Henry delivers a parting gift as substitutes lead Arsenal comeback

Sunderland 1 Arsenal 2

McClean 70; Ramsey 75, Henry 90+1

Legends write their own headlines. Just as it looked like Arsenal would have to settle for an honourable battling draw at a misty Stadium of Light, Thierry Henry poked home an injury-time winner to condemn high-flying Sunderland to defeat and ensure the Emirates Stadium faithful will continue to speak of his name in reverent tones long after he returns to the US next week. With Chelsea, Liverpool and Newcastle all losing, Arsenal climbed back into the top four.

Arsene Wenger made just one change from the side which thumped Blackburn 7-1 last week, with Bacary Sagna returning at right-back in place of Francis Coquelin, who had proven himself to be a worthy replacement in his absence.

Szczesny

Sagna – Mertesacker – Koscielny – Vermaelen

Song – Arteta

Rosicky

Walcott – van Persie – Oxlade-Chamberlain

At the Emirates Stadium in mid-October, Robin van Persie scored in the first minute and added a late free-kick to secure a 2-1 win. And in last season’s encounter at the Stadium of Light Tomas Rosicky‘s missed penalty proved costly as Darren Bent scored a last-minute equaliser in a 1-1 draw.

Arsenal shade a competitive first half

It’s a cliche, I know, but the opening half proved to be one of those periods where both teams had to work hard for the right to play their football. Sunderland shaded the first 20 minutes, but thereafter Arsenal gradually gained the upper hand as their midfield started to get to grips with both the home side’s industry and a pudding of a pitch which made passing difficult.

Mertesacker was relieved not to concede a first-half penalty (image courtesy of arsenal.com)

Chances were few and far between. James McClean had Sunderland’s best one, heading an early corner harmlessly over. And six minutes before half-time Per Mertesacker attempted to intercept a cross from the left, only to clumsily chest the ball on to his arm. Referee Neil Swarbrick – correctly – waved play on as he adjudged the handball to be accidental.

Arsenal created more and better chances, but without unduly troubling Simon Mignolet. Robin van Persie worked himself enough space for a shot just inside the box, but directed it too close to the Sunderland goalkeeper. The Dutchman later picked out Theo Walcott‘s run, only for the winger to drag his angled shot just beyond the far post. Walcott later blazed well over with a difficult volley after Alex Song‘s lofted ball over the top. And just before half-time Mikel Arteta fired a free kick from a decent position straight at the wall.

However, for all Arsenal’s increasing dominance in possession as the half went on, they were rarely able to stretch and turn Sunderland’s back four. Both Walcott and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain were tightly marked as the home side worked hard to cut off the supply lines to van Persie.

Substitutes turn the game for Arsenal

The second half ebbed and flowed for 25 minutes as both sides exchanged spells of pressure. Wojciech Szczesny saved twice at full stretch to deny fierce Craig Gardner drives from distance. The flag went up the first time, but the second save was crucial to keep the game scoreless.

Ramsey had an immediate impact off the bench (image courtesy of arsenal.com)

However Szczesny was left helpless as Sunderland took the lead in fortunate circumstances on 70 minutes. There appeared to be no danger as Mertesacker attempted to deal with a pass from Bacary Sagna, but the German defender crumpled to the ground untouched, allowing McClean to race into the box and strike a full-blooded effort just inside the far post. Szczesny could arguably have done better, but it was a superbly struck shot nonetheless. And no blame should be attached to McClean, who had no reason to pause after Mertesacker’s collapse in the absence of a whistle.

Mertesacker was stretchered off to be replaced by Aaron Ramsey, and five minutes later the Welsh captain levelled the scores. A long-range effort by Arteta was blocked and fell to Ramsey on the edge of the area. His first-time shot struck the inside of Mignolet’s right-hand post, rolled across the goalline and went in off the other post.

Henry provided a dramatic final flourish to clinch the win (image courtesy of arsenal.com)

To their credit, both teams went in search of a winning goal in the final quarter of an hour. John O’Shea and Ji Dong-Won both scuffed presentable chances for the home side, while van Persie’s header from substitute Andrey Arshavin‘s cross was easily gathered by Mignolet.

