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Arsenal emphasised the gulf in class within the Premiership as they cast aside Sunderland with almost contemptuous ease at Highbury to put the pressure back onto Peter Reid. The match was over as a meaningful contest after just 10 minutes, with Kanu striking twice to take his tally in the past five games to five goals, just when injury has ruled out Dennis Bergkamp. By half-time it was 3-0 as Patrick Vieira struck and although Sunderland lost goalkeeper Thomas Sorensen with a suspected dislocated elbow, their problems were far more fundamental. For long periods, this was a side seemingly without direction or inspiration who were not only outclassed but also outfought and outrun. By the end, Arsenal were toying with the visitors as they nonchalantly knocked the ball around as if it was a practice match. Even though Jody Craddock scored a late consolation, the Gunners set a new Premiership record of 30 unbeaten games. Then again, in Reid's defence, Sunderland, who had won their previous two games against Aston Villa and Cambridge to give their under-fire boss some breathing space, were up against a side near the height of their powers. Having battered Leeds and PSV Eindhoven in the past fortnight away from home, as well as beating Auxerre, what chance did Sunderland realistically have at all? None was the emphatic answer and the writing was on the wall as soon as the team-sheets arrived, with Thierry Henry having passed a late fitness to take his place in the Premiership's most potent attack. Henry played his part in the opener after just three minutes, delivering a low corner which went straight through a clutch of defenders and curved around the post. Sorensen could only push the ball back into play off his line, but Kanu was the first to react as he hooked his shot into the net from close range. It took Arsenal's record of scoring in consecutive league games to 48 but if that was bad enough for Sunderland, much worse was still to follow. For the visitors, who were playing with Tore Andre Flo up front on his own, were 2-0 down with just nine minutes gone. Fredrik Ljungberg's neat back-flick sent Ashley Cole haring down the left flank and his deep cross found Kanu unmarked at the far post to head home his second goal of the game. There were further problems for Reid shortly afterwards as Sorensen was taken off in pain following an accidental collision with Henry and two defenders. That brought Thomas Myhre into the firing line, with Reid using the long delay to attempt to reorganise his shell-shocked team. There was simply no refuge, however. With Vieira dominant in midfield and Pascal Cygan in commanding form at the back, the only source of hope for the visitors was that Arsenal might relax too much. As it was, however, although the Gunners took it easy, they were never in any real danger. Indeed, even when Sunderland had a free-kick 30 yards out, they somehow managed to pass it into the defensive wall. And with a few minutes of the first half left, it was 3-0 as Myhre could only parry Wiltord's fierce low free-kick and Vieira headed home the loose ball. Sunderland, who pushed David Bellion further up in a revised 4-4-2 formation, did manage to create a half-chance immediately after the restart as Flo sent a dangerous through-ball towards Reyna. However, David Seaman's lunge towards the ball - his first serious involvement in the game - was enough to put the Sunderland midfielder off and Arsenal were soon back in control. When they did raise their game, the effect was noticeable. A flowing move involving Kanu and Wiltord ended in Henry's goalbound shot being blocked at the last moment by Darren Williams, while Wiltord himself and Gilberto also came close. Cole lashed a half-volley into the side-netting but after Niall Quinn had joined the fray on his 36th birthday to replace Flo, Sunderland pulled a goal back through an acrobatic diving header from Craddock. That seemed more likely to spark Arsenal into scoring fourth than prompting any sort of comeback as the Gunners finished the game with several gears left to spare. One thing is sure, however. Sunderland will not be alone in suffering such heavy defeats at Highbury this season. Teams Arsenal: Seaman, Lauren, Campbell, Cygan, Cole, Ljungberg (Toure 78), Vieira, Silva, Wiltord (Edu 77), Henry (Jeffers 77), Kanu. Subs Not Used: Taylor, Luzhny. Goals: Kanu 3, 9, Vieira 45. Sunderland: Sorensen (Myhre 13), Craddock, Babb, Reyna, Bellion, Williams, McCann, Arca, Kilbane, Thirlwell (Piper 58), Flo (Quinn 74). Subs Not Used: McCartney, Stewart. Goals: Craddock 82. Attendance: 37,902 Referee: D Elleray (Middlesex). |