and he had his moments, as Arsenal tried to pick their way through.
Wilshere was played in by Alexis Sánchez on 15 minutes only for Costel Pantilimon to surge from his goalline to clatter in to him. It looked a little clumsy but Pantilimon seemed to get the ball and get away with it. Both players were hurt, which led to the back-up goalkeeper and former Arsenal player, Vito Mannone, coming out to warm up. He was warmly applauded.
Arsenal set up camp in the Sunderland half and the visitors struggled to get out. The principal question of the evening came to be whether Arsenal could ally cutting edge to their possession and territorial advantage.
Sunderland got to the interval on level terms, having offered little as an attacking force. Their success was measured in terms of tackles won, closing down and blocks. A snap-shot of the all-for-one spirit was provided by the forward Connor Wickham, who dived in to execute a slide challenge inside the area on Sánchez. Lee Cattermole snapped, snarled and generally irritated Mesut Özil.
Wilshere blazed a chance over the crossbar from Aaron Ramsey’s lay-off; Santi Cazorla worked Pantilimon; Özil lashed over from Wilshere’s cute dink and Olivier Giroud scooped wide after a similar tee-up from Wilshere. It was all very pretty but lacking in punch.
Advocaat says he never shows any signs of pressure and he made a double substitution at half-time in an attempt to lift his team. Fletcher replaced the ineffective front-man, Danny Graham, with Jack Rodwell coming on for Wickham to bolster the midfield.
Fletcher made a difference, and he so nearly got the goal that might have allowed Sunderland to rest a little easier. First, from Johnson’s pass, he was confronted by only David Ospina but the goalkeeper blocked and then, on the hour, following a quick and direct break and, again, one-on-one, Fletcher fluffed the dinked finish. In between times, Defoe released Patrick van Aanholt but he could not beat Ospina.
Arsenal also had chances, in what was a more entertaining, end-to-end second-half. Hector Bellerín made inroads up the right and from his crosses, Giroud and Kieran Gibbs drew eye-catching saves out of Pantilimon while Sánchez had a shot blocked by Sebastián Coates.
The most outlandish moments were saved for the finish. Fletcher will still wonder how he did not convert from close-range after Van Aanholt had flashed a shot across goal while the visitors drank in the good fortune at the other end when Ramsey’s cross hit Billy Jones and cannoned off the post. The Arsenal substitute Theo Walcott also went perilously close before the full-time whistle brought the relief for Sunderland.
(Guardian service)
