When Sunderland arrive in north London, our supporters’ memories will cast back to bygone encounters that have seen us enjoy some big victories over the Black Cats.
We’ve produced some fine scorelines against the Wearsiders down the years, especially in our matches at Highbury and Emirates Stadium when a host of iconic players have made their mark.
Here are five of our best wins against Sunderland in the 21st century:
January 15, 2000
Arsenal 4-1 Sunderland
Our strikers were red-hot in this game as we blew Sunderland away. Thierry Henry gave Steve Bould a torrid time on his return to Highbury, and the Frenchman blasted us in front after three minutes, then played a fine pass to Davor Suker who nonchalantly clipped the ball into the net from the corner of the 18-yard box via a post to score a remarkable goal.
The points were in the bag on 32 minutes when the 1998 World Cup Golden Boot winner was set up by Henry again, and after ex-Gunner Niall Quinn pulled back a consolation, Henry completed his own brace with nine to play when he left Bould for dead and tucked home.
March 30, 2002
Arsenal 3-0 Sunderland
We stunned Sunderland by going 2-0 up after just three minutes as we cruised to the three points that kept the pressure on leaders Liverpool. Just 81 seconds had elapsed when Patrick Vieira pounced on some loose defending to put us ahead, and moments later Dennis Bergkamp touched in an Henry cross at the back post to double our advantage.
Black Cats striker Kevin Phillips hit the side-netting with the goal gaping, and after that let-off, on the half-hour Bergkamp played a trademark slide-rule pass into the area for Sylvian Wiltord to sweep in our third of the afternoon. A clean sheet was fitting on the afternoon that Tony Adams made his 500th appearance for the club.
October 7, 2007
Arsenal 3-2 Sunderland
We moved back to the top of the Premier League table with this victory, but we almost let the points slip through our grasp. Just seven minutes in, Robin van Persie drilled an unstoppable shot into the net off the crossbar, and after just 14 minutes we found ourselves 2-0 up when Philippe Senderos scuffed in a second.
But Roy Keane’s side got back into the game on 25 minutes when Ross Wallace netted, and then just after the interval Kenwyne Jones headed in an equaliser. Kolo Toure battered the woodwork again, but with 10 minutes to go Theo Walcott set up Van Persie to net his second, as this time we held on to the win - helped by Paul McShane’s late red card.
February 22, 2014
Arsenal 4-1 Sunderland
Olivier Giroud grabbed a brace as we beat a Sunderland team with one eye on the following week’s League Cup final. The Frenchman took just four minutes to get on the scoresheet when he tucked in a loose ball, and on the half-hour mark, he pounced on a poor backpass by Santiago Vergini to double his tally.
The goal of the game came on 41 minutes when Tomas Rosicky linked up with each of Jack Wilshere, Santi Cazorla and Giroud to dink the ball over shot-stopper Vito Mannone, and 10 minutes after half-time Laurent Koscienly headed in a fourth. Emanuele Giaccherini netted from long range late on to give the visitors a sliver of consolation.
December 21, 2021
Arsenal 5-1 Sunderland
This League Cup quarter-final will be remembered for an excellent hat-trick from Eddie Nketiah, while another Hale End graduate got his only Gunners goal. Nketiah’s first came just 15 minutes in when he nudged the ball over the line after Lee Buge’s save, and after Nicolas Pepe put us 2-0 ahead, Nathan Broadhead pulled one back for the League One side.
However Nketiah came to the fore after the break, and brilliantly flicked in a Nuno Tavares cross before backheeling a Pepe centre into the net to complete his hat-trick in style. In injury time, substitute Charlie Patino had his standout moment in red and white when he tucked in another Pepe pass to complete a stylish victory for Mikel Arteta’s team.
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