Arsenal: Cech, Bellerin, Mustafi, Koscielny, Gibbs, Coquelin, Elneny, Ozil, Iwobi, Oxlade-Chamberlain, Alexis
Subs: Ospina, Gabriel, Holding, Jenkinson, Maitland-Niles, Ramsey, Giroud
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Three second half goals in just 7 minutes saw Arsenal turn around a game which looked like it might go against them, running out 4-1 winners over Sunderland at the Stadium of Light today.
Arsene Wenger made some changes from the team that drew 0-0 with Boro, with Kieran Gibbs and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain replacing Nacho Monreal and Theo Walcott who didn’t make the trip. Aaron Ramsey returned to the squad for the first time since the opening day of the season.
The game began tentatively from both sides point of view, Arsenal had a couple of corners while Sunderland put in some crosses which we defended well.
Mesut Ozil had the first real sight of goal in the 13th minute, set up by Sanchez, but he couldn’t quite make the most of the opportunity, curling a shot which was easy for the keeper. Moments later Francis Coquelin almost saw himself through on goal but got tackled on the edge of the box.
The pressure was mounting and in the 19th minute the Gunners went ahead. The move began with a nice ball from Coquelin to Bellerin. He kept it alive, played it to Oxlade-Chamberlain who pushed the ball past the defender and whipped in a lovely cross. Alexis got in front of the defender and thumped a header into the top corner. 0-1.
There was almost an instant response from the home side after Coquelin conceded a free kick just outside the box. Patrick van Aanholt’s free kick fizzed just wide of Cech’s left-hand post. They did have the ball in the net a few minutes later but it was rightly ruled out for offside.
Brilliant defensive work from Alexis helped create a chance for Iwobi in the 26th minute, but his shot curled just over the bar. The Chilean had a chance for his second of the game with a free kick from just outside the box, but fired over, before Oxlade-Chamberlain had a pop after robbing the defender but his shot had no real power.
There was another chance for Ozil to add to his recent goal tally in the 38th minute. Oxlade-Chamberlain played him through, keeper came out and the chance was there to lob him, but he under-hit it allowing Pickford to get a hand to the ball.
The German set up Iwobi for another chance but again the 20 year old fired over the bar, just before the half-time break.
There were no changes at half-time for either side, but Djilobodji followed Khazri, Ndong and Peinaar into the book with a foul on Alexis. Much like the first period the game was distinctly lacking in tempo, matched by the potential opportunity when Coquelin blasted a shot miles over the bar.
Ozil returned the favour to Oxlade-Chamberlain, setting the England man through on goal but he rather rushed his shot, pulling it wide when he might have taken it on and caused Sunderland more problems.
Arsea were denied an obvious penalty in the 62nd minute when Kone hauled Alexis down inside the box, but not for the first time Martin Atkinson’s decision went against us. And it was made even more frustrating when moments later Sunderland were given a spot-kick at the other end.
Duncan Watmore found himself through on goal, he was fouled by Cech who got a yellow card for his trouble. Jermaine Defoe stepped up and made no mistake. 1-1.
It prompted Arsene Wenger into his first substitution, putting on Olivier Giroud for Alex Iwobi. It was an inspired change, as just three minutes after coming on he put us ahead. Arsenal worked the ball down the left, Gibbs crossed and Giroud volleyed the ball into the bottom corner with his first touch of the game. 1-2.
It got even better for the Frenchman. After an Ozil free kick was deflected out for a corner, the German took the set piece, hit to the near post, and Giroud’s glancing header had the trajectory to loop over the keeper. 1-3.
The goal spree wasn’t over yet when the lead was further extended in the 78th minute. The ball fell for Gibbs in the box, he cracked a shot off the post, it rebounded to Ramsey – on for Oxlade-Chamberlain – who passed to Alexis. The Chilean turned the keeper and a defender and poked home from close range. 1-4.
It was a fantastic response to the injustice of the Sunderland equaliser, and many Sunderland fans had had enough and left. The rest of the game was pretty flat, allowing Ainsley Maitland-Niles a brief run out in place of Coquelin.
