Arsenal travelled to the Stadium of Light to take on Sunderland this afternoon knowing that a win would move them above Everton into fifth in the Premier League table.
A first half strike from Santi Cazorla was enough to hand the Gunners all three points despite having Carl Jenkinson sent off.
Despite late pressure from Sunderland, Arsenal held out for the win to continue their push for the final Champions League spot.
You can read how events all unfolded with Sports Mole's minute-by-minute coverage below.
Good afternoon! Thank you for joining Sports Mole for today's match between Sunderland and Arsenal! Let's get straight down to business.
Sunderland come into this game in mixed form, having won one, drawn one and lost one of their last three games. They have won two of their last six league games and two of their last eight in all competitions, leaving them 12th in the Premier League table.
Arsenal, meanwhile, have lost just one of their last six games in all competitions and are unbeaten in four games. They could move into fifth place with a win today as Everton, the current occupants of that position, don't play until tomorrow.
Before we get stuck into the nitty gritty of what this match might mean to either team, let's have some team news.
The big news for Sunderland is that skipper Lee Cattermole returns in one of two changes for the Black Cats. He comes in for Seb Larsson, while Danny Rose replaces David Vaughan.
Arsenal have also made two changes, replacing Abou Diaby and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain with Aaron Ramsey and Santi Cazorla.
SUNDERLAND STARTING XI: Mignolet; Gardner, Rose, Bramble, O'Shea; Cattermole, N'Diaye, Colback, Johnson; Sessegnon, Fletcher
SUNDERLAND SUBS: Bardsley, Larsson, Graham, Vaughan, Mangane, Cuellar, Westwood
ARSENAL STARTING XI: Szczesny; Sagna, Mertesacker, Koscielny, Monreal; Arteta, Wilshere, Walcott, Ramsey, Cazorla; Giroud
ARSENAL SUBS: Diaby, Rosicky, Podolski, Oxlade-Chamberlain, Jenkinson, Miquel, Mannone
So, what do you make of those teams then? No real surprises on either side, but there is no place again for Lukas Podolski so it will be interesting to see how Wenger sets his team up.
Ramsey, Wilshere, Arteta and Cazorla are all mainly centre-midfielders, so don't expect the same sort of width that Arsenal have provided in recent weeks. This could also see Walcott move into a more central role alongside Giroud, unless Wenger opts to play Cazorla out on the left.
Sunderland will be looking to their attacking trio of Johnson, Sessegnon and Fletcher to provide their threat today. On form, each one can be a big danger to opposition defences, and the likes of Per Mertesacker will have to be wary of the tricky skills of Sessegnon and Johnson in particular.
The Black Cats could move into the top half with a win today, depending on the result in Stoke's game against Reading. A draw would be enough to see them move ahead of West Ham into 11th, however, as the Hammers don't play until tomorrow.
Arsenal fans will be interested by what has happened at White Hart Lane today as Spurs, the team currently in that valuable final Champions League spot, take on Newcastle. The game is in the very final stages and a Gareth Bale brace has put Spurs into a 2-1 lead, which means that Arsenal will not have the chance to move fourth today.
They can, however, move into fifth today, overtaking Everton. A point will be enough to displace the Toffees due to Arsenal's superior goal difference.
The Gunners have recent history on their side in this one too, as they have lost just one of their last seven matches against Sunderland.
The Black Cats are unbeaten in their last two against Arsenal, however, drawing the reverse fixture 0-0 and beating them 2-0 in the FA Cup just over a year ago.
In the league, however, Sunderland have only beaten Arsenal once since 2000, triumphing in 2009 courtesy of Darren Bent's strike.
Going further back, the record is a bit more even. Arsenal just edge the win count of the 133 meetings between these to sides, triumphing 50 time compared to Sunderland's 45.
Arsenal won the same fixture last season, with a certain Thierry Henry scoring a 91st minute winner to seal a 2-1 victory.
With no Henry to call on this time, however, Wenger will be looking to Giroud and Walcott in particular to provide the goals. They have both been in pretty good goalscoring form recently, so he will be hoping that they keep that up this afternoon.
BREAKING: We're just hearing that Koscielny has been injured in the warm up for Arsenal. More on this as and when we get it.
Meanwhile, let's make a prediction! This won't be an easy match for the Gunners by any means, but if anyone is going to win it it will be them, I think. I can't see Sunderland claiming all three points, but I can see them nicking a draw so I'm going to plump for 2-2.
Sunderland have been disappointing at the Stadium of Light this season, picking up just 16 points from their 12 home games - the fifth worst record in the league.
