Arsenal’s season was left in tatters after they were knocked out of the FA Cup at the Stadium of Light, losing 2-0 to Sunderland. The 5th round tie came just a week after the two met in the Premier League, when Thierry Henry scored a dramatic late winner for the Gunners. There were no heroics this time for Arsene Wenger’s men though as Sunderland deservedly sealed a place in the quarter-finals. The first half was a scrappy affair as both sides struggled to get into a passing rhythm, with Sunderland doing a great job in frustrating Arsenal.
But with the half drawing to a close, Kieran Richardson provided the breakthrough on 41 minutes as he scored the opener with a typical left-footed strike. The Black Cats continued to hold the bigger threat as they wrapped the victory thanks to an own goal from the unfortunate Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, who had the final touch after Seb Larsson’s shot struck the right-hand post.
Martin O’Neill started with only Stephane Sessegnon up front as he went with a five-man midfield. Lee Cattermole returned from injury to takes his place alongside Jack Colback and Craig Gardner while Seb Larsson and the irrepressible James McClean started on the wings. At the back, John O’Shea and Michael Turner started in the centre while the former Man United pair of Phil Bardsley and Kieran Richardson were the full-backs.
Arsene Wenger welcomed back Gervinho to the line-up as the attacker returned from his exploits at the African Cup of Nations to take up his usual place on the left-wing. The other change saw Johan Djourou move into central defence in the absence of Per Mertesacker and Laurent Koscielny and the Swiss International slotted next to Thomas Vermaelen. Bacary Sagna and Francis Coquelin were the starting full-backs while Lukasz Fabianski came in for Wojciech Szczesny in goal. It was the same combination in central midfield as Alex Song, Mikel Arteta and Aaron Ramsey all started, with Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain being preferred to Theo Walcott on the right while up front, Robin van Persie led the line once again.
Defensive injuries continued to plague the Gunners as they lost Coquelin within the opening 10 minutes as Wenger was forced to bring on Sebastien Squillaci. Sunderland were playing their usual pressing game as they showed great energy across the pitch. The game was short on chances though as neither side created a clear-cut goal scoring opportunity in the opening exchanges.
McClean was the danger man for Sunderland as he almost broke open Arsenal’s defence with a cross from the wings, but Fabianski was wise to the danger and got ahead of the lurking Sessegnon. The first real chance of the half fell to Gervinho around the half hour mark as he tested Simon Mignolet with a stinging shot after running onto Van Persie’s pass. Arsenal also had a shout for a penalty when O’Shea nipped in front of Van Persie, but replays suggested that the former Man United defender indeed got the ball before the man.
But Arsenal still looked laboured in their build-up as Cattermole and Colback stifled their usual passing rhythm. It was a scrappy game as Sunderland failed to make much with their possession either, until the final minutes of the half. A series of defensive errors from the visitors saw Vermaelen’s poor back pass allow Gardner to sneak-in and Song then pulled down the midfielder to give away a free-kick on the right-wing.
Larsson’s delivery was dangerous as Vermaelen was forced to head the ball away, but only as far as Richardson on the left. And, the left-back took a touch before smashing it past the crowd of players, with Squillaci getting a slight touch as the ball flew into the back of the net.
Sunderland almost added to their lead before half-time as Larsson once again provided a great ball from the right and as Colback headed it back into play at the far post, Fabianski did just enough to put-off McClean, whose shot hit the side netting.
Despite going into the break a goal down, the Gunners weren’t fired up after the restart as Sunderland once again did all the running. Wenger brought on Theo Walcott and Tomas Rosicky for Squillaci and Ramsey respectively as Arsenal’s back four was re-shuffled for the 3rd time. Those attacking changes did not result in an increase in attacking intent as Arsenal’s only chance was Vermaelen’s header straight at Mignolet.
With 12 minutes remaining, Sessegnon picked up the ball inside his own half before leaving Arteta for dead as he burst through the centre. He chose to feed Larsson on the right, whose effort struck the post before rolling in off Oxlade-Chamberlain. It was a huge blow for the Gunners as their challenge all but evaporated. Van Persie came close in the closing stages as a deflated Arsenal tried to gather a little pride. But Sunderland weren’t in a mood to let-up as they sealed the victory that takes them into the quarter-finals.
Arsenal’s season is slipping away as they have once again suffered an all too familiar collapse. The loss to Milan in mid-week was a dagger to the heart of Wenger’s philosophy as Arsenal were horribly exposed by a Milan side that most consider average at best. The Stadium of Light was always going to be a tough place to bounce back from such a damning result and it proved to be so as Martin O’Neill’s side hustled the Gunners with their incredible energy.
O’Neill has transformed the Black Cats into a formidable outfit and they thoroughly deserved the victory after a great team-performance. The final is essentially three games away and the Sunderland fans can truly believe that their side is capable of making a dream run to Wembley. As for Arsenal, they are likely to retreat into a shell to re-group after yet another bullet to what is likely to be a 7th season without a trophy.
Teams:
Sunderland: Mignolet, Bardsley, O’Shea, Turner, Richardson, Larsson, Cattermole, Gardner, Colback, McClean, Sessegnon (Campbell 88′).
Arsenal: Fabianski, Sagna, Djourou, Vermaelen, Coquelin (Squillaci 10′) (Rosicky 53′), Song, Arteta, Gervinho, Ramsey (Walcott 53′), Oxlade-Chamberlain, van Persie.
Final Score: Sunderland 2–0 Arsenal (Richardson 41′, Oxlade-Chamberlain (OG) 78′ )
(TheSportsCampus)
