Arsenal start Premier League season with bore draw

Arsenal began life without Robin Van Persie in their first Premier League game of the season against Sunderland. There were doubts and there probably still are as to where the goals will come from this season. It was a case of a lack of end product for Arsenal, something that the fans are getting quite tired of. We were let off last season as we had the goalscoring prowess of Robin Van Persie taking almost every chance that fell to him. However this season will be slightly different, at least whilst such players as Olivier Giroud and Lukas Podolski settle into English football. The Gunners had many chances to score on Saturday but just couldn't take them, a thing which has become a familiar sight over recent seasons.

There were positives though, none better than a cleansheet to start off the season for Wojciech Szczesny, who has finally taken the number one shirt after the departure of Manuel Almunia. Whilst there were also full debuts for Podolski, Giroud; and Santi Cazorla who dominated the midfield and was involved in pretty much every move of the game as far as Arsenal were concerned. Abou Diaby also looked very good as he finally looked back to full fitness and to his best.

Santi Cazorla was the star of the show as Arsenal drew with Sunderland

Onto the game and the first chance fell to Sunderland. James McClean was set free and raced in on the goal but he hit a shot straight at Szczesny who kept the ball out.

Arsenal's first chance came from Cazorla as he let fly from distance and Mignolet in the Sunderland goal had to be at his best to tip the ball over.

The first 10 minutes of the game was quite equal as Jack Colback then struck a shot from just outside the box but Szczesny managed to save the ball comfortably once more.

Santi Cazorla then had another chance to score after great work from Gervinho down the left hand side. The Ivorian beat two Sunderland defenders before getting into the box and pulling the ball back to Cazorla who just curled the ball wide of the goal.

Arsenal were now starting to dominate as Podolski could have scored from a Jenkinson cross and then Walcott also could have but he fired the ball wide after Gibbs' cross had been knocked down into the path of him.

Diaby then forced a save out of Mignolet as he ran towards the edge of the penalty area, before firing the ball goalwards, but for the Sunderland keeper who tipped the ball wide.

Just before the break Cazorla and Arteta linked up brilliantly before slipping Walcott in who got to the byline before finding Podolski who stabbed the ball wide.

The first real chance of the second half came from a free-kick after Walcott was brought down. Arteta and Podolski stood over the ball but it was Podolski who took it and put the ball just over the bar.

Gervinho was looking very lively, as he had done all pre-season, as he had two shots blocked before the ball came out to Cazorla who shot wide.

Arsenal were showing promising signs going forward as they got another decent chance to take the lead as Gibbs' cross found Walcott at the back post who volleyed the ball into the side netting.

Two chances were then put over the bar as Jenkinson's cross was put over by Giroud who had just come on and then another one was put over by Ramsey.

The best chance of the game came 9 minutes from the end of time as Cazorla slipped in Giroud who, 12 yards, out blazed the ball wide with his weaker foot when he really should have scored, or at least hit the target.

The final score finished Arsenal 0-0 Sunderland.

The teams lineups:

Arsenal: Szczesny, Jenkinson, Mertesacker, Vermaelen, Gibbs, Diaby(68), Arteta, Cazorla, Walcott(77), Podolski(63), Gervinho.
Subs: Mannone, Djourou, Santos, Coquelin, Ramsey(68), Arshavin(77), Giroud(63).

Sunderland: Mignolet, O'Shea, Cuellar, Cattermole, Richardson, Larsson(79), Gardner, Colback, McClean, Sessegnon(63), Campbell(68).
Subs: Westwood, Kilgallon, Bramble, Meyler(79), Elmohamady(68), Wickham, Saha(63).

Man of the match: Santi Cazorla

Referee: Chris Foy
Attendance: 60,078