Roker Park, the old home of Sunderland AFC was never a very lucky venue for visiting Arsenal teams. Someone dug up an old fact recently that on this day in 1953 an Arsenal team, fresh from winning the League, visited Roker Park and were soundly beaten by the home team. So of course the locals got a little excited when they heard that – lightning striking twice perhaps?
But back then, 73 years ago, Sunderland had players like Len Shackleton wowing the Wearsiders, but there’s nobody in this current team with Shackleton’s technical ability, so they compensate with non-stop pressing, workrate, physicality and spirit, so it’s not an easy place to escape from with the 3 points, no injuries and a clean sheet!
The Stadium of Light doesn’t quite have the same feeling of dread that the Archibald Leitch designed Roker Park used to have, no Roker roar, but the new stadium of the Mackhams can be just as roucous and referees need to have nerves of steel to officiate and not be influenced. Fortunately for us this is a very special Arsenal team.
Sunderland went for it from the off, just as they did last season. There was precious little time to build from the back as there was usually one or two red and white shirts closing down when Arsenal had the ball coupled with a few late ankle taps to boot.
Sunderland didn’t create a chance in those opening minutes but on 16 minutes a Granit Xhaka free kick bent dangerously into the champions box found Ballard and he threw the kitchen sink at it but it was cleared. Arsenal continued to try and play possession football and take the edge off of the game whilst looking to break the deadlock. By 22 minutes the Sunderland pressing showed no signs of letting up and the late challenges grew in intensity which then led to an angry reaction from Konsa and a mouthful to a Sunderland player who ‘left a bit on him’…
In these kinds of games you have to keep your composure and Arsenal by and large showed a credible disciplined side, despite some over-enthusiastic provocation, a sign of champions perhaps. Arsenal had created as little as the home side as the centre of the pitch resembled the Colosseum in Rome when on 24 minutes Big Gabby tried his luck from distance. It was worth a punt as it caught everyone out but his shot went wide. Odegaard at this time was the recipient of some quite industrial challenges and with his recent injury record I was quite concerned that one thuggish challenge would put him in the physio room. It was that kind of a game, winning was paramount but losing a couple of players was a major concern.
The referee, Mr Brooks, let quite a few challenges go without intervention, actions that were magnified by comparing him with the excellent referee we had in Naples. Finally Brooks got his yellow card out when Reinildo fouled Saka, the umpteenth time Bakayo was sent flying.
On 31 minutes great work by Tzolis, Calafiori and Odegaard set up Havertz but although Kai, with his back to goal, did well to swivel and shoot, the keeper pushed it over the bar. Havertz then put another Odegaard created chance over the bar.
Mikel Arteta then earned himself a yellow card, he wasn’t happy with the officiating, something he alluded to post-match. Then Ben White picked up what seemed to be a groin injury, but he soldiered on as he always does and there was just enough time to see Xhaka clear one off the line from Havertz.
Half-time 0-0
Arteta made two changes at half-time, off came White and Myles and on came Timber and Bruno who got a very friendly reception from the home crowd, not that it bothered him one bit. Sunderland ramped it up even more after the restart and after 57 minutes it paid off when Konsa was harshly adjudged to have fouled Ballard in the box. Given all the other wrestling we’d seen particularly in the Sunderland box when they were defending, it just seemed typical that we’d get penalised. Anyway after the usual stuff Raya sprung low to his left to make an amazing save, arguably one of his best if not his best penalty save for us.
Sunderland for a few brief seconds had the stuffing knocked out of them but back came the Gunners and Bruno hit a screamer into the roof of Rolfes net after good work by Rice. Bruno celebrated as only he can because it was his first Arsenal goal and it was at his old enemies ground. How we laughed… Ballard finally received a yellow card, as did Xhaka for a foul on, guess who? Bruno.
Timber was having a steady game and Arsenal were looking peerless. Saka had a chance cleared off of the line, then there was a goalmouth scramble in the Arsenal box before Timber scored, offside, damn!
With 10 minutes remaining Arteta freshened up his team, taking off Tzolis and Rice (yeah really) replacing them with Eze and Zubimendi, Arteta trusting his squad no less. A minute later Sunderland came close from a corner, then another Sunderland corner saw Raya make a double save, of course he did he’s brilliant.
Into added time but not before Merino came on for Odegaard. Shortly after, Gabriel picked up a yellow card and the pundits were talking about Brobbey time, yawn. Kai Havertz went into the book as Mr Brooks got himself caught up in all the emotion.
