Similar to when the Gunners beat Sunderland at the Emirates 3-2 earlier in the season, the lads produced a heartening display that saw them beaten by the odd goal, although Arsenal always looked like they had the ability to step it up a gear.

It was on August 19th 2000 that Sunderland last beat the North Londoners at home and although the lads dominated much of the possession and chances, it was Theo Walcott’s 24th minute coolly taken strike that clinched it.

After last week’s shambles against Bolton, Keane said our squad were playing for their futures; ominously for Kieran Richardson who was omitted from the squad, with Fulop, Edwards, Leadbitter, Wallace and Yorkie all drafted into the first eleven from the one that was humiliated against Bolton.

Going into this game, both managers probably had one eye on the summer, with Wenger fielding a youthful side without Van Persie, Hleb, Fabregas, Rosicky, Gallas, Flamini and Diaby . Nevertheless, with the likes of Adebayor and Walcott starting, you could hardly call it a weak outfit.

Both sets of supporters were in seemingly good fettle before the kick-off, with our fans getting even more jeered up as Edwards fizzed in a 25 yard shot with only thirteen seconds on the clock. Fulop, making his first league appearance of the season, made a fantastic save from Adebayor with seven minutes gone, and just 30 seconds later, Wallace whipped in a ball at the other end of the pitch which was met by a towering Jones, only for it to be gathered by Fabianski.

We then played the better football with Nuggsy looking far happier back at centre-half than at right back where he played last week, Yorkie rolling back the years pulling the strings as the holding midfielder and Jones causing Arsenal problems at the back as the lone striker up front. The fans even started giving it the old ‘Olès’ as we positively knocked it about, which begged the question from the bloke next to me, “Why haven’t we played like this all season?!”

Sadly, our confidence looked foolish when Gilberto played the ever dangerous Walcott in, who smashed a shot past Fulop after burning our defence for pace. After the goal, we continued to stroke the ball about and play good stuff, which the fans greeted with failed attempts at firstly, a Mexican wave, and secondly a Conga, which was scuppered by the Nazis (I mean stewards) who continue try to piss on our bonfire week in week out.

On 44 minutes the game took a turn for the worse as Jones, the club’s player of the season, went off with a wrist injury after blocking a stinging shot from Gilberto; he didn’t reappear for the second half and we should be thankful that this only happened in the last game of the season. O’Donovan came on for Kenwyne and struggled as the lone striker, but the lads continued to press.

We had a bit of a scare on the 58th minute when Fulop foolishly caught a back pass from Whitehead six yards from goal. Nevertheless, the resulting indirect free kick came to nothing as Gilberto sliced a shot wide of goal, allegedly put-off by the gargantuan size of Andy Reid standing on the line.

Chopra and Miller came on for Yorkie and Edwards, moving us into a 4-4-2 formation, and for the rest of the game we created the better chances. Sadly, O’Donovan, fluffed a great opportunity on 65 minutes from an ‘All Night’ Dwight cross, and then volleyed a shot straight at Fabianski in the 93rd minute. This would have capped off our season fantastically, with the traditional last minute goal at the SOL, but has it happened the game merely petered out and we were left somewhat disappointed.

However, the fate of Birmingham and Reading surely reminded everyone of the achievement Roy and his men have pulled off this season, and talk suddenly turned to who we should sign next campaign as our current squad circulated the pitch for their lap of honour.

Final Score: Sunderland 0 Arsenal 1

ALS Man of the Match: Ross Wallace

Graeme Cook

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