Arsenal, meanwhile, have the sixth best away record in the league this season, picking up 17 points on their travels.
There are plenty more 3pm kickoffs in the Premier League this afternoon, and I'll be keeping you up to date with events from around the country.
We're nearing kickoff here at the Stadium of Light. What will the next 90 minutes of football hold for us?
We're underway! Sunderland take the ball and launch an attack straight away, but N'Diaye can only head it over.
CHANCE! Walcott finds space on the edge of the box having cut inside from the wing, but his left-footed shot is easily saved by Mignolet.
CHANCE! Arsenal have another shooting opportunity but again Mignolet denies them. It's Walcott down the right again, and from a tight angle he squeezes in a shot which is beaten away by the Sunderland keper.
Both sides have seen quite a bit of the ball in the opening stages, but Arsenal have used it better.
Walcott races away from a couple of players and is brought down as he looks to advance into the box, but the referee doesn't blow for a foul.
A few tough tackle have come in on Arsenal players that the ref hasn't blown for, yet Sunderland are getting quite a few free kicks. Needless to say, Arsene Wenger is not happy.
Lee Cattermole and Carl Jenkinson have both picked up yellows in the opening 10 minutes.
Sunderland crowd Arsenal out on the edge of the box as the Gunners come forward again. They look most likely to score at the moment.
SHOT! Just as I say that Fletcher gets a shot away which is on target, but easy for Szczesny.
CHANCE! At the other end, Giroud has a shooting opportunity inside the box, but he drags his shot just past the post when he perhaps should've done better.
The Gunners come forward again, but Sunderland rebuff them once more. They've held firm so far.
SHOT! Sessegnon lets fly from range but it goes a long way over the crossbar. Sunderland are yet to have a really good chance in this one but they have had some promising moments.
Arteta is down after an off-the-ball incident with Cattermole. It seemed fairly innocent but Cattermole has already been booked so he has to be careful.
Ramsey tries to squeeze a cross in down the left but is denied. The ball rebounds back off his leg and loops into the arms of Mignolet.
Gardner has a good chance to cross the ball but fluffs his lines and it trickles out for a goalkick. Sunderland can't really afford to waste attacking platforms like that.
CHANCE! Wilshere comes forward and has a go at goal, but Mignolet pulls off a fine flying save to deny the England international. The Sunderland keeper was at full stretch to push that one away.
Wilshere had actually teed up Ramsey who had the effort himself.
GOAL! Sunderland 0-1 Arsenal (Santi Cazorla)
Mignolet is finally beaten as the Gunners work the ball to Cazorla in the box. The Spaniard drills it in low and there is too much power on it for the Sunderland keeper as it goes below him and into the net. Arsenal deserve their lead.
Arsenal come forward again and are only denied a second by a fine interception from Bramble. The ball is on its way to Walcott at the back post but Bramble slides in to put it behind for a corner.
Sessegnon beats Jenkinson way too easily on the left flank before standing a cross up towards Fletcher. The Scotland international can't reach it, however, and it goes into the arms of Szczesny.
CLOSE! Walcott comes within inches of adding to his impressive recent goalscoring record. Monreal tees the England international up on the edge of his box and he drills it just wide.
SAVE! Bramble goes for a header clear but gets it all wrong and only succeeds in giving it straight to an Arsenal player, who goes for a first-time volley which is easy for Mignolet.
CHANCE! What a chance! How are Arsenal not 2-0 up?! Ramsey bundles his way through and only has Mignolet to beat from about six yards out, but the Sunderland keeper denies the Arsenal man. Really should have scored there.
HALF TIME: Sunderland 0-1 Arsenal
Arsenal will be very happy with that first half performance. They've been in control for the vast majority of it and deservedly lead at the break courtesy of Santi Cazorla's strike.
Sunderland, meanwhile, will be disappointed with how little they have threatened going forward. They will still fancy their chances of getting a goal in this one, especially if they start to push a bit more in the second half, but as it stands the Gunners are very much in control.
Mignolet has really kept his side in this one. There was nothing he could do about Cazorla's strike but he has made some crucial saves, particularly from Ramsey at the end of the half.
Goals have been few and far between elsewhere around the coutry, but Swansea have managed to take a 2-0 lead over QPR. The only other game in the Premier League has come at Stamford Bridge, where Chelsea have taken a 1-0 lead over Wigan.
The stats are heavily weighed in Arsenal's favour as well. They have enjoyed 57% of possession, having nine shots, seven of which have been on target. Sunderland, meanwhile, have had just three shots with one on target.
SUNDERLAND SUB: The Black Cats have made a change at the break, bringing on Larsson for Cattermole.
