Arsenal got back to winning ways at the Stadium of Light with an empathetic 4-1 victory over Sunderland to keep their title ambitions well in tact.
After missing chances to score in the opening minutes, flawless teamwork led to Alexis Sanchez finally giving Arsenal the lead in the 20th minute with a clinical header. Arsenal were latter punished after they struggled to convert their chances and put the game to bed, Jermain Defoe scoring a clear penalty around the hour mark.
Arsenal club responded emphatically seven minutes later with Olivier Giroud making an instant impact as a substitution marking his return with a volley.
The Gunners hadn’t even finished celebrating the lead when Giroud snuck in a third with a glancing header and two minutes later Sanchez scored his second taking the final score to 4-1.
Here’s how Twitter reacted to the scenes at the Stadium of Light.
Alexis Sanchez put Arsenal ahead with a powerful header.
Here’s the buildup for that Sanchez goal. 22 passes in all, classic Wengerball. #SFCvAFC pic.twitter.com/z5cXlHCmXt
— AllArsenal.com (@AllArsenalnews) October 29, 2016
Is it me, or does Alexis Sánchez get better every time you watch him? — TF⁹ (@TheFalseNein) October 29, 2016
Brilliant cross from WRONGNAMEBERLAIN and Sanchez directs a beautiful header past REMOVALS https://t.co/YARiH3YUqy
— Mirror __football (@MirrorFootball) October 29, 2016
Alexis Sanchez scores against Sunderland with his first effort of the game. pic.twitter.com/6bv1LO5VuG — Squawka News (@SquawkaNews) October 29, 2016
Sanchez is unreal.
— Arsenal FC (@FFArsenal) October 29, 2016
When 5’5 Sanchez beats 6’1 Kone to a header… #SUNARS pic.twitter.com/LAbQvfXDVx — Ladbrokes (@Ladbrokes) October 29, 2016
HT: #SUNARS 0-1 (#Sanchez 19) by @Scott_McRoy pic.twitter.com/M3yfj0tQfw
— Wundergol (@wundergol) October 29, 2016
All was quiet until Defoe brought Sunderland back in the game.
Jermain Defoe scores his first goal against Arsenal in over 12 years. #afc — afcstuff (@afcstuff) October 29, 2016
Defoe makes it 1-1. Arsenal paying a big price for failing to score a second.
— Mark Ogden (@MarkOgden_) October 29, 2016
On one end Arsenal denied a clear penalty and seconds later Arsenal concede a clear penalty. — 7amkickoff (@7amkickoff) October 29, 2016
1-1.
That’s what happens when you miss a hundred chances & a biased ref doesn’t give you a stonewall penalty…#Arsenal— Carl Bövis ⚽ (@CarlBovis_AFC) October 29, 2016
Now the ref gives Sunderland a penalty…. what a f*cking joker Martin Atkinson is!#Arsenal — Carl Bövis ⚽ (@CarlBovis_AFC) October 29, 2016
However, Arsenal responded instantly with Giroud back on the pitch making an instant impact.
GOALLLLLLLLLLLLLLL GIROUDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDD FIRST TOUCH 2-1
— AllArsenal.com (@AllArsenalnews) October 29, 2016
Arsenal at 1-0 compared to Arsenal at 1-1 pic.twitter.com/YqGgyUqW2E
— Bobby Tarantino (@JMcAlpine97) October 29, 2016
People underestimate Giroud’s importance to the side, gives us another dimension & is great competition for the other forwards too #AFC
— Patrick Timmons (@PatrickTimmons1) October 29, 2016
Giroud is a game changer heading into the winter… differing options up top. Bit of height and power.
— Le Grove (@LeGrove) October 29, 2016
We’ll win a lot of games using Giroud off the bench. I think Boro would’ve been one of them last week. Such a useful option.
— CD14 (@c_d_14) October 29, 2016
And 7 minutes later he headed his second.
Gif: Olivier Giroud kisses the camera during the celebrations after putting Arsenal 1-3 up. [@hughwizzy] pic.twitter.com/XI7aVYbSnm — afcstuff (@afcstuff) October 29, 2016
Never have I been so jealous of an inanimate object but that camera that Giroud kissed…
— GRude (@GiveIt2Giroud) October 29, 2016
Olivier Giroud scored with his first two touches today #AFC pic.twitter.com/k3HVmCfRdg — Jase The GÖÖNER (@JaseTheGooner) October 29, 2016
Giroud has scored more goals in 7 minutes than Zlatan did in 6 matches.
