Saturday February 18, 2012 5th Round Finished Stadium of Light

Sunderland 2 - 0 Arsenal

  • Richardson 40’
  • Oxlade-Chamberlain 78’ (o.g.)

380 comments | Write your comment

  1. Cup exit ensures more misery for Arsenal

    Cup exit ensures more misery for Arsenal

    Arsenal appear condemned to a seventh season without a trophy after losing 2-0 at Sunderland in the fifth round of the FA Cup. More

  • Live Commentary

    Time:90'
    • Sunderland
    • Arsenal
    • - What did you make of that performance from Arsenal? Do changes need to be made? Let me know on Twitter. Follow Tom Adams on Twitter
    • 90+4' FULL TIME. Kieran Richardson and an own goal from Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain knock Arsenal out of the FA Cup. That's their chances of a trophy gone for another season.
    • 90+3' Oxlade-Chamberlain and Gervinho link up well but Larsson intervenes as Sunderland clear once again. The home side have been fantastic, but the headlines will all be about Arsenal.
    • 90+1' Arteta hammers a shot wide as Arsenal's hopes grow even more forlorn.
    • 90' We will have three minutes of added time.
    • 89' Arsenal win a late corner and Van Persie aims for Song, only for Bardsley to head away.
    • 89' Sessegnon, who has been excellent, is replaced by Fraizer Campbell.
    • 87' Sessegnon pings a cross into McClean but Sagna just does enough to prevent the winger from tapping the ball home.
    • 85' Rosicky slips a pass into Van Persie and the Dutchman is off balance when turning the ball over the bar. Time is running out very quickly for Arsenal now.
    • 83' Turner gets his head to the set piece with Fabianski nowhere, but he can't direct the ball on target.
    • 82' Sagna brings down McClean but avoids a second booking.
    • 80' Van Persie takes the free kick but scuffs his effort. Arsenal are then all at sea at the back once again as Arteta almost gifts the ball to Sunderland in a dangerous area.
    • 79' Oxlade-Chamberlain, so distraught after that own goal, hares up the other end and is foul by Cattermole, who earns a booking.
    • 78' GOAL! Sunderland 2-0 Arsenal! More misery for Arsenal. They are caught on the counter by Sunderland and Sessegnon exploits the space afforded to him by playing the ball right to Larsson. His effort comes off the post and into the legs of Oxlade-Chamberlain, who gets into a tangle and accidentally knocks the ball over the line.
    • 76' Arteta takes the subsequent free kick and finds Vermaelen, who sees his decent header saved by Mignolet. That's as close as they have gone for a while.
    • 75' Gardner goes into the book for a tug on Rosicky, who has been bruised by Sunderland since his arrival as a substitute.
    • 74' Van Persie, under pressure from Richardson, can't leap to connect with a cross from the left.
    • 73' Sunderland have been tenacious this evening and have restricted Arsenal to only a few chances. There hasn't been anything pretty about their performance but it has certainly been effective.
    • 72' Walcott has made very little impact since coming on. In fact I can hardly remember him touching the ball.
    • 70' In response to chants of "sacked in the morning", some Arsenal fans cry "one Arsene Wenger" in support of their manager.
    • 69' Poor from Rosicky as his ball out to the right channel is too high for Oxlade-Chamberlain to control.
    • 68' Oxlade- Chamberlain looks to sprint away from his man but is then crowded out by Sunderland shirts as he aims to go down the outside.
    • 67' Rosicky comes under pressure from Gardner and wins a free kick from the Sunderland midfielder. Arteta looks to play a quick one in to Walcott but the forward is offside.
    • 65' Van Persie takes the free kick and his low effort is deflected wide for a corner by Bardsley. The Dutchman's corner is then claimed by Mignolet.
    • 64' Replays also show that Turner had his hands all over Van Persie earlier in the move and appeared to bring the Arsenal striker to ground. That could have been a penalty.
    • 63' Here is a chance for Arsenal as Arteta wins a free kick when being brought to ground by Larsson.
    • 62' Arsenal will have to dig deep now. A goal down, beset by injury and with their season sliding away from them, do they have the character to respond?
    • 60' Phil Bardsley is down and looks to be in some pain after catching his boot in the turf and turning on his ankle.
    • 58' Turner gets his head to the Larsson free kick but gets under the ball and heads over the bar.
    • 58' Vermaelen's arm catches the ball but there was no intent. However, the defender then thunders into a challenge on Gardner to earn a booking.
    • 57' Cattermole clatters into Arteta but escapes any real punishment, bar conceding a free kick.
    • 56' Replays show Djourou flying into Sessegnon with two feet and he is not punished, which is very lucky for a man already on a booking.
    • 55' That change will see Rosicky come into the centre of midfield and Song drop into the back four. Three injuries for Arsenal today.
    • 54' Ramsey is withdrawn and he appears to be limping, with Rosicky on in his place. Squillaci, incredibly, is also injured and Walcott comes on.
