Arsenal 3-1 Sunderland: 5 Talking Points
Holders Arsenal managed to secure a place in the Fourth Round draw of the FA Cup by defeating Sunderland 3-1 at the Emirates on Saturday evening. The Gunners were given a shock when Sunderland midfielder Jeremain Lens snatched the ball from Koscielny’s feet and scored early on.But Arsenal replied through Joel Campbell who was found in front of goal by Theo Walcott. Two goals in quick succession in the second half from substitute Aaron Ramsey and striker Olivier Giroud put the Gunners on their way to a 14th consecutive FA Cup match win.Here are the major talking points from the game at the Emirates:
#1 Oxlade-Chamberlain needs to pass the ball
Arsenal midfielder Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain was again in the starting XI when the Gunners took the field on Saturday. This was exactly the kind of game that he should be grabbing by the scruff of the neck and in the process staking a claim for a regular first-team spot. He was given the more central defensive midfield role by Wenger as Walcott and Campbell started along with Iwobi in the middle.
The criticism of the young Englishman has to be the opportunities he wastes when he does not pass the ball when his teammates are free and in space. On three or four occasions in the game, Chamberlain ran with the ball and did not pass, only for him to be losing out to the Sunderland players. However, as his curling effort came back off the post, the fans would have asked why does he not shoot more often instead of just running with the ball.
Only this season Wenger urged the midfielder to play with more freedom, saying ‘sometimes he is too critical of himself’. Oxlade is indeed too harsh on himself, swinging his arms in frustration with every wrong decision or mistake, but at the same time, he does need to improve if he is to fulfil his unquestionable potential or even prove himself worthy of a starting berth for England at Euro 2016.