The Game

Third defeat away from the Emirates, not good for a team with our ambition. Arsene Wenger’s solution to start with a very offensive midfield and Eduardo up front just didn’t work out. Aaron Ramsey was the most disappointing player with Tomas Rosicky, Samir Nasri and Eduardo also not up to the job.

The reason why Carlos Vela and Theo Walcott – two who brought our attacking force to life – were brought in so late, is beyond me.

The only positive we can take out of this weekend is that we can immediately get back on track if we beat Chelsea next week. The flip-side to that coin is of course that a defeat may as well kill our title hopes.

Match Video Highlights

Match video highlights are available in the Videos section of our website. If not there yet, rest assured they will be up in a matter of hours.

Player Ratings

Almunia: 6 – Was quick off his goal to try and block Bent from scoring. Not much else to do during the game.

Gallas and Vermaelen: 6,5 – Can’t really blame these two for losing, they did very well to control Sunderland’s only striker and were unlucky in the occasion of the goal.

Sagna: 6,5 – Big game for Bacary at the back but very poor with his crosses which seriously, he has to improve.

Traore: 5,5 – You can see he’s not there yet. He did pretty well when surging forward in the first half but also in the first 45 minutes he twice gave ample space to Steed Malbranque, who luckily made a mess of both chances. Not to mention the last-minute tackle which should have been a red card.

Song: 7,5 – Again our best player. At one stage in the second half he was running the midfield all by himself. And no yellow, luckily.

Nasri and Rosicky: 5,5 – An almost identical performance for these two, who started well but faded away and should have been replaced early in the second half.

Fabregas: 6 – Not the best of games for the captain but at least he tried, especially from long range.

Ramsey: 4,5 – Poor Aaron looked completely lost out there, way too many balls given away cheaply and was rightly taken off early in the second half.

Eduardo: 5 – Full of running and determination but not enough.

(Subs)
Arshavin: 6 – Couldn’t expect more from Andrey, still devastated for failing to make it to the World Cup.

Vela and Walcott: 6,5 – These two changed the game up front. They created space with their speed and both of them delivered a very dangerous cross, first Theo from the right and then Carlos from the left. And just like in the AZ Alkmaar game, Carlos should have been given a penalty. More of these two, please.