    • 53' Ramsey is withdrawn and he appears to be limping, with Rosicky on in his place.
    • 52' Oh, but it looks as though Rosicky is stripping off along with Walcott. A change on the horizon here.
    • 51' Walcott is warming up for Arsenal and he certainly has a point to prove after his performance in Milan.
    • 49' A cross from Sagna momentarily causes havoc in the Sunderland box before O'Shea clears. Vermaelen then sees an effort blocked before Arteta hammers a shot well over the bar.
    • 48' Larsson is the man asked to take the free kick and he bends his effort just over the bar. He scored a superb free kick at the Emirates earlier in the season.
    • 47' McClean somehow bundles his way through a number of blue shirts before drawing Sagna into a poor challenge 20 yards from goal. Always a booking.
    • 46' KICK OFF! No changes from either side.
    • - Albert Bazian has this to say on Twitter: "Tom, maybe it is time to bring on Arshavin?" Maybe it is. He got a good assist in the league here last weekend. Get in contact on Twitter
    • - Let me know what you thought of that first half on Twitter. Are Arsenal set for another trophyless season? Follow Tom Adams on Twitter
    • 45+2' HALF TIME. Arsenal 45 minutes away from FA Cup elimination thanks to Richardson's deflected effort.
    • 45' We will have two added minutes.
    • 44' So close! Larsson delivers a fine cross to the back post where Colback is waiting to hook the ball back into the path of McClean. He beats Fabianski to the ball and thumps his shot into the side netting, though the keeper may have got a touch.
    • 43' After Sessegnon is penalised for a foul, Vermaelen charges in to try and take a quick free kick and dumps the Sunderland forward to the ground. That was a bit silly.
    • 42' Well, Arsenal had to come from a goal down in the league game here but on that occasion they relied on Thierry Henry to score in the last minute. He has gone back to New York now of course.
    • 40' GOAL! Sunderland 1-0 Arsenal! Larsson takes the subsequent free kick and though Arsenal clear initially through Vermaelen, Kieran Richardson scores with a fine drive that deflects off Squillaci and sneaks inside the far post.
    • 39' Djourou goes into the book after allowing Gardner to close him down when attempting to clear and then bringing the midfielder down.
    • 38' Song wastes possession with another poor lofted pass that floats to no one in particular.
    • 37' Passes from Oxlade-Chamberlain and Ramsey both go astray but Arsenal have stepped things up in the past 10 minutes and have improved markedly.
    • 36' Van Persie and Song link up well on the edge of the box but the former takes the wrong option when trying to spray a pass out to the right to find Oxlade-Chamberlain.
    • 35' Sessegnon puts Djourou under real pressure but the defender copes well when turning the ball back to Fabianski in goal.
    • 34' Sagna wants a free kick when being chopped to ground by Colback but Webb is unimpressed.
    • 33' Song retains possession under pressure in the centre of the pitch but his subsequent ball over the top of the defence lacks direction.
    • 32' Penalty appeal for Arsenal! Van Persie spins to collect a through-ball from Song and goes to ground under a challenge from John O'Shea. However, replays show he got the ball and it was a fantastic tackle.
    • 31' Arteta surges forward with a run from deep but the midfielder is halted some 40 yards from goal as Sunderland crowd him out.
    • 30' Larsson with a dangerous corner from the left that flies across the face of goal and is left by all and sundry. Turner was the nearest Sunderland man in attendance.
    • 28' Great chance for Arsenal! Van Persie threads a lovely pass through for Gervinho, who takes a touch wide before seeing his rasping effort palmed wide by Simon Mignolet.
    • 27' Oxlade-Chamberlain has the chance to play a quick pass to Van Persie but instead allows himself to be caught by Colback on the right.
    • 26' The pitch at the Stadium of Light is cutting up and looks very bobbly indeed. That certainly won't suit Arsenal.
    • 25' Now Gardner clatters into Vermaelen after the ball is gone. Sunderland are dishing out some rough stuff here, which they are entitled to do if they choose to.
    • 24' Squillaci fouls Sessegnin but referee Howard Webb plays on and McClean delivers a dangerous cross from the left, forcing Fabianski to dive and claim the ball with authority.
    • 23' Arteta floats the ball in but Sunderland are able to clear their lines despite Vermaelen getting his head to the ball.
    • 22' Michael Turner somewhat fortunate to escape a booking for a blatant foul on Ramsey. Arsenal have a free kick 40 yards from goal though.
    • 21' It's been a few minutes since an Arsenal injury, which is nice.
    • 20' Sunderland are pressing Arsenal very well and have placed the visitors under real pressure since that early substitution. They really fancy this now.
    • 19' Larsson drives into the box to try and collect a return pass from Sessegnon but Thomas Vermaelen does well to shield the ball and draw Larsson into a foul.