In the end the win put Arsenal top of the table, perhaps on temporarily, but it’s still a nice place to be.
Great win today, shows that our plan B with Giroud works beautifully.
Mustafi needs to cut down on his Vermaelen-esque commitment and try to control the game more, as his error resulted in Cech conceding the penalty. Today the mistake may not be costly, but it might one day, against better opponents.
Feeling quite positive with Gibbs and Chambo in the line up, also happy to see Ramsey getting a run out.
Alas, all hail Ozil for registering his first PL assist of the season!
Now, let’s stay at the top from now on!
Lets just enjoy that we scored 4 goals. Besides that one blunder from Mustafi, defence was superb today.
First touch: a goal, second touch: another goal. Superb Giroud!
Very very impressed with both Iwobi and Ox’s defensive work today. Arsene’s obviously had a word and they’ve both obviously listened.
This is what red hot competition for your place does.
Aside: Is Gibbs not the most classiest 2nd choice left back in top flight history? Never once complained and slotted in like a glove.
Salute.
I was watching ox as we lost ball for their goal. wasn’t impressed with that effort or interest at all. It sounds petty but those things count(losing possession then casually doing nothing). I hate seeing players get into a comfort zone where they feel they can ease off.
False 9s dont help Ozils assist tally. Im sure hes going to be racking them up with Giroud getting more minutes.
Almost one-third (13 out of 41) of Ozil’s assists for Arsenal entering this season had been for Giroud.
We’re top of the table with a better goal difference!
Agreed. Thank fuck for Giroud’s goals. I was fuming at the ref (again) with the penalty decisions before that. Good win in preparation for the next few games, starting with Sp*rs.
Plan B to the rescue
I want to like this, but it has 49 likes (undefeated by dislikes) so I don’t want to ruin it.
It definitely looks like Ozil NEEDS Giroud on the pitch to make assists. No one in this Arsenal team reaches for the ball with his head like Giroud, and no one is better at finding Giroud’s head than Mesut! Am loving this fluid and unpredictable play up front, LONG MAY IT LAST!!
On the other hand, without an obvious target for assists, Ozil has been scoring more than ever before.
So swings and roundabouts
Giroud… Such a supersub… Saved us out there today. Two goals two touches .
Our squad depth is truly incredible. It just takes our game to a whole new level.
Giroud sending a message to Wenger, I fucking love it. The competition for places in this side is fierce!
Some people were asking ‘Who needs Giroud?’ ..the answer is ‘We’!! Always..always!
We doooo! We doooo!
Na, na na, na na na na, na na na na, weeee doooooo.
…Girouuuuuuuud!! 🙂
Stonecutters?
They did make Steve Guttenberg a star, after all.
Very impressive, no thanks to Martin Atkinson, the twat.
Thought Gibbs was phenomenal and should keep his place for the next little while – that’s what competition is all about, right?
Can’t wait to fuck up Sp*rs next week. COYG!
I love that fact that we dont censor fuck but we do censor Sp*rs
It really is a dirty word.
Yeah, like T***y and M*****o.
If we were talking there would be a beep
I was expecting a tense game when Arseblog’s dog farted on 8mins – but fair play, lads!
So good to have him back. Na Na Na Na na!
Didn’t know Arseblog’s dog was out?? 🙂
Shit is gettin’ realier!!
If there was a penalty at 90th, who would you prefer take the penalty – Giroud or Sanchez? Green for Giroud, red for Sanchez!
Uh, Santi
Really couldn’t decide which I’d be happier taking. Thought Sanchez’s footwork and all round game was incredible, and Giroud was just magical. Both, please!, I concluded
Why not let one of the kids take it at 90 mins? Maitland – Niles for me… it’d be a hell of a confidence booster for some of the younger lads.
…and if he misses?
Always felt like we had this game, even when they scored the penalty. A strange feeling, for sure.
I love Giroud
Na na na naaaa meeee tooooo
I felt we were a bit complacent in the second half, up to their goal. Then we subbed on Giroud and Ramsey and went into overdrive mode, proving to be too much quality for the last team in the league, with 2 points. Thank Bergkamp we didn’t blow this one.
