Arsenal beat Sunderland 2-0 in the Premier League on Tuesday, May 16. Here are all the highlights from the match.
Arsenal and Sunderland played out a surprisingly open Premier League match at the Emirates on Tuesday, May 16. Surprising mainly because of how abject the Black Cats have been for most of the season, and how desperate the Gunners still are for points.
Arsene Wenger’s side knew they needed a win, or at very least a draw, to maintain any hope of finishing in the top four and qualifying for the Champions League. But Sunderland were far more willing opponents than they had been against Swansea at the weekend.
Arsenal thought they’d scored early on, when Alexis Sanchez’s long-range effort nestled into the bottom corner, but referee Roger East (correctly) ruled that the ball deflected off Olivier Giroud’s arm on the way in. Giroud had a good chance himself shortly after but the excellent Jordan Pickford came up with the save.
Sunderland went close through Jermain Defoe in the first half, when the Englishman forced a good save out of Petr Cech. Arsenal nearly contributed to their own downfall to start the second half, as Nacho Monreal almost scored with a back pass. Cech tipped the ball wide only for Sunderland to be awarded an indirect free-kick they couldn’t turn into a goal.
Arsenal finally broke through, however, thanks to a familiar combination. Mesut Ozil assisted Alexis Sanchez, who tapped in to give Arsenal a much needed breakthrough. The Gunners made it two shortly after as the visitors capitulated. Sanchez was the scorer again, heading in from close range.
Related Story: 25 best club soccer teams of all time
Highlights
Arsenal will need to win their final match of the season against Everton and for Liverpool to drop points against Middlesbrough if they’re going to finish in the top four.