    • 18' Cattermole and Song collide in the centre of the pitch and now Song is the latest Arsenal player to wince in pain. He should be okay though.
    • 18' Jack Colback plays a quick pass into Sessegnon, who turns quickly before being dispossessed by Squillaci.
    • 17' James McClean sends in a cross from the left and the powerful wind at the Stadium of Light gives Fabianski a problem. However, he clasps the ball on his line.
    • 16' Ramsey looks in some pain when hobbling back onto the pitch. Replays show he caught his boot in the turf and went over on his ankle.
    • 15' Ramsey now requires treatment and hobbles off. Oh dear. We will have to see how that progresses.
    • 14' Aaron Ramsey is penalised for a foul and Sunderland catch Arsenal cold as they take the free kick quickly when Lee Cattermole plays in Sessegnon. The forward's shot drifts just wide of the post. A nice effort.
    • 13' So Arsenal's impressive start has been firmly diluted by that injury to Coquelin. With Fabianski, Djourou and Squillaci all playing they look very vulnerable indeed.
    • 12' A Seb Larsson corner from the right from Sunderland appears to strike Alex Song on the arm. Arguably it wasn't deliberate but Song had plenty of time to move it out of the way.
    • 11' Here is the change and Squillaci is coming on for Coquelin. Incredibly, Sagna now needs treatment.
    • 10' Lucky from Bacary Sagna. He just about gets a touch to the ball as Stephane Sessegnon attempts to drive into the box.
    • 9' Coquelin has to be helped from the pitch and Sebastien Squillaci is warming up. Oh dear.
    • 8' Bad news for Arsenal: Francis Coquelin has gone down with an apparent hamstring injury. Per Mertesacker was injured here last week and Laurent Koscielny picked up a problem in Milan. This is not good at all.
    • 6' Arteta is tasked with taking the free kick and the Spaniard curls a brilliant effort at goal that sneaks just wide of the post. Lovely stuff.
    • 5' Craig Gardner catches Van Persie to give away a free kick in a central position.
    • 4' Stat from Opta: Arsenal have won only one of their past seven away games in the FA Cup.
    • 3' It is a confident start from Arsenal, which they needed after that humbling experience at the San Siro in midweek.
    • 2' Oxlade-Chamberlain takes the corner and Johan Djourou arrives at the back post but fails to get his header on target.
    • 2' Mikel Arteta appears to pull back Stephane Sessegnon but gets away with it and Arsenal launch a counter-attack that results in Gervinho winning a corner.
    • 1' KICK OFF!
    • 17:15 Right, taking charge of today's live commentary is Tom Adams. Get in contact with him on Twitter if you like. Follow @tomEurosport
    • 17:10 There are a few grumbles on the comments board about Arsene Wenger's team selection, but I'm going to have to defend him. He has no choice but to play Djourou because Koscielny and Mertesacker are injured. He has rightly brought in the Ox for Walcott, and there's nothing wrong with giving Gervinho a chance. Fabianski plays all the cup games when fit, so I don't have a problem with that Arsenal team.
    • 17:05 Martin O'Neill is hoping his Sunderland side can take advantage of Arsenal's rotten week. In his typically equivocal style, he sort of said as much in yesterday's press conference. MON umms and aahs about Arsenal
    • 17:00 Meanwhile, Milan's Zlatan Ibrahimovic has been doing some expert stirring, inviting Robin van Persie to leave Arsenal for the good of his own career. "I don't know what he is thinking but I know what I would do. I have made a lot of moves in my life - I take it as a challenge, an adventure. And I have won eight titles in eight years with different clubs in different countries." Zlatan urges Van Persie to leave
    • 16:55 Arsenal fans, what do you make of your week so far? Our columnist Jim White has described is as the most chastening of Arsene Wenger's career. Agree? Arsenal on the road to nowhere
    • 16:50 Sunderland, meanwhile, make just one change from the Arsenal game last week - captain Lee Cattermole returns, replacing Fraizer Campbell.
    • 16:45 Five changes for Arsenal from the San Siro. Gervinho and Oxlade-Chamberlain replace Walcott and Rosicky; Coquelin and Djourou come in for Gibbs and the injured Koscielny; and Lukasz Fabianski plays in goal ahead of Wojciech Szczesny.
    • 16:40 These sides had a dress rehearsal for this fixture in the Premier League last weekend, when Thierry Henry scored a late winner. There is no Henry today for the Gunners, who suffered a humiliating 4-0 Champions League defeat to AC Milan on Wednesday.
    • 16:35 TEAMS: SUNDERLAND: Mignolet, Bardsley, O'Shea, Turner, Richardson, Larsson, Gardner, Cattermole, Colback, McClean, Sessegnon. Subs: Bridge, Campbell, Dong-won, Meyler, Kyrgiakos, Elmohamady, Westwood... ARSENAL: Fabianski, Sagna, Djourou, Vermaelen, Coquelin, Arteta, Song, Ramsey, Oxlade-Chamberlain, Gervinho, Van Persie... Subs: Rosicky, Szczesny, Walcott, Squillaci, Arshavin, Chamakh, Benayoun.
    • 16:30 Welcome to live coverage of the FA Cup fifth round tie between Sunderland and Arsenal at the Stadium of Light!

