Sunderland 0-1 Arsenal

Walcott on target again for Arsenal.

Both teams were looking to dominate possession early on. The game was being played like an end of season fixture and although Sunderland were matching Arsenal, the Gunners always looked like they could penetrate.

That’s what happened after 23 minutes. One of the few veterans on the Arsenal side, Gilberto played a great ball through the middle of Collins and Evans that found Walcott racing through and, with just Fulop to beat, he placed his low finish into the bottom left of the goal.

Sunderland didn’t roll over, in fact they continued to compete well with Arsenal and might have gone level when Leadbitter had a headed chance before the break.

After the break Sunderland had chances to equalise. O’Donovan with the best of the chances for the home side.

Arsenal went close through youngster Mark Randall, while O’Donovan again forced an injury-time save from Lukasz Fabianski.