There was a pre-season feel to Arsenal’s penultimate home game of the season. With the Emirates far from a sell out on a warm, dry Tuesday evening, there was more to this fixture than match fitness. While Sunderland were relegated at the end of April, the Gunners needed a win in front of their fans to improve their chances of a top-4 finish. An FA Cup final meeting with London rivals Chelsea awaited them at the end of the month, but an inability to secure a place in next season’s Champions League could be considered an unsuccessful season, regardless of any silverware won.
With the fans' frustration with the team and Arsene Wenger reaching boiling point all too often over the course of the campaign, a failure to secure a top-4 finish for the first time since 1995 could well prove to be the straw that broke the camel's back for the north London giants, particularly as they will end the campaign below rivals Tottenham for the first time since the 1994/1995 season. They weren’t helped, of course, by an in-form Jordan Pickford, who in the opening 45 minutes kept the hosts at bay.
Pickford has been a ray of sunshine in the ever darkening clouds over the Stadium of Light and another superb first half showing against Arsenal proved why as he kept the hosts at bay. As the heavens opened after the interval, the Gunners continued to huff and puff to net that crucial opener. It was the introduction of Danny Welbeck and Alex Iwobi, though, midway through the second half that kicked Arsenal up another gear. Alexis Sanchez was again their saviour as the Chilean was presented with the easiest of finishes from six yards as he tucked away Mesut Ozil’s pass across goal.
It was a goal of the utmost importance for Arsenal, especially as top-4 rivals Manchester City overcame West Brom at the Etihad Stadium. As Sunderland began to fold, Arsenal capitalised as they doubled their advantage through Alexis again. The striker was on hand to again finish into an empty net, though it came after a wonderful Pickford stop to deny Olivier Giroud from close range. Ultimately, a 2-0 scoreline flattered Sunderland, who showed little going forward, mustering just two shots on target over the 90 minutes. For Sunderland, though, they have Pickford to thank once again for the result at the Emirates not resembling a cricket score.
There are rough edges to Pickford’s game that require smoothing out, but the young shotstopper is very much a top-quality goalkeeper in the making. Much has been made of his impressive distribution and while his kicking was wayward to say the least on Tuesday night, there was a moment where he sumptuously picked out Jermain Defoe with a pinpoint dropkick to further bring to light his quality at picking out teammates. It was a similar scenario when Defoe came close to netting in the recent 2-0 win at Hull that will have further endeared Pickford to potential suitors.
His 11 saves against Arsenal was the second most in a Premier League match this season, with his impressive ability to deny the Gunners attack for as long as possible earning him a WhoScored rating of 9.11; only man of the match Ozil (9.38) gained higher. The Germany international has come under some staunch criticism this season, but pulled the strings with ruthless efficiency on Tuesday night. Ozil made 12 key passes over the 90 minutes, more than any other player has made in a Premier League match this season, with his assist unlocking the Sunderland backline as pressure began to mount.
Mesut Özil: Registered 12 key passes vs Sunderland, no player has managed more in a single Premier League match in any of the last 8 seasons pic.twitter.com/gLxcRVbHqc
— WhoScored.com (@WhoScored) May 16, 2017
Importantly, the victory meant the race for a top-4 finish goes down to the final day of the season. Arsenal sit one point behind Liverpool and three off Manchester City ahead of Sunday’s finale as the north London side picked up a win that will prove vital in shaping Arsenal’s season.
