By Rob Deyzel
Well maybe I am exaggerating a bit but I actually thought Arsenal were going to win a relatively scrappy game against Sunderland! But it wasn’t to be as Bent last second equalizer sent Wenger into a rage and Steve Bruce into adulation. The game was a strange one by Arsenals standards. The gunners were certainly not at their best and nor were the Black Cats. The opening goal by Fabregas was a freak goal as you would ever see, blocking a Ferdinand attempted clearance that rocketed into the net from 40 yards. It was a goal Arsenal did not deserve. The fantastic, moving, sexy football we witnessed against Braga must have been left at Stanstead airport by the Arsenal players before their flight to the north of England. Sunderland plugged away and has a good share of the possession and matched the Gunners in the first half.
The second half was a little different. Alex song was sent off for a second bookable offense and this seemed to galvinise the rest of the team to wake up fro their temporary coma’s! Arsenal starting putting together some nice passing moves and looked good. The pinnacle came when Nasri was fouled in the pen area and was duly awarded a penalty. Rosicky stepped up blasted the ball over the net. Sunderland had a chance and could sense some unease about the Arsenal defense. Yet no break through could be found even after the introduction of record signing Gyan for the Black Cats. The forth official indicated 4 minutes of stoppage time. In the 5th minute of stoppage time Bent smashed in the equalizer from short range. Sunderland fans in the stadium of light went crazy, and so did Wenger on the sidelines bemoaning the added time.
To be honest I thought Arsenal had the game. It was a professional performance which fell 10 seconds too short. How I wish Wenger would sometimes just get ten men behind the ball in the closing minutes. The gunners need to learn from this mistake, knowing if they want to compete for the title,that these types of matches have to end up in victories.