We're back underway at the Stadium of Light! Sunderland immediately have a good penalty claim which is waved away by the ref. The home fans are not happy!
Sunderland are enjoying quite a bit of the ball early on in this half.
Wilshere is felled by N'Diaye in the middle of the field and stays down. It's always a worry when he goes down given his injury history. He may not be able to continue.
ARSENAL SUB: Sure enough, Wilshere goes off and is replaced by Abou Diaby. That might be a precautionary sub but Wenger will be hopeful that it is nothing serious.
Ramsey is now limping after he was caught by Larsson, and Arteta goes down soon after. Arsenal's midfield is taking a battering at the moment.
CLOSE! Giroud chests the ball down on the edge of the box and turns on it before having a dig. Mignolet is worried and is at full stretch to try and get it, but luckily for him the ball skims inches wide of the post.
CHANCE! That really should be 1-1! Ramsey is dispossessed in the middle of the park by Sessegnon, who advances on goal before slipping Fletcher in. The Scotland international has plenty of time to pick his spot, but he slices his effort wide.
CLOSE! Cazorla trades passes with Diaby before getting past Bramble and firing an effort across goal, but for what feels like the 100th time today it flashes just past the post.
RED CARD! Sunderland's chances have taken a turn for the better as Arsenal are reduced to ten men. Jenkinson is given a second yellow for a terrible tackle on Sessegnon. The ref had no choice to but give him a second yellow there, that was a poor challenge.
SHOT! Giroud picks up the ball and cuts inside on his left, working space to shoot on the edge of the box. He curls his effort some way over the bar, however.
CHANCE! Sunderland come close to grabbing an equaliser on two occasions in quick succession. First, Colback is just denied by a last-minute challenge before Fletcher is found with a cross at the back post but opts to head it back towards his teammates rather than go for goal himself.
CHANCE! Sunderland are really knocking on the door at the moment! Danny Rose finds space inside the box but he, like Fletcher minutes before him, goes for the cross rather than shooting. The resulting corner evades everyone as Szczesny tries to claim it but misses.
CHANCE! Diaby exchanges passes inside the box and fires a first-time effort towards goal. He should do better, however, and his shot is straight at the keeper.
OFF THE POST! The ten men of Arsenal come within a whisker of doubling their lead! Walcott races through on goal and dinks it past the onrushing Mignolet. It looks destined for the bottom corner but comes back off the post before being scrambled clear.
CHANCE! The hosts hit back with a chance of their own as Fletcher finds space to shoot, but Szczesny denies the Scot with a fine save. That was a real chance to make it 1-1 there, it was Mertesacker's poor clearance that resulted in the chance.
It's quite an open game at the moment. I can see either side nicking a goal, this one is not over yet.
YELLOW CARD! Sunderland pick up a free kick in a good crossing position as Walcott commits a foul. The England man is booked for his troubles.
CHANCE! Titus Bramble, of all people, has two clear chances in quick succession. The ball is headed into the mix where Bramble is waiting to head towards goal, but Szczesny pulls off a superb save to push it out for a corner. Straight after a corner causes a goalmouth scramble and Bramble just has to make good contact with the ball and it will be 1-1, but he slices his effort from about five yards out. What a shocking miss!
Sunderland are really knocking on the door! Arsenal need to hold out here, and they've been quite lucky to do so so far.
Bramble is involved at the other end, clearing a ball from pretty much under his own crossbar.
We will have four minutes of added time here.
It is all Sunderland at the moment and Szczesny is forced into another save and from the resulting corner Bramble is involved again but just denied by Diaby!
CHANCE! Giroud probably should've killed the game off there. He comes forward and has options either side of him but goes for goal himself, only to fire over the bar.
Sunderland have a corner in the last minute and up comes Mignolet! The Sunderland keeper comes so close to getting his head on it on two occasions, but his opposite number eventually collects it.
FULL TIME: Sunderland 0-1 Arsenal
There we have it! An exciting game comes to an end and Arsenal move up to fifth in the Premier League courtesy of Cazorla's first-half strike.
It was probably a deserved win for the Gunners in the end but Sunderland really tested their 10 men towards the end there and have Szczesny to thank for their clean sheet. The Black Cats, meanwhile, will be disappointed at losing that one considering their pressure towards the end.
Right, that's it from me today! Thank you for joining Sports Mole for today's game as a ten man Arsenal held out for the win. I'll leave you with Callum Mulvihill's match report, and be sure to stick around for match analysis, which should be on site within half an hour.
Written by
Barney Corkhill
Barney Corkhill
