Times Sport
Sunderland book a place in FA Cup quarter-finals
7:10pm Saturday 18th February 2012
SUNDERLAND are in the FA Cup quarter-finals for the first time in eight seasons after seeing off Arsenal in this evening's fifth-round tie at the Stadium of Light.
The Black Cats gained considerable revenge for last weekend's league defeat at the hands of the Gunners as they secured a last-eight spot to strengthen dreams of a first major trophy since 1973.
Kieran Richardson's first-half strike set Sunderland on their way, with the full-back cracking home via the aid of a deflection after Arsenal's defenders failed to clear a Seb Larsson free-kick.
Arsenal attempted to push for an equaliser after the break, but a lightning-quick counter-attack involving Stephane Sessegnon and Larsson resulted in Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain bundling the ball into his own net.
As a result, Sunderland's players will be eagerly awaiting the quarter-final draw which will be made live on ITV tomorrow.
The Wearsiders made one change from last weekend's league defeat to the Gunners with skipper Lee Cattermole returning in place of Fraizer Campbell.
The move strengthened the hosts' midfield, with Sessegnon asked to plough a lone furrow in attack.
The Benin international was full of running, but Sunderland struggled to create too many chances during a competitive if somewhat scrappy first half.
Cattermole's quick free-kick enabled Sessegnon to flash a low 14th-minute strike narrowly past the post, but Lukas Fabianski's main duty before the break was collecting a couple of dangerous crosses delivered by left winger James McClean.
Arsenal were no more creative, although Mikel Arteta went close with a sixth-minute free-kick that flew just past the left-hand upright.
The visitors finally recorded the game's first shot on target shortly before the half-hour mark, but Sunderland goalkeeper Simon Mignolet was equal to the task.
Robin van Persie's through ball sent Gervinho galloping down the middle, but Mignolet turned the Ivory Coast international's fiercely-hit shot over the crossbar.
Sunderland had not found the target themselves at that stage, but when they did with five minutes of the first half remaining, the deadlock was broken.
Larsson delivered a free-kick from the right, Thomas Vermaelen could only clear to Richardson, and the full-back drilled home from the corner of the area via a deflection off Sebastien Squillaci.
The Black Cats came close to adding a second moments later, but after Jack Colback kept Larsson's cross alive at the back post, McClean could only prod the ball wide of the target.
Sunderland continued to dominate at the start of the second half, but Michael Turner could not find the target as he met Larsson's right-wing free-kick.
Arsenal desperately needed to produce something to keep their season alive in the wake of last week's humiliating 4-0 Champions League defeat to AC Milan, but save for a van Persie free-kick that was deflected wide, the visitors rarely threatened to claim an equaliser.
Instead, Sunderland made the game safe with a second goal in the 77th minute. Jack Colback won possession deep in his own half and kick-started a rapid counter-attack by releasing Sessegnon.
The striker in turn found Larsson, and while the Swede's shot hit the post, Oxlade-Chamberlain made a complete hash of attempting to clear from the goalline and only succeeded in bundling the ball into his own net.
SUNDERLAND (4-1-4-1): Mignolet; Bardsley, O'Shea, Turner, Richardson; Cattermole; Larsson, Colback, Gardner, McClean; Sessegnon (Campbell 89).
Subs (not used): Westwood (gk), Bridge, Kyrgiakos, Meyler, Elmohamady, Ji.
ARSENAL (4-2-3-1): Fabianski; Sagna, Vermaelen, Djourou, Coquelin (Squillaci 10 (Rosicky 53)); Song, Arteta; Oxlade-Chamberlain, Ramsey (Walcott 53), Gervinho; van Persie.
Subs (not used): Szczesny (gk), Arshavin, Benayoun, Chamakh.