Arsenal: Raya, Timber, Saliba, Gabriel, Calafiori, Zubimendi, Rice, Havertz, Madueke, Trossard, Jesus
Subs: Kepa, White, Mosquera, Hincapie, Eze, Martinelli, Norgaard, Lewis-Skelly, Gyokeres
Arsenal extended their lead at the top of the Premier League to nine points after beating Sunderland 3-0 at Emirates Stadium on Saturday, thanks to goals from Martin Zubimendi and a brace from Viktor Gyokeres.
Mikel Arteta made five changes from the side that beat Chelsea on Tuesday with Riccardo Calafiori, Kai Havertz and Gabriel Jesus among the new faces coming in.
Neither Bukayo Saka or Martin Odegaard made the matchday squad for the second game running although their absences are expected to be short term.
FIRST HALF
It was a promising start for Arsenal who had a sight of goal within a minute when Kai Havertz rose highest in the box but headed wide after Leandro Trossard did well to dig out a cross.
But Havertz was needed in his own box minutes later after David Raya came for and dropped a routine free kick (after some contact from Ballard), with the German blocking a goalbound effort from Brobbey with his goalkeeper stranded.
The game was surprisingly open and well contested throughout the first 15 minutes, with Sunderland also showing ambition to push forward and attack when many expected them to come and sit in a deep block.
Arsenal did have some promising moments in wide areas and were delivering crosses into the box, although Sunderland kept heading everything away and their best chance of the half came from Declan Rice who whipped a shot inches wide from just outside the area.
Just before the break, Sunderland were fortunate not to be down to ten men after Brobbey raked his studs down Zubimendi’s shins but the referee ended up showing a yellow card – and VAR agreed. It was definitely in orange territory.
But the Gunners did eventually break through and the goal came from Martin Zubimendi who saw his midfield partner miss by inches earlier on, and decided he would show him how things are done with a brilliant strike from distance.
With Trossard occupying two Sunderland defenders, Zubimendi pulled off slightly and after the ball was laid back, cut across the strike beautifully to find the bottom corner; bouncing off the inside of the post and in. 1-0.
There was time for an effort apiece before the half time whistle, with Diarra stinging the gloves of Raya before Havertz curled another strike inches wide as Roefs watched it drift past the post – he was getting nowhere near it.
Sunderland came and made things extremely difficult for Arsenal who didn’t quite have their press or final third combinations right, but that moment of quality from Zubimendi was enough to see them lead at the break.
SECOND HALF
Neither side made changes at half time but Arteta’s men came out slowly and Raya was needed again to save from Le Fee, before the goalkeeper came out and sliced a clearance after Brobbey did well to run beyond Gabriel.
With an hour on the clock, Gabriel Martinelli and Viktor Gyokeres were both introduced, replacing Jesus and Madueke who it’s fair to say didn’t have their best days.
Sunderland continued to battle though and Arsenal were finding it difficult to deal with their energy and intensity, before their much-needed second arrived after a spell of sustained pressure – with Gyokeres applying the finishing touch.
After Trossard did well to find Havertz ghosting in behind (played miles onside by Hume), he cut the ball back to Gyokeres who took one touch and finished on the stretch, with Roefs unable to keep his well-struck effort out. 2-0.
Almost directly after the goal, Arteta made two more changes with Eberechi Eze and Piero Hincapie replacing Havertz and Calafiori who are continuing their comebacks from injury.
That second goal seemed to deflate Sunderland whose legs suddenly looked heavier, and Arsenal were happier knocking the ball around with spaces beginning to appear across the pitch.
Eze dragged a left-footed shot just wide before there was some concern about Trossard who went down (hopefully with cramp) although Gyokeres put the cherry on the cake in injury time with his second and Arsenal’s third.
After Martinelli took advantage of some hesitant defending from Reinildo, he used his pace to get beyond the full back and square for Gyokeres in front of goal for an easy tap in. 3-0.
Back-to-back wins after the United defeat, back-to-back clean sheets and nine points clear with Manchester City travelling to Anfield tomorrow. A good day at the office for the boys.