3 standout players from Arsenal's difficult 2-0 Premier League win at Sunderland
Strong tackles, a siege mentality and the odd judo roll – this was the type of match that past Arsenal teams might not have survived.
Indeed, the current iteration almost fell foul of it themselves. They got dragged into a physical scrap by their hosts and, but for a top-class penalty save, could have easily dropped their first points of the campaign.
It turns out the Gunners are primed for such battles – a sign of champions, they say (would critics still say that if Enzo Le Fée had scored?) – and they proved capable of resisting home pressure before the second-half dagger from Bruno Guimaraes.
So, three more points were won at a tough venue, and here are three standout Arsenal players who helped to get them.
David Raya is rightly earning plaudits for his brilliant penalty save; Le Fée’s shot was well hit, seeming destined for the bottom corner until the Spaniard tipped it at full stretch against the base of the post to deny him.
It was a huge intervention in itself and even more so in the context of the match as the score read 0-0 at the time and Sunderland were very much in the ascendency. Consider, too, how the crucial goal by Guimaraes would come just 121 seconds after the spot kick and the Raya save takes on even greater significance.
But he might have been Man of the Match anyway, because his composure to play out from the back and snatch crosses out of the air did much to stifle the buoyant hosts. An important save from Nordi Mukiele right on 90 minutes, showed that Raya has a knack for doing traditional goalkeeping jobs as well.
Arsenal fans know that David Raya is a truly world-class goalkeeper, regardless of who is the Spanish number one.
Injuries had caused a slow start to his Arsenal career but Bruno Guimaraes lit the spark under it after his half-time introduction.
Keeping a lid on this atmosphere is near impossible at the best of times, so you can imagine just how hard it is when you must get up to speed halfway through it. Oh, also, try doing it as a former captain of the hosts’ fiercest rivals.
Bruno gave it a real go and added a presence in midfield that had been lacking to some degree while Myles Lewis-Skelly was on the pitch. He also brought a cannon of a right boot to proceedings, which he used to devastating effect.
For one reason or another, the £75m is being used sparingly at the moment. No one will mind it if he continues to have this sort of impact when called upon.
Timber follows Bruno Guimaraes in proving that you only need 45 minutes to make an impact on the match.
And he did it having been out injured for the past six months too! The Dutchman replaced Ben White at the break and, somehow, he performed as if he had never been away. His ability to defend in one-on-one situations looked just as sharp as ever as he locked down Nilson Angulo on the left wing, who had tested the Arsenal defence up to that point.
He almost capped off his return with a set-piece goal near the end too, only for a tight offside call to go against him.
His return to action is timely (almost comical) given how White suffered a groin injury late in the first half. If his efforts from the bench are anything to go by, then Timber will slot in as seamlessly as ever at the back for Arsenal in his place.
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