Walcott’s return can fire Gunners

Sunderland 0 Arsenal 2

Wins at the Stadium of Light, from where they’ve now emerged victorious on their last four visits, are hardly the kind of red-letter results upon which to base sweeping statements that all is well. But having avoided the ignominy of posting their lowest points tally at this stage of any campaign under Arsene Wenger thanks to a win the visitors made hard work of, there’s a case to be made that results will continue on their recent upward curve. The imminent return of Theo Walcott, an un-used substitute on his return to the squad after a 10-month injury absence, can only bolster such hopes.

“People say we’re not playing our best football,” Mathieu Flamini, the Arsenal midfielder, said. “It’s been tough, but if you look where we are, we’re in the top six, and hopefully on course for the next stage of the Champions League, so it’s not been a bad start this season. We know we can play better but you can’t do any more than win. Now we must make sure we work hard enough to get back in to the title race.”