Arsenal FC

3.04

• 
  163

  11

  3.50

  Wojciech Szczesny

  Sharp saves from McClean and Colback within the first 10 minutes helped to steady any Arsenal nerves. Had barely anything to do after that.

• 
  118

  33

  3.00

  Per Mertesacker

  Questionable positioning allowed McClean to breach the Gunners defence early on but the giant centre-half quickly settled into the game afterwards.

• 
  166

  11

  3.50

  Thomas Vermaelen

  An assured first start as Gunners captain though Sunderland’s willingness to soak up pressure meant he was caused few headaches defensively.

• 
  81

  74

  3.00

  Carl Jenkinson

  Afforded a chance at right-back, with Sagna out for another month or so. Untroubled defensively but should have used that opportunity to gun further forward to allow Walcott to come in off the wing.

• 
  127

  26

  3.00

  Kieran Gibbs

  Advanced forward when possible but could have done more to aid Gervinho down the left flank, especially given Campbell’s brief to contain trouble in that area of the pitch.

• 
  111

  53

  3.00

  A. Diaby

  Showed glimpses of why he could be a more than adequate replacement for the departing Alex Song with some powerful bursts back and forth, with one ending in a fine save from Mignolet.

• 
  141

  18

  3.00

  Mikel Arteta

  Ticked over in the middle of the park without ever really exerting himself in the first half. Controlled rhythm through the game, without gunning forward to aid an attack that was sometimes short of ideas.

• 
  372

  15

  4.00

  Santi Cazorla Top of the Match

  Despite travelling back from a Spanish international game in Puerto Rico midweek, was the spark of the first half. A couple of efforts on goal proved Arsenal’s most productive output, with the midfielder constantly getting himself into probing positions. Much the same after the break though was unable to drag team-mates up to his own standard.

• 
  75

  70

  3.00

  Theo Walcott

  Much of what we have come to expect from the winger on what was his 150th Premier League appearance. Bursts down the right flank constantly kept Sunderland on their back foot, though an end product – without usual recipient Van Persie – proved unfruitful.

• 
  136

  53

  3.00

  Gervinho

  Enjoyed a lively and direct first half even if the end product was not always outstanding. Faded in influence in the second.

• 
  112

  88

  2.50

  Lukas Podolski Flop of the Match

  Struggled to make too much of an impact early on and was forced to drop deep in order to receive the ball. A quiet debut all-in-all and one that would suggest the task of replacing Van Persie will take time, at the very least.

Substitutions

• 
  87

  67

  3.00

  Aaron Ramsey

  Helped to continue Arsenal's drive for the winner though could not craft any clear-cut chances during his short spell on the pitch.

• 
  98

  44

  3.00

  Andrey Arshavin

  Given a short cameo and was unable to produce anything of note.

• 
  86

  105

  2.00

  Olivier Giroud

  Missed a golden opportunity to score on his debut and make himself an instant Gunners hero when slid through by Cazorla though his effort went shamefully wide of the post.

Sunderland

3.39

• 
  34

  20

  3.50

  Simon Mignolet

  Fantastic low stop from Diaby kept Arsenal at bay in the first half. Arsenal’s failure to produce many efforts on target after the break meant his second half was a little easier.

• 
  37

  24

  4.00

  John O'Shea

  Absolute rock at the back for his side as they faced an onslaught for the entirety of the second half. Did not put a foot wrong.

• 
  24

  16

  4.00

  Carlos Javier Cuéllar

  Bedded in well to the heart of the Sunderland defence, though this may have been aided by a somewhat new-look and dishevelled Arsenal attack.

• 
  20

  19

  3.50

  Lee Cattermole

  Game largely passed him by as Arsenal seemed to enjoy progressively more possession as the game drew on. Normally aggressive and disruptive, this part of his game was not so clearly on display today.

• 
  16

  22

  3.00

  Sebastian Larsson

  First half was characterised by a few careless passes and was largely anonymous throughout

• 
  18

  20

  4.00

  Craig Gardner

  Gervinho’s relentless attacking nature whenever on the ball caused the left-back plenty of problems, though he stood up admirably to the test, particularly as his side faced significantly increased pressure in the last half hour.

• 
  26

  21

  4.00

  Kieran Richardson

  Outstanding performance to keep Arsenal's switching wingers at bay. Was forced further and further into his own half as the game wore on but defended stoutly throughout

• 
  22

  14

  3.50

  Jack Colback

  Broke late into the box with great effect when given the rare opportunity but otherwise busied himself with trying to disrupt Arsenal’s rhythm on the ball.

• 
  15

  20

  3.00

  James McClean

  Could have opened the scoring in the first five minutes though his roaming in off the left flank was the main feature of Sunderland’s counterattacking style.

• 
  11

  24

  3.00

  Stéphane Sessegnon

  Was not quite the front man that his side could have done with, as holding the ball up seemed to prove difficult at times. Replaced by Saha after a virtually non-existent second half.

• 
  10

  21

  3.00

  Fraizer Campbell

  Deployed wide right as Martin O’Neill set about stultifying Arsenal. Struggled to influence the game in any manner at all, especially as the Gunners flowed forward after the interval.

Substitutions

• 
  9

  22

  3.00

  David Meyler

  Brought on in the middle of the pitch as a fresh pair of legs to keep Arsenal at bay.

• 
  10

  23

  3.00

  Ahmed El Mohamady

  Given a short stint at the end of the game but barely got a touch of the ball.

• 
  9

  23

  3.00

  Louis Saha

  Had no chance to get into the game as Sunderland tried to repel wave after wave of Gunners attacks.