  • Summary

    • 78' GOAL! Sunderland 2-0 Arsenal! More misery for Arsenal. They are caught on the counter by Sunderland and Sessegnon exploits the space afforded to him by playing the ball right to Larsson. His effort comes off the post and into the legs of Oxlade-Chamberlain, who gets into a tangle and accidentally knocks the ball over the line.
    • 76' Arteta takes the subsequent free kick and finds Vermaelen, who sees his decent header saved by Mignolet. That's as close as they have gone for a while.
    • 65' Van Persie takes the free kick and his low effort is deflected wide for a corner by Bardsley. The Dutchman's corner is then claimed by Mignolet.
    • 48' Larsson is the man asked to take the free kick and he bends his effort just over the bar. He scored a superb free kick at the Emirates earlier in the season.
    • 40' GOAL! Sunderland 1-0 Arsenal! Larsson takes the subsequent free kick and though Arsenal clear initially through Vermaelen, Kieran Richardson scores with a fine drive that deflects off Squillaci and sneaks inside the far post.
    • 32' Penalty appeal for Arsenal! Van Persie spins to collect a through-ball from Song and goes to ground under a challenge from John O'Shea. However, replays show he got the ball and it was a fantastic tackle.
    • 28' Great chance for Arsenal! Van Persie threads a lovely pass through for Gervinho, who takes a touch wide before seeing his rasping effort palmed wide by Simon Mignolet.
    • 24' Squillaci fouls Sessegnin but referee Howard Webb plays on and McClean delivers a dangerous cross from the left, forcing Fabianski to dive and claim the ball with authority.
    • 14' Aaron Ramsey is penalised for a foul and Sunderland catch Arsenal cold as they take the free kick quickly when Lee Cattermole plays in Sessegnon. The forward's shot drifts just wide of the post. A nice effort.
    • 6' Arteta is tasked with taking the free kick and the Spaniard curls a brilliant effort at goal that sneaks just wide of the post. Lovely stuff.
    • 16:35 TEAMS: SUNDERLAND: Mignolet, Bardsley, O'Shea, Turner, Richardson, Larsson, Gardner, Cattermole, Colback, McClean, Sessegnon. Subs: Bridge, Campbell, Dong-won, Meyler, Kyrgiakos, Elmohamady, Westwood... ARSENAL: Fabianski, Sagna, Djourou, Vermaelen, Coquelin, Arteta, Song, Ramsey, Oxlade-Chamberlain, Gervinho, Van Persie... Subs: Rosicky, Szczesny, Walcott, Squillaci, Arshavin, Chamakh, Benayoun.