Brobbey attacked a cross as the clock ran down but he’d had his one moment of fame last season and a poor finish saw us into the last minute of added-added time. Then Bakayo dribbled into the box, he’s fouled by the hapless Reinildo and it’s a penalty. Reinildo received a well earned 2nd yellow and red and that’s the game.
Bakayo stepped up, scored and the referee blew his whistle for the last time in the match.
3 points and another clean sheet on a day when Liverpool and Chelsea drew. Lovely jubbly.
The only black mark was the injury to White, hopefully he’ll be back after the Interlull.
A champions performance at a ground not many clubs will win at, next the League Cup.
We March On
By Kev
Thanks Kev,
Great write up,Great 3 points,as you say a lot of teams will drop points at Sunderland.
I thought a few of our forward players were a bit off,which makes the win an even better achievement.
Expect another tough test against Brighton,they can be great to watch and everyone seems to try harder against Arsenal.
These are the golden years,so we should enjoy them.
Someone said earlier put Mustafi in the Chelsea team,he becomes their best defender,which made me chuckle.
A draw, a few little injuries as well as a couple of red cards would be ideal Kev.. lol
I hope so too re the Ipswich game, it’s just not worth taking a risk imo.
I think your guess will be spot on Rico, although the United crowd will create an abrasive atmosphere that’ll pressurise the officials, I’d be perfectly happy with a draw.
The Ipswich game will be tough, I’ve seen some parts of their matches on TV and they’re quite a technical side. I’m not bothered about the League Cup this season, it took a lot out of us last season and I want us fresh in March, April and May as PSG will be assisted by the French FA and Ligue Un.
I hope that Arteta rests a few of our starters and starts our finishers at Portman Road, maybe an opportunity to see Dowman and Salmon, possibly Harriman-Annous and Scanlon, certainly a few youngsters off of the bench? I guess it all depends on how serious Arteta sees the League Cup, he’s never won it since he was a manager and Arsenal haven’t won it since 1993!
Same old from VAR Kev, I wonder who they will favour for this afternoons game. I think I can guess..
Afternoon Gunners, afternoon Rico and thanks, I wasn’t sure about the pen but when I saw some analysis of it it’s clearly a tug by Ballard, I don’t blame the referee given his position but Attwell in the VAR has previous with us and will always give the doubt to the opposition, he’s a terrible official.
Yeah Havertz and Saka have both had two pretty forgettable performances from a finishing perspective, I mean Saka just about scored his penalty, but they’ll sit out Ipswich, or they should do and hopefully be ready for Brighton next weekend. Both of them worked tirelessly otherwise and it was great to see Timber back. Funny how Attwell had no problem seeing Timber’s toenail off side but missed Ballards forearm smash?
Potter thanks, I have my very own abbreviated script, it’s called scribble, otherwise I’m very quick with my quill. Fortunately we won’t have to face another team as physical as Sunderland until we have to visit Newcastle and lucky Liverpool.
I thought it was a penalty when Konsa had his arms around Ballard but having read the new laws and seen multiple replays which Var would have had, Ballard started the incident so should have been the one penalised. Still, it fired us into action and perhaps won the game because of it.
Brooks is a card happy referee as proved again last night. If he handed them out to the right players, he might actually be a decent referee.
Good summation Kev , how do you take notes and still watch the match ? dictaphone or old fashioned shorthand ?
The comments I made yesterday still hold water , there are referees that buckle under crowd pressure and Brooks is one and as we well know Attwell throughout his career has always sided against us .
As expected Sunderland adopted the tactics straight out of the Allardyce , Pulis playbook, long throws which apparently do not warrant the same scrutiny as a standard throw , late tackles , little foot in incidents , pushing and pulling and mysterious off the ball collisions.
Arsenal did well not to react and ride the storm on the pitch however off of it Arteta could not contain his frustration and he became the pantomime villain and will grab the headlines where it suits.
Football wide we are frustrating , we are not clinical in the area and too many times Saka goes for glory when another player is in a better position and directly opposite Havertz passes when a shot is the obvious strikers route.
Still in Cicero’s words 3 points , clean sheet , lets go home .
Morning Kev, all.
Good post. That was a tough and quite physical battle which to be fair, was expected before the match. Hope Sunderland can keep that up against all teams rather than just us.
Raya was brilliant, Bruno’s strike was amazing. The rest was a bit of a scrap with our front three having a bit of an off day.