Arsenal vs Sunderland match report: Aaron Ramsey and Olivier Giroud goals help see cup holders through

Arsenal 3 Sunderland 1

Arsenal midfielder Aaron Ramsey celebrates his goal (Getty Images)

After a slow start to the game, Arsenal have ultimately made a strong start to the competition, as they seek to become the third club to win the FA Cup three times in a row – and the first in over a century.

They settled for three goals from this game, though it could have been so much more in a rampant second half in which they reduced Sunderland’s early lead to rubble

Within that, in a competition Arsenal now have plenty of experience, some of the more inexperienced players were very impressive. Alex Iwobi, 19, gave a fine account of himself in midfield, while Hector Bellerin was the effective match-winner with two brilliant assists for Aaron Ramsey and then Olivier Giroud. Sunderland’s own debutant Jordan Pickford prevented it from being a much bigger win, with a saves that ranged from solid to spectacular.

Allardyce was content his team were happy just to hang on, amid more criticisms of the fixture list.

There was nothing spectacular about the opening goal of the game, although Jeremain Lens showed impressive vigour to burst through midfield on 15 minutes. With just Callum Chambers in defensive midfield, the holders left a chasm to run into in front of their defence. Kieran Gibbs did claim the ball from Lens, only to play a clumsy ball to Laurent Koscielny, who was robbed by Lens for the opening goal.

“We were a bit shocked by being 1-0 down,” Wenger said. “It took a while to find our game. We reshuffled midfield and, after that, slowly in the second half, we took over, played in their half, scored three goals.”

Arsenal had taken over even before then, with Joel Campbell’s clipped 25th-minute equaliser a sign of what was to come for Sunderland. The home side built steadily in the second half with a series of chances and, once Aaron Ramsey came on, they had the outlet. Bellerin set him up on 72 minutes to make it 2-1, before the Spanish full-back played a fine pass for Giroud to make it 3-1.

“Every time he went forward, he created a goal chance,” Wenger said of Bellerin. “He’s only 20 years old. A lot more to come from him.”

Wenger evidently feels the same about Iwobi. “I liked the timing of his passes… he’s not scared to take people on.” He added that Arsenal will probably only bring in one player in this transfer window.

Allardyce declared himself happy with Sunderland’s concentration and effort in the circumstances, but again criticised a schedule that means his team having to travel 1,800 miles in a week to play three away games – and hinted that his under-strength selection is scrutinised in a way other managers’ aren’t.

“The team tried their best today. I don’t think I could ask for any more,” the Sunderland manager said. “I was infuriated by the fixtures – compared to Tottenham Hotspur and Swansea City [who Sunderland both play in the next six days]. I’d be very interested in seeing Swansea’s team [today] and how many players they play.”

“If I was Alan [Curtis] I wouldn’t play my full team. But I’m not Alan. I’m not Jurgen Klopp either!”

Olivier Giroud pounces to tap in the third (Getty Images)

Arsenal: (4-3-3) Cech; Bellerin, Gabriel, Koscielny, Gibbs; Oxlade-Chamberlain, Chambers (Arteta, 68), Iwobi (Ramsey, 68); Campbell (Reine-Adelaide, 82), Giroud, Walcott

Sunderland: (4-5-1) Pickford; Yedlin, Coates, O’Shea (Jones, 66), Van Aanholt; Lens, Yedlin, Cattermole (M’Vila, 58), Toivonen, Graham; Fletcher (Mavrias, 76)

Referee: Martin Atkinson

Man of the match: Hector Bellerin

Match rating: 7/10