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Sunderland stay up after Costel Pantilimon repels misfiring Arsenal Sunderland stay up after Costel Pantilimon repels misfiring Arsenal
(35 minutes later)
The thought had occurred beforehand that it might have been an idea for these two clubs to simply shake on the draw. That, however, is not part of the make-up of this Premier League. There was no holding back during a game that rose nicely to the boil and it was a wonder how it finished goalless. There were chances, particularly during a gripping second-half, for both teams, many of them of crystal clarity. The thought had occurred beforehand that these two clubs might have simply shaken on the draw. That, however, is not part of the make-up of this Premier League. There was no holding back during a game that rose extravagantly to the boil and it was a wonder it finished goalless. There were chances at both ends, particularly during a gripping second-half, many of them of crystal clarity.
Yet the point apiece could ultimately be toasted on each side, especially that of Sunderland, who are now safe from relegation before Sunday’s final games. Dick Advocaat has achieved the ends of his short-term managerial brief and as he punched the air at full time and the travelling supporters cavorted in delight, he could forget how the substitute, Steven Fletcher, had put him through the mill with a trio of misses. Yet the point apiece served everyone well, especially Sunderland, who could celebrate the retention of their top-flight status ahead of their final fixture at Chelsea on Sunday. The emotions ran wild at full time, with the travelling supporters cavorting in delight and Dick Advocaat breaking down in tears for what he would later say was the first time in his long career.
For Arsenal, the point has all but ensured a top-three finish – only a radical last-day swing of seven goals could now usher Manchester United back into contention – and Arsène Wenger will sell the season as another success, particularly if his team go on to retain the FA Cup. There were familiar failings in the lack of ruthlessness in front of goal and the feeling of frustration in the stands upon the final whistle. But thoughts will now begin to turn to the cup final date with Aston Villa.
Related: Emotions snowball for Dick Advocaat after Sunderland clinch safety | Amy LawrenceRelated: Emotions snowball for Dick Advocaat after Sunderland clinch safety | Amy Lawrence
Advocaat had spoken beforehand of Sunderland as having “four chances to stay up”. That included the last-day matches for their relegation rivals, Newcastle United and Hull City, with the other two being his own team’s games. How everybody at the club, not least the supporters who packed the visiting enclosure, wanted them to make good at the first time of asking here. Advocaat has achieved the ends of his short-term managerial brief and he said that he and his players had defied the odds and the naysayers. When he took over in mid-March, the club sat 17th in the table, one point above the drop zone. His record reads impressively – W3 D3 L2 – and there have been calls for him to extend his stay in the north-east by another season before he retires. Advocaat has said that this will be his last managerial job. He will decide on his future next week.
The nerves have provided the backdrop to Advocaat’s brief tenure, which began in the middle of March with the club occupying 17th in the table, one point above the drop zone. He arrived in north London having taken 11 points from seven matches and with the picture looking marginally better. “Will Sunderland stay up?” Wenger had been asked on Tuesday. “Yes,” he replied. Sunderland had to turn probability into reality. Advocaat and several of his players made the point that Sunderland could not keep on living like this, dicing with their Premier League status so routinely. With the facilities and the talent at the club, they had to be better. But this was an occasion to exhale or, to paraphrase Advocaat, let it all hang out.
Advocaat’s starting lineup was loaded with attacking players, which reflected his determination for Sunderland to impose themselves on the game, rather than merely stand on the back foot. The reality, though, was that they would do plenty of that. There was a first start for Adam Johnson since his arrest and subsequent charges for engaging in sexual activity with a girl under 16 and he was booed by the home crowd. So was Jermain Defoe, the ex-Spur, who was asked to graft off the left wing, which really does not feel like his game. “My emotions came out when my friend [and assistant] Bert van Lingen came over, we have been 25 years together, and he started crying,” Advocaat said. “He said: ‘Let it go,’ so I said: ‘Why not?’ I didn’t need so much encouragement. Nobody expected this. We had nine games when we took over, and five away from home, including Arsenal and Chelsea. But we did it, with everybody together. To do it here, on our own, against a great team, gives me a special feeling.”
This was not a meaningless encounter for Arsenal and they came to call the tune, with trademark quick interchanges and attractive movement. Sunderland were pressed back. Jack Wilshere returned to the starting XI for the first time since 22 November and ankle ligament problems and he had his moments, as Arsenal tried to pick their way through. For Arsenal, the point has all but ensured a top-three finish – only a radical last-day swing of seven goals would usher Manchester United back into contention – and, for only the third time in 10 seasons, they will avoid a Champions League play-off. Wenger stands to be able to sell this season as a success, particularly if his team go on to beat Aston Villa on Saturday week to retain the FA Cup.
