FA Premiership: If Arsenal were looking for a decent practice match to warm up for Saturday's FA Cup final they had better get one arranged. This 'game' between the highest and lowest scorers in the Premiership ended in predictable fashion with Arsenal racking up their 85th goal of the season.
Freddie Ljungberg notched a hat-trick on his comeback - proof that he will be fit for Cardiff - but the day was all about the other scorer, Thierry Henry. Chasing Ruud van Nistelrooy for the Golden Boot, he drew level temporarily with his 24th goal of the season but couldn't add to it.
But Henry often points out that he is more than a goalscorer and as Van Nistelrooy drew away Henry proceeded to show why, supplying the passes for each of Ljungberg's goals. It took his assists to 23 for the season, meaning he has scored or assisted in 47 of those 85 goals.
"He was a pleasure to watch," said Arsene Wenger. "He can score and provide which is the biggest sign of a great player."
Wenger said he was relaxed as he watched, but his ease was offset by knee ligament damage to Oleg Luzhny and an ankle injury to Ray Parlour. Luzhny is a serious doubt for Saturday and with Sol Campbell suspended and Martin Keown absent here, Wenger has defensive concerns.
Not yesterday. David Seaman made one save from a Sunderland side whose confidence is so low it is underground. They were probably beaten in the tunnel. Actual defeat was not that much longer in arriving.
In the seventh minute Sunderland's player of the year, Sean Thornton - 20 last week, made his debut in January, started 11 games - passed the ball directly to Dennis Bergkamp. As decisions go this was not the smartest. Bergkamp saw Henry off and running and the Frenchman provided another clinical finish, his right-foot flick sending the ball past Thomas Sorensen.
That was the end of the contest and the beginning of a procession. Five minutes later Henry teed up Bergkamp, who struck a post, then Henry blasted a drive on the run high into Sorensen's side-netting.
It was so one-sided it was an embarrassment. Sunderland were unable to achieve the basics of passing cleanly or tackling effectively. Six minutes before half-time Arsenal made it two, and what a goal. Henry was again fundamental, skipping past Thornton 70 yards from the target to initiate a Ljungberg finish seconds later. From Henry the ball went to Bergkamp, back to Henry and finally to Ljungberg. The Stadium of Light applauded.
In the second half the Arsenal players tried to get that Golden Boot for Henry but he refused to help himself, teeing up Ljungberg for two tap-ins in the 78th and 88th minutes. Arsenal were then applauded off. For Sunderland Kevin Phillips and Sorensen made conspicuous farewells on the whistle.
The rest were booed. Sunderland's average home crowd this season has been 39,684. They witnessed their team score the least number of goals in Premiership history and get the least number of points. They must be glad it is all over.
SUNDERLAND: Sorensen, Gray, Craddock, Bjorklund, Williams (McCartney 45), Black (Oster 45), Thornton (Ryan 45), McCann, Kilbane, Kyle, Phillips. Subs Not Used: Poom, Proctor. Booked: McCann.
ARSENAL: Seaman, Cole, Stepanovs, Luzhny, Toure, Pires (Pennant 64), Silva, Parlour (van Bronckhorst 45), Ljungberg, Bergkamp (Kanu 75), Henry. Subs Not Used: Warmuz, Garry. Goals: Henry 7, Ljungberg 39, 78, 88.
Referee: P Durkin (Dorset).
Guardian Service