Praise be to Bergkamp
Praise be, praise be!
Just how good was Gibbs btw. Loving that competition at LB!
Think we will be taking first spot for a while.
*he
Both actually 🙂
Referee was a total asshole
ref a fucking cunt.
Roses are red and violets are blue
Barca have Suarez and Messi but fuck it cause we’ve got Olivier Giroud.
Alexis Sanchez is half firefighter half painter , what a player!
Alexis is half firefighter, half painter…what a description!
in the U.S. broadcast, the announcer once said that sanchez “does everything at twice the speed of everyone else.” i thought that was a pretty apt observation…
Gibbs was bloody brilliant, I’m so glad we kept him. Debuchy – this is how it’s done. Work hard and perform when called upon.
As for OG – even in your ridiculous beard you are a beautiful, beautiful man.
Handsome French Beard!
I’m totally fine with the beard, he’s simply too disgustingly handsome without it.
We need a song for Plan B.
Hopefully not an Alex song.
Honestly, could someone explain the difference between Peinaars foul on Sanchez and the one Xhaka got sent off for? One was a straight red and the other deemed absolutely nothing. We don’t ask for preferential treatment, just consistency in refereeing.
Scientists are still trying to figure it out.
Come on, guys. The ref deemed Alexis had played for the contact and a foul, which was correct. That’s a big difference in determining whether Piemaar or Xhaka was guilty of serious foul play or even a yellow.
I think Atkinson was reading headlines like “Pienaar sees red” or another suitable penis joke, so he let it go.
Yes, it’s easy. One was committed by an Arsenal player, and one wasn’t. It’s the first thing they teach them at Ref School.
Giroud saved the day but Alexis was outstanding.
The King is back !! Long live the King !!
I think we conceded that penalty just to give Sunderland fans some hope so that the eventual defeat would hurt a bit more than a routine 4-0 loss. Savagery!
Nothing against Sunderland, even though some of them were on the nasty side today, and nothing against their fans in general either but as it happens I know this Sunderland supporter who is the biggest cunt going and I take great joy in knowing his team were well and truly stuffed by mine.
My team is bigger and stronger than your team. Ha!
Giroud super sub, Gibbs super player
Great cross from Chamberlain for Sanchez’s first goal.
Great to see Giroud back and scoring. We really needed him today.
We are top of the league, say we are top of the league!
Great fightback for the win, last week showed how much we need a player like giroud in tough games and he came on today and made an immediate difference.
Also, I usually don’t complain about ref decisions but how the fuck was that not a penalty, Atkinson you stupid prick.Arsenal teams of the past few years probably wouldn’t have came back to win that, shows how much better the team are mentally now.
So which of the players on the pitch at the time would have stepped up to miss the penalty?
You, me and bloody everyone else know it will be Sanchez 😀
It’s my birthday today and right at 12:00 A.M Australian time, Giroud scores the winning goal (2-0) and after that it was all just Birthday presents pouring in for the next 6 minutes or so..
Beautiful it was in the end.
On another note, this is again a strong reason why we should never ever underrate Giroud!
Happy Birthday…
Happy Birthday! Shouldn’t your name read Indian Gooner in Australia?
Blogs I think Chemberlain listening to your podcasts, that cross was top notch.
Sure was!
Top of the table! Long may it last!
Gibbs needs to start games especially against speedy wingers. Great attitude.
Ramsey’s selfishness is maddening. Alexis is on a hattrick and in a good position he should have passed! I would bench Ramsey just for that.
Ozil should have had 2 goals today. Ox should have had 1.
One of these days everything is going to click and some team is going to be embarrassed! coyg!
I’m thinking that Sunderland probably felt embarrassed after shipping three goals in seven minutes.
Gibbs looked great today, offered something a little different going up that left side, where we haven’t been having the most creativity recently.
And thank you Giroud you beautiful man!
The only Olivier is Giroud..