Wilshere was played in by Alexis Sánchez on 15 minutes only for Costel Pantilimon to surge from his goalline to clatter in to him. It looked a little clumsy but Pantilimon seemed to get the ball and get away with it. Both players were hurt, which led to the back-up goalkeeper and former Arsenal player, Vito Mannone, coming out to warm up. He was warmly applauded. Wenger, though, lamented a lack of sharpness from his players, a legacy, he said, of the exertions from Sunday’s 1-1 draw at United – a result that has come to look more important. Arsenal have failed to score in their last three home games. “We didn’t look like scoring, honestly,” Wenger said. “Even if we had 28 shots on goal. There was always something missing.” There are worries, Wenger admitted, ahead of the Cup final.
Arsenal set up camp in the Sunderland half and the visitors struggled to get out. The principal question of the evening came to be whether Arsenal could ally cutting edge to their possession and territorial advantage. Advocaat was indebted to Costel Pantilimon, the goalkeeper, who made a string of fine saves but he could also point to the four clear chances that his team created and passed up in the second half. Steven Fletcher, on for the ineffective Danny Graham at half-time, spurned three of them, although his general play was worthy of praise.
Sunderland got to the interval on level terms, having offered little as an attacking force. Their success was measured in terms of tackles won, closing down and blocks. A snap-shot of the all-for-one spirit was provided by the forward Connor Wickham, who dived in to execute a slide challenge inside the area on Sánchez. Lee Cattermole snapped, snarled and generally irritated Mesut Özil. From Adam Johnson’s pass, Fletcher was confronted by David Ospina only for the goalkeeper to block. On the hour, following a quick and direct break, the striker was again one-on-one with Ospina but fluffed the dinked finish. Fletcher will also wonder how he did not convert from close range after Patrick van Aanholt had flashed a shot across goal, while the Dutch full-back had earlier shot tamely at Ospina from Jermain Defoe’s pass.
Wilshere blazed a chance over the crossbar from Aaron Ramsey’s lay-off; Santi Cazorla worked Pantilimon; Özil lashed over from Wilshere’s cute dink and Olivier Giroud scooped wide after a similar tee-up from Wilshere. It was all very pretty but lacking in punch. Arsenal called the tune in the first half, pushing Sunderland back with trademark interchanges. The visitors struggled to escape their half. Jack Wilshere, who made his first start since 22 November, was thwarted at close quarters by Pantilimon and blazed another chance over from Aaron Ramsey’s ball.
Advocaat says he never shows any signs of pressure and he made a double substitution at half-time in an attempt to lift his team. Fletcher replaced the ineffective front-man, Danny Graham, with Jack Rodwell coming on for Wickham to bolster the midfield. Santi Cazorla worked Pantilimon; Mesut Özil lashed over from Wilshere’s cute dink and Olivier Giroud scooped wide after a similar tee-up from Wilshere. It was all very pretty but lacking in punch.
Fletcher made a difference, and he so nearly got the goal that might have allowed Sunderland to rest a little easier. First, from Johnson’s pass, he was confronted by only David Ospina but the goalkeeper blocked and then, on the hour, following a quick and direct break and, again, one-on-one, Fletcher fluffed the dinked finish. In between times, Defoe released Patrick van Aanholt but he could not beat Ospina. Sunderland measured their success in tackles won, closing down and blocks. John O’Shea and Sebastián Coates were excellent in central defence while Lee Cattermole snapped, snarled and generally irritated Özil.
Arsenal also had chances, in what was a more entertaining, end-to-end second-half. Hector Bellerín made inroads up the right and from his crosses, Giroud and Kieran Gibbs drew eye-catching saves out of Pantilimon while Sánchez had a shot blocked by Sebastián Coates. Sunderland came out as an attacking force after the interval but Arsenal remained threatening. Hector Bellerín made inroads up the right and from his crosses, Giroud and Kieran Gibbs drew eye-catching saves out of Pantilimon. Alexis Sánchez had a shot blocked by Coates.
The most outlandish moments were saved for the finish. Fletcher will still wonder how he did not convert from close-range after Van Aanholt had flashed a shot across goal while the visitors drank in the good fortune at the other end when Ramsey’s cross hit Billy Jones and cannoned off the post. The Arsenal substitute Theo Walcott also went perilously close before the full-time whistle brought the relief for Sunderland. The visitors drank in a moment of good fortune when Ramsey’s cross hit Billy Jones and cannoned off the post while the Arsenal substitute Theo Walcott went close before forcing the save of the evening from Pantilimon. Sunderland and Advocaat went through the mill. It made the result feel even sweeter.