Arsenal v Sunderland - As it happened

Arsenal v Sunderland - As it happened

The end

Arsenal manage to take all three points, and will now have to hope for a City defeat at Watford to have a realistic chance of making the top four. Alexis got the double after a frustrating 70 minutes for Arsenal.

Yellow card Mustafi

The defender goes in the book for a foul on Januzaj.

3 added minutes

Monreal wide!

Everybody having a go now. It's Arsenal's 34th attempt on goal, and only two goals... Great game from Pìckford.

Chance Januzaj!

A good run across goal from the winger, and his shot is deflected for a corner.

Off the bar!

Mustafi rises higher than anyone to get his head to the corner kick and Pickford directs the ball to the cross bar with his fingertips.

Giroud is replaced by Walcott

Pickford again!

The keeper raced off his line to deny Iwobi.

Arsenal get a second!

Alexis gets a second. And it is after another brilliant save from Pickford. The ball is swung in from the right and Giroud goes up for an acrobatic finish which is saved well. Sanchez picked up the rebound to double their lead.

GOAL!

Pickford again!

The keeper gets down well again to deny Iwobi's low shot.

Chance Xhaka!

Ozil pulled the ball back for the midfielder and Pickford got down well to stop.

Gooch on for Cattermole

Yellow card Cattermole

For bringing down Alexis.

Arsenal open the scoring!

And what an important goal it is. Xhaka played a brilliant ball over for Ozil's run, and the German squared for Alexis to tap into an empty net. Arsenal have finally broken down Sunderland.

GOAL!

Pickford saves!

Welbeck with a strong strike across goal which is saved.

Sunderland deep in their own half

The away team are pinned behind the ball for the final 20 minutes. Wenger has gone all in, introducing all the firepower. A draw is useless to the Gunners.

Iwobi on for Gibbs

Welbeck on for Ramsey

Wenger needs goals, and Ramsey goes off injured.

Giroud close!

The home side trying to control the game with time running out. Holding crossed from the right and Giroud's header across goal was not far off.

Chance Arsenal!

Mustafi volleyed towards goal after a delivery from the corner, and it is blocked by the defence.

Chance Ramsey!

The midfielder does well to create some space from the edge of the box, but his strike is saved. First shot in the second half comes after 10 minutes.

Yellow card O'Shea

Another booking, this time it's for the Sunderland defender for a foul on Ramsey.

Ozil yellow card

For protesting to the referee.

Yellow card Monreal

For bringing down Larsson. Not a good start for the hosts.

Chance Sunderland!

With Arsenal players forming a wall at the goal line, Larsson looks to play a clever dink behind, and the ball is cleared for a corner.

Indirect free kick Sunderland

The visitors have a free kick inside the six-yard box, at the byline.

Mistake Monreal!

The Spaniard plays a back pass for Cech which almost creeps into the goal, and Cech is forced to palm the ball away inside the box.

Arsenal get us underway!

Forty-five minutes with Champions League to play for.

The teams are back!

The players are back out at the Emirates.

Half time

Still no goals at the Emirates, but plenty of chances. Arsenal beginning to look frustrated as the chances are not taken.

Double chance Arsenal!

Nice move between Ramsey and Ozil, and the Welshman hits at goal to force a good stop from Pickford. The corner is in and Holding heads straight at the keeper.

Frustration growing

Arsenal players can see the clock ticking and they are not quite in control as they were at the beginning. Meanwhile City are 2-0 in front.

Bellerin side-netting!

Ozil slides the ball in for Bellerin's run, and the wing-back tries to fire inside the near post but is inches wide.

Cech saves again!

And once again the danger comes down the left, with Defoe looking to fire low past the keeper, who palms the effort away.

Cech saves!

Ndong breaks free down the left and he tries to shoot inside the near post but Cech got down to clear for a corner.

Sunderland push forward now

The home side have been on the ball mostly, but Sunderland look like a threat on the break.

Yellow card Bellerin

The right-back goes in the book for handling the ball as Sunderland were readying to break.

Xhaka wide!

Another opening for the Gunners with Alexis and Giroud with chances in the box, the rebound falls to Xhaka who blazes the ball wide.

Xhaka shoots!

Plenty of chances in the opening minutes, and this time the midfielder's left-footed shot is gathered by Pickford.

Pickford saves!

A nice move from the hosts and Ramsey threads the ball through to Giroud. The striker takes a touch and attempts to finish past the keeper who saves.

Goal disallowed!

Alexis again shoots from distance, and this time the ball hits the back of the net. The play is pulled back as the Chilean's strike seemed to come off of Giroud's arm.

Sanchez over the bar!

Arsenal look to get their first shot in, and Alexis fires from distance but it is well over.

Sunderland kick off!

Sanchez recovered

The Chilean was a doubt for the game after receiving a knock against Stoke, but he has made it in time.

Sunderland's dismal track record at the Emirates

The Black Cats have never won a game at the north London stadium. They have recorded 5 draws and 10 defeats.

Live updates of this Premier League fixture between Arsenal and Sunderland at the Emirates Stadium.

Lineups are in!

Arsenal not losing hope of Champions League football, and they currently sit three points behind Manchester City, who also play tonight. Sunderland visit the Emirates in search of an unlikely win to lift their spirits.

Official lineups: 

Arsenal: Cech, Holding, Mustafi, Monreal, Bellerin, Ramsey, Xhaka, Gibbs, Ozil, Sanchez, Giroud. 

Subs: Gabriel, Ospina, Walcott, Iwobi, Welbeck, Coquelin, Elneny.

Sunderland: Pickford, Jones, Kone, O'Shea, Manquillo, Larsson, Cattermole, Ndong, Borini, Defoe, Oviedo. 

Subs: Mannone, Rodwell, Lescott, Love, Gibson, Januzaj, Gooch.