Van Persie stars as young Gunners earn their spurs

Sunderland 0 Arsenal 3

The Gunners, who rested a number of key players, were already ahead through Emmanuel Eboue’s spectacular long-range strike on the hour mark, when Arturo Lupoli was tripped in the box.

While first-teamers Robert Pires and Thierry Henry contrived to miss a comical penalty at the weekend, Van Persie made no mistake this time. The young Dutchman sealed victory late on with a confident finish.

Arsenal’s Arturo Lupoli had the first chance of the game, latching on to a through ball after a slip from Caldwell after 15 minutes, but Nyron Nosworthy cleared the danger with a good tackle.

Van Persie was most threatening for the visitors.

The Dutchman should have opened the scoring in the 29th minute, latching on to Sebastian Larsson’s through-ball but failing to curl his effort around Alnwick before the danger was cleared.

Liam Lawrence responded a minute later but his shot from long distance lacked power and was easily saved by Manuel Almunia.

Senderos sent a free header wide from an Owusu-Abeyie corner.

Anthony Le Tallec headed over at the other end, also from a corner, and it remained goalless at the break.

The hosts posed the first threat of the second half when Senderos sliced a clearance towards his own goal and Almunia had to claim.

Van Persie found himself denied by Alnwick again, this time in the 49th minute when he was found by Larsson before unleashing a well-struck drive low at the young goalkeeper.

The Gunners took the lead with a stunning strike on the hour mark. Emmanuel Eboue stepped forward from right-back, receiving the ball from Alexandre Song in his stride and beating Alnwick with a drive into the top corner from 25 yards.

Van Persie doubled the lead after 67 minutes from the penalty spot after Lupoli had been challenged by Hoyte and Smith, with Hoyte appearing to trip the striker in the penalty area.

McCarthy responded by sending ex-Waterford United player Daryl Murphy for Welsh, and Dean Whitehead for Carl Robinson.

Whitehead had an opportunity but his shot from distance was always rising. At the other end, Lupoli’s low drive that crept wide past Alnwick’s left post.

With four minutes remaining Van Persie was played behind the defence and he slid the ball under Alnwick to seal victory.

SUNDERLAND: Alnwick, Nosworthy, Collins, Caldwell, Hoyte, Lawrence, Robinson, Woods, Welsh, Stead, Le Tallec.

ARSENAL: Almunia, Eboue, Cygan, Campbell, Senderos, Larsson, Muamba, Song Billong, Owusu-Abeyie, Van Persie, Lupoli.

Referee: M Messias (S Yorkshire)