Arsenal moved up to second in the Premier League table after 3-1 win over relegation-threatened Sunderland.
Olivier Giroud made the headlines after scoring at both ends. The Frenchman netted an own goal just before half time to cancel out Joel Campbell’s openener.
But he nodded in at the right moment in the second half as the Gunners ran out 3-1 winners over the Black Cats. Aaron Ramsey added an injury time third.
It was a far from assured performance from Arsene Wenger’s injury-ravaged side but they will take it.
Sunderland can attack
With better finishing, Sunderland might have been three ahead before Arsenal woke up. Despite starting with five men at the back, the visitors were sharp and progressive on the break and they quickly conjured up a number of chances.
First Fabio Borini, played in by the excellent Duncan Watmore, fired into Petr Cech’s chest when he really should have scored.
Then Watmore himself headed over after Steven Fletcher had steered the ball off his forehead carefully into his path. On the half-hour, a driving run by Younes Kaboul down the wing, pushing Hector Bellerin aside as he ran, concluded in an inviting cross. Fletcher, however, directed the chance wide. But it was Olivier Giroud who finally put Sunderland on the scoresheet, with a deft finish past Cech following a free kick. That was an irony that will not be lost on Sam Allardyce.
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