Sunderland 1-1 Arsenal

Darren Bent's injury-time strike earned Sunderland a deserved point against 10-man Arsenal at the Stadium of Light.

The visitors took the lead when Cesc Fabregas's block on Anton Ferdinand's clearance flew in from 40 yards.

Arsenal, who had Alex Song sent off for two yellow cards, missed a penalty when Tomas Rosicky blazed over after Ahmed Elmohamady had fouled Samir Nasri.

Deep into injury time, Bent pounced to smash in from inside the six-yard area after Gael Clichy had failed to clear.

As heartbroken as Arsenal would have been at the final whistle, even the most ardent of their supporters would say Sunderland were worthy of a point from the game.

There was much to admire about Steve Bruce's passionate Black Cats who fought from the first whistle to the last and fell behind in the most extraordinary way.

Sunderland began the match brilliantly and prevented the Gunners from getting into their fluent groove by closing their opponents down at every opportunity.

But it was the closing down by Arsenal that contributed to the first goal, when the bubbly Fabregas took a chance, ran towards Ferdinand and stuck out a hopeful foot before watching his block travel 40 yards over the stranded Simon Mignolet and into the net.

Having made the major contribution, the Spain World Cup winner was brought off as a precautionary measure after appearing to struggle with his hamstring.
The goal should have raised Arsenal's game, but much to manager Arsene Wenger's consternation on the sidelines it was Sunderland who continued to push his team back.

And they should have gone into the break 2-1 up, with Nedum Onuoha heading over from six yards and Cristian Riveros failing to make a decent connection with Elmohamady's lovely delivery from the right.

Arsenal began the second half better than they started the second, with Russian Andrey Arshavin firing over from Marouane Chamakh's low ball before the Moroccan himself saw his effort smothered by Mignolet.

With Arsenal slowly beginning to take control of the match they were reduced to 10 men when Song was shown a second yellow for blocking Steed Malbranque.

Time was running out for Sunderland to take advantage of their new situation. When Arsenal won a penalty it seemed as if Bruce's men were going to leave their home ground having suffered only their second home defeat in 13 matches.

But the Gods showed the Black Cats another ray of light when Rosicky inexplicably blazed over the bar.

With seconds remaining, Sunderland knocked on the door once when Clichy had to clear his team-mate Denilson's header off the Arsenal goalline before they finally broke the door down when this time Clichy cleared straight to Bent who fired high into the goal.

Source: Saj Chowdhury, BBC Sport on 18 Sep 10