Team Line-up & Ratings

  • Line-up

    Live Team Line-Up

  • Rate Players

    Rate Players

    Please to rate the players.

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    • Player Y! Users Expert My Rating
      Goalkeeper
      6.8 7
      Defenders
      6.3 6
      6.5 8
      6.4 7
      Goal 6.9 7
      Midfielders
      Yellow Card 6.6 7
      6.4 7
      Yellow Card 7.1 8
      Yellow Card 6.7 7
      7 7
      Strikers
      Substitution Out89′ 7.2 8
      Subs
      Substitution In89′ 5.9 6
    • Player Y! Users Expert My Rating
      Goalkeeper
      4 6
      Defenders
      Yellow Card 4.3 5
      Yellow Card 3.8 5
      Yellow Card 4.7 6
      Substitution Out10′ 4.3 6
      Midfielders
      4.6 5
      4.2 5
      4.3 5
      Substitution Out53′ 3.3 5
      Own Goal 4.8 5
      Strikers
      5.7 6
      Subs
      Substitution In53′ 3.6 6
      Substitution In53′ 2.9 5

Comment 361 - 380 of 380

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  1. i've said for several years now on these boards­ that nothing would/will change until AFC fails to make­ the champions league. it is the only thing ($) that­ will motivate a change in philosophy from the top down.­ now that that has all but happened. let's hope for­ the best.

    AFC

    From Aaron, on Tue 21 Feb 2:36

  2. how much more are we expected to endure?

    From Aaron, on Tue 21 Feb 2:31

  3. All down to poor training and bad management. Wenger ­ cannot blame the players, he signed them, if he­ doesn't motivate them and toughen them up with more­ training, its his fault not the players. Has anyone­ noticed that Van Persie hasn't scored since Henry­ came back. All the attention has been on Van Persie­ before Henry came back ` (and rightly so) as soon as­ Henry showed his face Wenger was all over him, it was­ if Van Persie didn't exist. When Henry went on the­ pitch during the last match he shook hands with Van­ Persie and then started shouting instructions to the­ players righ in front of Van Persie, it was on camera­ for all to see, That and Wengers behaviour would not­ have motivated Van Persie. Wenger has always had his­ favourites which included Fabregas but Van Persie has­ never been a favourite. Van Persie I think will leave­ Arsenal and it will be Wengers fault

    From lanesar, on Mon 20 Feb 1:35

  4. Arsene Wenger to fight on...latest. Well there­ wasn't much fight out there last night or at the­ San Siro. Same old same old.

    From wiggins, on Mon 20 Feb 0:50

  5. Ok, well Sunderland did deserve to win this based on­ what I saw. However, luck played a major part again.­ The shot from Richardson was going wide until it took­ the deflection of the Arsenal defender for the goal,­ and another own goal sealed the result later on. A poor­ performance from Arsenal, and I think if he is still­ there next year, he needs to rebuild his defence. It­ has been poor since Seaman and the rest of the English­ defenders retired/left.