— Fayyadz Angullia (@fayyadz) October 29, 2016
Olivier Giroud celebrating #Arsenal pic.twitter.com/1D6KzI5MWO — CÖME ÖN ARSENAL (@davidhickman14) October 29, 2016
Giroud has scored 2 league goals in 72 mins this season. The same total as Kane, in 422 mins.#NorthLondon — David Wall (@1DavidWall) October 29, 2016
Giroud been injured since the start of the season and he’s already on course to outscore Ibra.
— Tom Gordon (@GoonerGordo) October 29, 2016
Footage of Olivier Giroud entering the field of play today. #SUNARS pic.twitter.com/fian4ymvRs — Bleacher Report UK (@br_uk) October 29, 2016
Giroud back to giving Ozil an assist career. Tears. I’m in tears.
— Tom Gordon (@GoonerGordo) October 29, 2016
Arsenals plan B Giroud taking care of things. 2 good crosses 2 goals today in this game. Old school ways! — Rio Ferdinand (@rioferdy5) October 29, 2016
Alexis Sanchez fired his second giving Arsenal a three goal lead. FT Sunderland 1-4 Arsenal.
4-1 ARSENAL. pic.twitter.com/9mIEbc8Eca
— Footy Accumulators (@FootyAccums) October 29, 2016
Bad day for the little Wenger out mob, the ‘not a striker’ scoring 2 more and ‘useless’ Giroud scoring 2. Oh and top of the league! 🖑🖑🖑 — ‘Arsenal Guvnor’ (@ArsenalGuvnor) October 29, 2016
I’d be okay with Giroud and Sanchez playing a game of “anything you can do I can do better” for the rest of the season.
— Poorly Drawn Arsenal (@cantdrawarsenal) October 29, 2016
Giroud and Ramsey ruining Arsenal’s style of play by making 3 goals in 5 minutes — GunnerPumpkin 🎃 (@gunnerpunner) October 29, 2016
Turns out that the light at the end of the tunnel was a train after all. #SUNARS
— invinciblog (@invinciblog) October 29, 2016
65 mins 1-1 77 mins 1-4#SUNARS — NOW TV Sport (@NOWTVSport) October 29, 2016
Sunderland fans after Arsenal jumped out to a 4-1 lead. #SUNARS pic.twitter.com/KVSos3bfmo
— NBC Sports Soccer (@NBCSportsSoccer) October 29, 2016
FT: Sunderland 1-4 Arsenal Alexis 19′ Giroud 71′ Giroud 76′ Alexis 78′ Top of the league! pic.twitter.com/sGk8pRntqZ — Arsenal (@tomgunner14) October 29, 2016
Arsenal extend their unbeaten run to 14 games in all competitions. #afc pic.twitter.com/OlmCVX7h29
— afcstuff (@afcstuff) October 29, 2016
#Arsenal on top now, as it stands. pic.twitter.com/VFZm85KUYI — FourFourTwo ⚽️ (@FourFourTwo) October 29, 2016
Good convincing win today for @Arsenal and @_OlivierGiroud_ #2touch2goals
— David Seaman (@thedavidseaman) October 29, 2016
Wouldn’t be Arsenal if we didn’t make it a bit more exciting than it needed to be. — Terje (@ArsenalTerje) October 29, 2016
Arsenal clearing the Stadium of Light quicker than a suspect package.
— Le Grove (@LeGrove) October 29, 2016
Arsenal fans right now… pic.twitter.com/W2CWyS3qQD — 8 Fact Football (@8Fact_Footballl) October 29, 2016
Arsenal’s reaction since Sunderland score the equaliser. #SUNARS pic.twitter.com/NKqGf8l3g6
Great result and another three points. 9 wins from 10 now. 4-1 #SFCvAFC
— AllArsenal.com (@AllArsenalnews) October 29, 2016
— Chhota Batman (@mooziek) October 29, 2016
No Santi Carzola, Theo Walcott, Xhaka and Monreal. 4 starters, and we still won with 4 goals. Team’s on fire 🔥. Get in there @Arsenal pic.twitter.com/ShWYSSAAD5 — Ray (@Rage06) October 29, 2016
FT Sunderland 1 vs 4 ARSENAL Alexis 50 Goals at Arsenal, Giroud and Ramsey back, What a night!
— AIS Jombang (@AIS_JMBG) October 29, 2016
When Arsenal fans find out they are on top of the table and it gets to their heads pic.twitter.com/6IzfynfFeC — ♠CHAUNCEYS GAMBIT♣ (@AYUYO_) October 29, 2016
My Favourite Picture right now 😂👏#SUNARS pic.twitter.com/UM4jHtl2Sv
— Dr. Kelechi Anyikude (@KcKelani) October 29, 2016
Dazzling ending to game shows real truth to our title chances #COYG Arsenal #SUNARS — Guy Finlayson (@akaTheMatter) October 29, 2016