Arsenal continued their march towards the Premier League title with a 3-0 victory over Sunderland at the Emirates Stadium.
Martin Zubimendi opened the scoring with a stunning strike in the first half before Viktor Gyokeres came off the bench to score his second and third goals in two Premier League games to seal the victory.
The Gunners’ lead at the top of the league extended to nine points ahead of a difficult game for title-rivals Mancheseter City at Liverpool on Sunday, with third-placed Aston Villa dropping more points in a 1-1 draw at Bournemouth.
Zubimendi stunner puts leaders ahead in first half
Kai Havertz was presented with a free header from a Leandro Trossard cross with not even a minute on the clock but the German did not get enough on it in what was a good early chance spurned.
Sunderland should then have put the visitors ahead when David Raya was unable to claim the ball from a set piece as the ball fell to Brian Brobbey, whose shot was brilliantly read by Havertz to block the danger.
The Black Cats will have had a huge sigh of relief when a sliced clearance by Trai Hume almost found its way into the top corner in what would have been a bizarre way to open the scoring.
Declan Rice went close with a brilliant curling effort from distance which flew a matter of inches past the post.
Arsenal struggled with fluidity for much of the first half but out of nowhere, they were ahead when Zubimendi found the net with a brilliant strike from range after some nice work from Trossard down the left.
And for all of Sunderland’s good work in the first half, they could easily have been two down seconds later when Gabriel Jesus rounded Robin Roefs only for Daniel Ballard to clear the ball away.
Gyokeres kills off Sunderland fightback
Arsenal were given a stark reminder that it was all to play for in this game after a great start from Sunderland in the second half. Chemsdine Talbi forced a brilliant save from Raya but the Spanird keeper was at fault when he flapped at a ball not for the first time in the game but the ball didn’t quite drop for Hume.
Gyokeres came off the bench to score his second in as many games at a crucial time as the visitors failed to clear the ball effectively and Arsenal’s No14 punished them by powering the ball home as he was on his way down.
That goal killed off Sunderland’s growing momentum and put the leaders well on course to maintain their handsome lead at the top of the Premier League and it could have been three but for Ballard’s clearance from what looked to be customary goal from a corner for the leaders.
Gyokeres had his second in added time after a brilliant break from fellow sub Gabriel Martinelli who beat two defenders before unselfishly laying the ball onto his striker who did the rest.
