Arsenal 3 - Sunderland 1: Gunners overcome injury blues to see off brave Black Cats

Giroud scored at both ends as Arsenal went second

ARSENAL capitalised on Manchester City and Manchester United failing to win and jumped to second in the Premier League table with a narrow win at the Emirates.

 

With three key midfielders out with injury in Alexis Sanchez, Santi Cazorla, and Mikel Arteta out, the game was all about returning to winning ways for Arsenal.

With Aaron Ramsey and Mathieu Flamini deployed in central midfield, Arsenal took the lead just after the half-hour mark, Mesut Ozil picking out Joel Campbell who slotted the ball home from ten yards.

It was Ozil's 12th assist of the season, but Sunderland were level 12 minutes later, when Olivier Giroud turned a free-kick into his own net.

But the Frenchman made up for it after the break, converting Nacho Monreal's cross after 63 minutes. 

Sunderland came close several times, finding Petr Cech in superb form, but Ramsey made sure of the points in stoppage time, hooking the ball in from close range after a goalmouth scramble.