… yes? 😉
Aside from showing excellent depth and quality, we showed brilliant character today. With some diabolical refereeing it looked like “one of those days” which we have seen countless times in the last ten years. Fantastic to see. We need to be that ruthless earlier on, if I’m being critical. It would be better for my health. As for the ref – not only that penalty, Pienaar was booked eventually but got nothing for a super cynical tackle. They should have been down to 10 by half time. Great win – COYG!
That was a brilliant match, and bar the one mistake by Mustafi we were pretty close to perfect for the whole 90 minutes. Sanchez, what a game! When he’s on song there is just no stopping him. Gibbs and the Ox were also stand-outs, and have given Arsene a real selection headache. And how great was it to see Giroud and Ramsey back in action?
Right now we’ve got about twenty in-form players who all deserve to start. Spurms won’t know what hit them.
Patience.. we had Boss shipping own goals and red cards when he started playing for us back then.. I wouldnt trade him for any CB now if I have chance. Mustafi is fine as he is familiarizing himself more.
He Blogs, surely Giroud first two touches and consequent two goals is a PL first?
Apparently someone did it in 1998, according to the announcers.
Four one to the Arsenal
Sunderland echo reports on the game:
“Referee: Martin Atkinson: Every time an Arsenal player went down and rolled around, he’d give a yellow card. Yawn. [rating] 5”
LOL
At 1-1 I would have traded my Gran to the devil for what happened next! 🙂
Bit harsh tbh 🙂
She is dead….
Which makes it even more harsh.
Elneny was everywhere and Coq put himself on the line today! Well played boys!
Super sub saturday!:-)
Sanchez was a beast and Girioud is a great plan B and we missed him in the Middlesborough game!
Sunderland were shit and we should have buried them by the end of the first half. Too much dithering and wasted moments. Then they came out and played a bit of football in the beginning of the second and we actually looked like we were on the back foot. For what reason is hard to say but it was frustrating to watch. The penalty changed all that. Giroud came out and we took them apart in the space of ten minutes. Thank fuck! Good performance by Gibbs today. While Walcott and Ox have been justly rehabilitated I think Gibbs deserves… Read more »
I only saw the first half of the game ;(
Good result in the end, I’m glad we have that strength in depth. Just wish Elnenly would pass forward a bit more! The majority of his passes were either backwards or sideways today which I felt limited attacking opportunities – just shows how important Cazorla is to us.
I thought Elneny was great. So solid in possession, fantastic to have players like him in the squad.
He’s very economic in possession but against teams that defend deep, you got to take some risks when passing. He’s very safe in possession and is a great player to have when closing off games, just not when you’re trying to open up teams as was evident against Middlesborough.
Anyway, I realise I’m being negative when 1-4 was a great result!
Blogs – any chance for a paid/subscription version of the app to remove ads?
Great game btw. Giroud and Alexis in good form just in time!
Something for the future, for sure
Giroud could be very well the hero in a series of footie-based bodice rippers 🙂
Nice to see Ramsey and Giroud back giving Wenger even more options, probably too many in midfield with Xhaka off of his ban. Says so much about the squad this year to have effectively 6 frequent starters out (Monreal, Xhaka, Santi, Walcott, Giroud and Ramsey – and 4 not even in the squad) and to have players of such quality slot in. I think Giroud for the time being will be most effective coming in off of the bench when he can come in fresh against a tired defense and have the impact he did today. Will be really interesting… Read more »
It’s a bit harsh but Iwobi is getting rave reviews and he can’t hit a barn door with his shooting. The good thing about competition for places is that we do have people who can shoot and they should be given a run and maybe Iwobi should go back to the reserves or whatever it is now until he can find a bit of confidence in front of goal. He could be a great player but all that missing isn’t going to do him any good.
Nice departure in the quality of the goals today. The first two from wide positions. The third from a corner. Not the usual Arsenal fare in recent years. Important to have that in the locker.
Very good to have Giroud back
Note how Koscielny once again gets injured while Giroud glances in his second. He truly is the Gunnerblog of our first team.
Elneny – awesome
Alexis – awesome
Giroud – awesome
The rest – really, really good
Atkinson – fucken twat!