Published: 30 October, 2014
by STEVE BARNETT

A COMBINATION of Alexis Sanchez’s perfect poaching skills and individual defensive errors dominated the headlines on Saturday evening after Arsenal picked up a much-needed victory at Sunderland. 

For manager Arsene Wenger, however, the most pleasing aspect of the 2-0 win at the Stadium of Light was the fact that his side finally managed to keep a clean sheet – only their second in nine Premier League outings. 

“If you’re not capable of keeping clean sheets you don’t move forward,” said the Frenchman. “If you always have to score three goals to win a game, at some stage it doesn’t work. 

“So winning without conceding was very pleasing. The team was very focused, very united, very concentrated not to make mistakes. Before the game I would have signed for a 1-0 win so, of course, I’m very happy. 

“We dropped two points in our last league game against Hull,” Wenger added, “so to get three points at Sunderland and come back up the table was very important for our morale.” 

Having scored the opening goal following a dreadful back-pass by Wes Brown, Sanchez struck again in injury time when he caught former Gunners’ goalkeeper Vito Mannone dawdling on the ball.

Wenger said he had sympathy for the shot-stopper. 

“His confidence has dropped a little, but he has shown his quality – and will show that again.”