Another great day out at the Emirates! My friend Scott and I set off to London on Saturday morning ready for Arsenal's FA Cup third round tie with Sunderland.
Regardless of how we are doing in other competitions I always look forward to this one, not because we have won it two years in a row but because I truly love the competition and the magic of the FA Cup. Anything can happen on the day and, although Sunderland are currently struggling in the relegation zone of the Premier League, form doesn't count for much as you never know what is about to unfold. This adds to the whole excitement of it and, whilst the league is a priority, I was desperate to see us have another great run in the FA Cup.
On route to the game we happened to meet two other Arsenal fans from Lincoln and the car journey also saw possibly the most I have ever heard one track played in one trip. We continually blasted out a Thierry Henry song, as well as Good Old Arsenal, and the closer we got to kick-off the more the excitement was building. This is also a good point to mention the absolutely great service by the Arsenal stewards at the game. I had been bought tickets as a gift and the seats were in the upper tier. I am not too good with heights and the club's stewards as they had done for me in the past once again found me seats lower down as they wanted me to be able to feel more comfortable in my surroundings while watching the game. Thank you Arsenal!
As for the game itself, after a nervy start and going a goal down we got stronger in the second half and eventually came out with a 3-1 win and a place in round four. Although the performance wasn't quite as strong as many would've liked we did what mattered and got the job done. Some of the players didn't seem to be bursting forward with as much energy and pace as normal but, with tough trips to Liverpool and Stoke, along with the visit of Chelsea, coming up this month I am pleased we appear to have saved some in the tank for the next matches. Obviously it was disappointing not to see the likes of Mesut Ozil live on this occasion but him being rested was totally understandable, although his absence was very apparent whenever we had a set-piece. The game highlighted the need to find extra back-up to cover the injured Francis Coquelin as Calum Chambers didn't do too much to impress. Hopefully the impending arrival of Mohamed Elneny can provide just that.
Jeremain Lens shot wide as Sunderland fired an early warning shot at Arsenal but it wasn't long before the home attack created their first chance. Olivier Giroud set up Kieran Gibbs and the defender's effort was well saved by Sunderland's young goalkeeper Jordan Pickford, who had a great game and looks a decent prospect.
Poor defending allowed Sunderland to open the scoring after 17 minutes. Lens dispossessed Arsenal's captain for the day Laurent Koscielny before firing a shot beyond Petr Cech. It was a frustrating mistake by Koscielny but I think, other than that one moment, the Frenchman had an otherwise solid game. At 1-0 down I did genuinely wonder whether it might actually not be our day as up until that point we hadn't really done much to impress.
Arsenal responded positively as youngster Alex Iwobi, who was making his home debut, beat three players before being denied by Pickford and it wasn't too long before the Gunners found an equaliser after 25 minutes. Iwobi was again involved in the move before Theo Walcott's precise cross was met by a fine first-time strike from Joel Campbell, who was also on target when the two sides met in the league last month.
This seemed to perk the Gunners up and only a decent save from Pickford prevented Walcott from putting the hosts in front. Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain also tried his luck but sent his shot harmlessly wide as the score stayed locked at 1-1 going in at the break.
Arsenal improved in the second half and Campbell saw an effort cleared before it could cross the line following good work from Iwobi, who was himself denied by Pickford soon after.
The Gunners continued to press forward and Oxlade-Chamberlain's curling strike hit a post before Walcott's rebound flashed across the face of goal.
Those misses very nearly proved costly as Sunderland provided a real heart in mouth moment for the home supporters. DeAndre Yedlin crossed for Steven Fletcher and the Scottish striker's header hit the crossbar. The ball fell to Duncan Watmore and, fortunately for the Gunners' faithful, he was unable to keep the rebound down. At the other end, Pickford continued to frustrate Arsenal as he denied Iwobi before producing an excellent save to keep out Campbell.
The introduction of Aaron Ramsey after 66 minutes inspired Arsenal to victory and it was the Welsh midfielder who was next to get his name on the scoresheet, just six minutes after coming on. Hector Bellerin played a neat one-two with Campbell before the Spanish full-back cut the ball back for Ramsey to score from close range.
Arsenal wrapped up the victory three minutes later when Oxlade-Chamberlain's long ball sent Bellerin clear. The defender made another speedy run down the right-hand side before sending an expertly-weighted pass into the box for Giroud to tap in.
The home side were convinced they should've had a penalty for a foul on Giroud and, instead of just getting on with things and accepting the referee's decision, Arsenal continued to protest. Arsenal's dithering allowed Sunderland to launch an attack. Luckily for Arsenal Cech was on hand to deny Danny Graham.
Arsenal nearly added a fourth goal when Giroud got on the end of Gibb's cross but the Frenchman's header was superbly tipped over the bar by the impressive Pickford.
Pickford was called into action again in stoppage time and the young shot-stopper reacted quickly to block an effort from substitute Jeff Reine-Adelaide.
Sunderland wasted the chance to reduce the deficit deep into injury time as Patrick van Aanholt's deflected free-kick was comfortably saved by Cech.
OPPOSITION VIEW
Sunderland fan Shaun Clewes was impressed with his side's performance in the opening 45 minutes but not so much with their second half showing.
"After seeing some of our better performing players left on the bench I was expecting a possible Arsenal rout and for us to sit back for 90 minutes," said Clewes. "So I was very surprised by the start we made and that we had not come here to put 10 men behind the ball.
"The second half was a totally different story with our chances few and far between and eventually conceding the second and third goal.
"In all, positives from the first half but the second highlights our season so far."
MY FINAL THOUGHTS
After going 1-0 down we could very well have ended up on the wrong end of a cup shock on another day, but we improved in the second half and ultimately deserved the win.
The victory was made all the sweeter by the fact I was at the game and my friend Scott and I have now seen three wins from the three games we have attended together.
Arsene Wenger's men booked their place in round four in a year they will be hoping to lift the FA Cup for the third year in a row. Whilst this would be a great achievement, we mustn't get over confident and need to take each game one at a time.
For now though we must turn our attention back to the league. We are top of the table but the next three games are incredibly tough and could go a long way to deciding our fate this season. With Liverpool, Stoke and Chelsea next on the horizon we need to not crumble and make sure we prove we have the credentials to win the title this season. Whether we do this or not is another story but I'll be giving the lads my full backing as always.
COME ON YOU GUNNERS
No comments:
Post a Comment