4 minutes of extra time are up and Arsenal have won it comfortably in the end. Arsenal were overwhelmingly in control but Sunderland had come close a couple of times. Arsenal are now just 2 points behind 2nd placed Manchester United. It was Akshay Mirchandani bringing you live coverage on behalf of Goal.com . See you next time !!

GOAL !! GOAL !! GOAL !! Fabregas converts the penalty and Arsenal have now surely won the game .

Penalty Goal Cesc Fàbregas

Yellow Card Anton Ferdinand

Fabregas drives in the penalty box and is brought down by Campbell. PENALTY TO ARSENAL !

Eboue is replaced by Denilson as the referee indicates 4 minutes of added time.

Substitution Emmanuel Eboue Denilson

Bent is adjudged to be fouled by Vermaelen and Sunderland have a great chance.Free kick is taken by Zenden but the wall did its job and Arsenal hang on.

Arsenal pass it around and eventually it finds its way to Ramsey who hits his shot wide.

Substitution George McCartney Phil Bardsley

George McCartney is replaced by Bardsley

Eboue on the surge as he is put through a wonderful through ball by Rosicky .

Arsenal are just playing around with the ball mainly to kill the time and to frustrate the opponents further.

As funny as it sounds, the assistant referee is injured by one of the Sunderland players, frustration ? maybe !

Substitution Kenwyne Jones Benjani

Substitution Theo Walcott Bacary Sagna

Sagna comes on for the impresive Theo and Benjani comes on for Jones.

Substitution Kieran Richardson Boudewijn Zenden

Sunderland win a freekick around 40 yards from the goal. It is taken by Zenden but is easily cleared by Eboue.

Richardson is off and is replaced by Zenden as Steve looks to add experience to his eleven.

Payback time from Cesc as he fouls Mensah.Free kick to Sunderland.

Substitution Samir Nasri Tomas Rosicky

Rosicky comes on for Nasri as Arsene looks to find a second goal.

Yellow Card John Mensah

Fabregas is fouled by Mensah who is booked by the referee and rightly so.

Bendtner pops up on the left hand side who finds Cesc as he passes one defender and hits a shot but its blocked.

OHHHH !!! Three back to back chances to Arsenal and two of them were for Nasri who came very very close to scoring.

Eboue and Bendtner play a wonderful one touch game as Eboue again runs into the box and cuts it back to Ramsey who's shot is well blocked.

OHH !! Bent's in , he shrugs off Silvestre but misses a simple one on one .Great job by Almunia again.

Vermealen takes the free kick and he hits it powerfully but its straight at Gordon and he parries it away to safety.

Vermaelen plays in a through ball towards Walcott who is fouled. Free kick to Arsenal.

Ramsey finds Theo on the right hand side and he plays it infield to Fabregas who turns the defender and crosses it towards Bendtner but its just a little behind him which is why the attack breaks down.

Yellow Card Kieran Richardson

Bent is found on the left hand side .He cuts in and crosses well towards Jones who looks to head it towards Richardson who is on the run but Almunia is alive and stops it from reaching Richardson.

Sunderland wins a free kick near the penalty area . It is Richardson who takes it but Almunia punches it straight towards Theo who is on the run again.

OHH !!Theo decides to go on his own this time as he cuts in from the right hand side and hits a low left footed shot but Gordon parries it away for a corner.

Yellow Card Cesc Fàbregas

Ramsey is found by Vermaelen who is on the burst forward but Ramsey doesn't find him and instead passes it to Theo who messes it up.

The extra time is up. Arsenal deservedly lead 1-0 at the break but would need to score another goal because Sunderland showed signs of scoring late in the half.

Ramsey releases a long ball towards Bendtner but Hutton is there to clear it and Arsenal win a throw in. Bendtner is fouled and Fabregas looks to take the free kick quickly and finds Silvestre who just heads it wide.

Arsenal straight on the attack with Nasri wins who wins a corner for Arsenal.

Welcome back for the second half .Arsenal kick us off. Will Arsenal continue to dominate or will Sunderland fight back ? We shall wait and see.

Silvestre finds Theo with a long cross field ball and Walcott's cross is better this time but Gordon parries it away before it reaches Bendtner.

Yellow Card Michael Turner

Eboue on the attack again as he merry dances between two midfielders and finds Theo whose delivery is poor again.

