Learning lessons the hard way at Arsenal
YOU try to learn something from every game and from the weekend we learned that Anton Ferdinand is no holding midfielder.
It's not George McCartney's position either, though both players tackled the role at the Emirates to the best of their ability at different stages of the game.
Steve Bruce put plenty of round pegs in square holes on Saturday in a 4-3-3 formation which saw Darren Bent regularly dropping deep to cover on the left-wing.
Defence isn't Bent's strong suit either – he played Arsenal on side for their crucial opening goal – and his deployment meant he was rarely able to get forward.
And yet, despite the new system which had onlookers initially scratching their heads, despite the Wearsiders' uncertainty in the opening stages, and despite Arsenal's near-total control, this was a game from which Sunderland might have emerged with an away point.
For Arsenal had one of those afternoons when they were all darting movement and rapier attack, but little in the way of end product.
And had Sunderland taken just one of several clear-cut opportunities that came their way, they might have produced a result completely at variance with the balance of play.
The Black Cats were always going to be up against it, facing a side they had not beaten away in the league since 1983.
But the challenge was made all the tougher by Sunderland having failed to win a league game since beating Arsenal at the Stadium of Light back in November a dozen matches previously.
Bruce too was hampered by the need to match his side up against a free-flowing Arsenal – hence the unusual formation.
And as well as the return of Ferdinand, fit-again duo Kieran Richardson and Fraizer Campbell replaced Andy Reid and Steed Malbranque, while John Mensah had declared himself fit and replaced Matt Kilgallon in the centre of defence.
The selection of Mensah proved to be an inspired choice at least, for the Ghanian captain was in the thick of things from the start and his athleticism and mobility offered some shield to an Arsenal side which threatened to run amok in the opening stages.
The chief danger early on came from lightning-quick Theo Walcott, who twice skinned McCartney and on the second occasion forced a seventh minute save from the alert Craig Gordon.
Before the half-hour, McCartney's vulnerability had seen Ferdinand switched to left-back.
Arsenal were dangerous from all angles, and in the 11th minute, Samir Nasri tested Gordon from the opposite wing.
The pattern of the game was set, and in the 17th minute McCartney produced a brilliant block on Bendtner's shot from 14 yards which saw the ball spin up and bounce on Gordon's crossbar before dropping back into the grateful keeper's gloves.
Completely against the run of play, Sunderland might have taken the lead in the 20th minute when Campbell seized on a fortunate drop of the ball, only to fail to beat Almunia from six yards out, and it was no surprise when Arsenal punished them by taking the lead just before the half-hour.
Emanuel Eboue drove in a low shot which was going wide until the unmarked Bendtner steered it home.
In the 39th minute, Richardson dispossessed Aaron Ramsey in midfield and slid a great through ball through for Jones.
The striker latched on to it and was clear of Arsenal's defence but in a one-on-one with Almunia drove his shot wastefully wide.
After the break, Arsenal came out to dominate again and Thomas Vermaelen and Theo Walcott could easily have extended their side's lead before the hour – Gordon making good saves from both.
Then came one of those pivotal moments for Sunderland again – Jones heading on a ball in the 64th minute for Bent to run on to.
Centre-half Mikael Silvestre clambered all over the striker as he sprinted into the Arsenal area, but Bent refused to go down and saw his shot blocked by Almunia, much to the disgust of a fuming Bruce.
"Had the lad gone down, it would have been interesting," said the Sunderland manager. "In my opinion we should have had a penalty."
Stung, Arsenal redoubled their efforts and Gordon produced great blocks to deny Nasri and Walcott.
Sunderland were presented with a chance to level just two minutes before full-time when Vermaelen brought down Bent just outside the Arsenal 'D'.
Substitute Bolo Zenden stepped up and drove the ball into the wall, and in time added on the Gunners advanced upfield and earned a penalty when Fabregas drew Campbell into a weary shoulder charge.
The Spaniard, Arsenal's top scorer, picked himself up, dusted himself off and drove a low shot to Gordon's left – the 92rd minute goal producing a scoreline more in keeping with the balance of the game.
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Weather for South Shields
Saturday 11 February 2012
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