    From Cards Fan, on Mon 20 Feb 0:18

  6. WEwon and we deserved it we played with pasion no doubt­ wenger will complain (as usual) cannot accept they are­ not the bet when will they accept this Sunderland­ forever

    From A, on Sun 19 Feb 22:58

  7. lets be honest we won and we deserved it mind according­ to the commentary on itv wonered at times if sunderland­ were playing all about A

    From A, on Sun 19 Feb 22:56

  8. @ tom

    pitch couldn't of been that bad, afterall,­ Sunderland scored two goals on the same pitch

    From crosstown rebel, on Sun 19 Feb 21:34
  9. Comment hidden due to its low rating. Show

    Not our day pitch was a disgrace nothing going right­ maybe time for a reshuffle and some fresh ideasbadly­ need some defensive coaching get Keown or Bouldon­ board, but however bad it seems keep the faith

    From tom, on Sun 19 Feb 18:32

  10. @380 - Typical comment from a gooner.

    From cimbo, on Sun 19 Feb 17:03

  11. what arsenal need is jo brand as a manager , if you­ lose in football she still makes you smile with her­ jokes

    From jeff / uk/male, on Sun 19 Feb 16:36

  12. Take nothing away from Sunderland yesterday they where­ fantastic Arsenal where all over the place, the days of­ the big clubs just turning up and beating the smaller­ clubs are over, because when a smaller club gives more­ on the day they will win, unless the bigger club­ matches it, and Arsenal never its as simple as that,­ they where not intrested.

    From michael, on Sun 19 Feb 14:56

  13. I'd never thought i'd say this but im done­ supporting Arsenal. Peace out.

    From Christian, on Sun 19 Feb 9:44

  14. I think Milan broke there spirit.

    From datelinespypleasetakeaseat, on Sun 19 Feb 8:15

  15. Celtic fan here. Did Eduardo leave arsenal? Pity he was­ always good for a dive and a penalty.

    From figgzy77, on Sun 19 Feb 8:09

  16. im glad asenal lost today isupport norwich and we lost­ to, at least my son won,t keep goingon about arsenal­ tomorrow

    From ampleford, on Sun 19 Feb 7:44

  17. This is FANTASTIC advice (not mine ) for Arsenal­ fans:

    Key to happiness for an­ Arsenal fan this­ season, each game bet on the­ team's opponent. If­ the gunners win, you're­ happy, if they lose; at­ least you win some money.

    From Istina Boli, on Sun 19 Feb 6:39

  18. Sorry loyal Arsenal fans, but when you have INCOMPETENT­ IDIOT for a coach you can not expect any­ better.
    Arsenal is THE ONLY TEAM IN THE WORLD TO REWARD­ INCOMPETENCE AND FAILURE!!!

    After failing in EVERY­ YEAR for last 6 years - Arsenal continues extending­ contract & keeping IDIOT coach wenger.

    Well then­ - you got what you deserve - KEEP FUC.KING LOSER wenger­ AND STAY LOSERS !!!!!

    From Istina Boli, on Sun 19 Feb 6:37

  19. Simply - wenger is MISERABLE FAILURE AND PATHETIC­ WHINING LOSER !!! For many years he delivers NOTHING­ BUT PAIN, MISERY AND FAILURE TO Arsenal, while­ promising "sky and moon".

    wenger is the­ MOST OVERRATED coach in the world. for Arsenal's­ sake - FIRE wenger NOW !!

    From Istina Boli, on Sun 19 Feb 6:37

  20. When will Arsenal fans open their eyes, see what is¬­ happening and admit to themselves: Arsenal is going¬­ downwards for last 6 years, and every year is worse¬­ then previous one?
    One and ONLY person responsible for¬­ FAILURE is STUBBORN IDIOT, CHEAPSKATE CRETIN wenger!¬­
    He can attract players while they are still teenagers¬­ or very, very young & naive players and cloud­ their¬ judgment.
    But when player grows up and matures­ a¬ bit, they see right through wenger, they lose any¬­ respect for wenger, knowing he is failure and selling¬­ hot air to naive people - they do not want to stay or¬­ be associated with wenger.
    under Wenger, Arsenal,¬­ unfortunately, is right on the path to become mediocre¬­ club, somewhere between 6th - 12th spot in Epl.
    arsene¬­ weger (aka ARSenHOLE WHINER) , the most OVERRATED­ coach¬ in the world, have been RUINING the club for­ many years¬ now, after so many years of destruction -­ it will take¬ many years to recover.
    FOR ARSENAL'S­ SAKE - FIRE¬ wenger NOW !!!

    From Istina Boli, on Sun 19 Feb 6:36
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