Sunderland attack again as the long ball is played towards Bent but Almunia reaches first and tries to clear it but his clearance is poor and it hits Silvestre.Corner to Sunderland.

Sunderland gain confidence from the attack and they try to venture forward again but Richardson passes too hard and Campbell can't reach it.

OHHHH !!!! Ramsey tries to glide pass Richardson but he wins the ball and plays a peach of a through ball and finds Jones onside who misses a simple one on one.

Arsenal's strategy seems to be attacking Sunderland alternatively from the right and the left hand side as Nasri attacks Sunderland again but this time is seen off by the defender.

Yellow Card Lorik Cana

Eboue is heavily fouled by Cana as he steams through the midfield but the waves play on as the ball is with Theo who crosses the ball but fails to find anyone.

Sunderland are completely on the back foot and cant get a touch of the ball.

Arsenal are going for another goal as Bendtner tries to release Nasri but fails to find him and the attack ends but Arsenal are looking very good.

Goal Nicklas Bendtner

Goal !!!! Goal !!!! Arsenal take the lead. Eboue playing like a right winger as he dances through the Sunderland defence and hits a shot cum cross and the ball reaches Bendtner at the far post who is present to tap it in.

Eboue wins a free kick just near the corner flag. Fabregas takes the free kick and is much better this time as Vermaelen nearly scores.

The freekick is taken by Fabregas but is easily cleared by Jones.

Arsenal wins a freekick as Nasri is brought down near the area by Hutton.

Sunderland look dangerous for the first time as Campbell is released and Almunia stops him from scoring.

Arsenal go forward from the left hand side ,Fabregas passes the ball infield to Nasri who passes to Bendtner who its the shot straight at Gordon and it deflects onto the crossbar.

Eboue releases Walcott on the right hand side and he shrugs of the defender and races through but hit the shot straight at the keeper and the chance is gone.

Arsenal win their first corner.Its Fabregas who takes it quickly and passes it to Nasri who hits a shot which is deflected just wide of the post.

Arsenal attack again from the rigt hand side as Nasri races pass through Hutton and crosses towards Bendtner who just misses is header wide.

Sunderland on the back foot yet again as Arsenal set the pace again with a quick move involving Fabregas ,Clicy and Nasri.

Arsenal on the upper hand as Fabregas tries to release Theo again with a long ball.

Fabregas releases Walcott with a long ball and Theo's pace see's him get past the defender and he drives in a low shot just wide.

Ramsey pickes up the ball from the middle of the park and drives through with the ball to signal his and Arsenal's intentions tonight.

Sunderland kick us off.

Sunderland Starting XI Gordon, Hutton, Mensah, Turner, McCartney, Campbell, Cana, Ferdinand, Richardson, Bent, Jones Subs: Carson, Bardsley, Zenden, Malbranque, Da Silva, Kilgallon, Mwaruwari

Arsenal starting XI Almunia, Eboue, Silvestre, Vermaelen, Clichy, Song, Walcott, Fabregas, Ramsey, Nasri, Bendtner Subs: Fabianski, Sagna, Rosicky, Vela, Denilson, Traore, Campbell

Arsenal Team News: Arsene Wenger is without a number of players, including long-term injury victim Robin van Persie (ankle). Eduardo and Andrey Arshavin are both out with hamstring injuries, while Abou Diaby, Johan Djourou (both knee), William Gallas (calf), Kieren Gibbs (foot) and Fran Merida (ankle) will also miss out. Wenger will hand late fitness tests to goalkeeper Manuel Alumunia and midfielder Alex Song. He has also stated he will leave it late before deciding on whether to include Sol Campbell.

Hello and Welcome to Goal.com's Live Commentary of the match between Arsenal and Sunderland. Arsenal would be looking to bounce back after the defeat against Porto in Mid-Week with a win against Sunderland. Arsenal begin the match in 3rd position 6 points behind League Leaders Chelsea. But after Manchester United dropped 3 points against Everton earlier in the evening, Arsenal can cut the gap more. Sunderland on the other hand begin the match in 13th position just 3 points ahead of 17th place side Burnley. Sunderland have not won away from home since the opening day victory. These two teams met on the 19th of November 2009 at the stadium of light where Sunderland won 1-0.