But with the game in its 91st minute it was Arsenal’s third substitute, who had endured 25 anonymous minutes, who suddenly popped up with the winner. Arshavin was the provider, whipping in a superb centre despite being faced by two defenders, and it was Thierry Henry who arrived to meet it with a leaping volley to knock it in from six yards out. The Frenchman has mustered only three shots since his return to Arsenal – and has scored with all three. Class, as they say, is permanent.

Post-match reaction and analysis

Arsene Wenger waxed lyrical about both Henry’s telling contribution and his team’s spirited comeback after the game:

He finished the story of the legend today in the championship; I hope he will add some in the Champions League on Wednesday now. Certainly he got us the three points in a difficult game where Sunderland were resilient, well organised and tried to catch us on the break every time.

On top of that we were 1-0 down so it was a question of a spirited performance and that is what happened in the end. I felt we were intelligent, patient and resilient.

He provided an early diagnosis of Mertesacker’s injury:

Mertesacker told me that he got a shot in his ankle and couldn’t move at all any more. We are a bit worried about his ankle I must say because he goes home on crutches. He has done some ligament damage, but how big that is we will have to check tomorrow. For sure he is out for Wednesday.

He had no complaint about Sunderland playing on after the German defender had gone down:

I thought about it during the game after they scored but you cannot demand that. You do not know if a guy has gone down through injury or because he slipped. It’s just that in the action you cannot demand to stop.

And finally he commented on a result which lifted his side into fourth in the Premier League:

Two weeks ago everybody said [fourth] was out of reach for us and today we are in it. So we have to be cautious. We are happy to be back in this position but it is still very open for everybody around there.

Wenger should also be congratulated on the efficacy of his substitutions here. Three weeks after being on the receiving end of a chorus of “You don’t know what you’re doing” for his decision to bring Arshavin on for Oxlade-Chamberlain, all three substitutes here played a pivotal role in Arsenal’s comeback. Ramsey, who has been criticised in some quarters in recent weeks, scored a fine equaliser. And the much-maligned Arshavin produced two wonderful crosses, with the second teeing up Henry for the winner. Sometimes tactical replacements don’t go your way as a manager and you are perceived as a fool. So it is only right to recognise those occasions on which the boss gets it spot on.

In a difficult game on an awful pitch, Arsenal stuck to their task for the full 90 minutes against a stubborn Sunderland team who showed no ill effects of having been taken to extra time in their FA Cup replay in mid-week. The home side’s tenacity afforded them little space on the flanks, with Walcott and Oxlade-Chamberlain always tightly marked and often double-teamed. As a result, opportunities for van Persie were few and far between.

Midfield was something of a mixed bag. Song had a distinctly mediocre game but Arteta was a model of efficiency, completing 109 of 116 passes – more than three times as many as Sunderland’s most prolific passer – and working diligently in defence. And Rosicky was effective on both sides of the ball, providing plenty of direct thrust in midfield and making several tackles and interceptions.

At the back, the defence soaked up Sunderland’s periods of dominance well despite the odd moment of panic. Laurent Koscielny was his usual excellent self, and it was good to see Sagna close to full strength as he continues his return from injury. Szczesny could arguably have done better on the Sunderland goal, but he was otherwise dominant in his own area and saved well from Gardner.

Having been five points adrift of fourth spot two weeks ago, Arsenal have now crept back into the top four at the beginning of a bumper travel week in which they must now go to the San Siro on Wednesday to take on AC Milan in the Champions League last 16, and then return to the Stadium of Light to meet Sunderland once again in the fifth round of the FA Cup next Saturday. It’s a difficult spell, but once which they have got off to the best possible start.

Arsenal man of the match: Tomas Rosicky. With Sunderland starving supply on the wings, Rosicky was a vital element in linking midfield to attack. He provided a pleasing directness both running and passing, and also contributed more than his share defensively. His best game in an Arsenal shirt for at least two years.

Related articles

• Sunderland 1-2 Arsenal (guardian.co.uk)