Sunderland vs. Arsenal: Score and Reaction from 2016 Premier League Match

Arsenal took a temporary three-point lead at the top of the Premier League after defeating Sunderland 4-1 at the Stadium of Light in Saturday's early kick-off, where Olivier Giroud and Alexis Sanchez each bagged braces.

Sanchez headed in the opener before Giroud came on to net twice, with Jermain Defoe initially levelling the score from the penalty spot at 1-1 before manager Arsene Wenger saw his side unleash a goalmouth fury upon their hosts.

Sunderland's search for a first victory of the 2016-17 Premier League campaign lingered on after it looked as though a second-half comeback could be on the cards, but an eighth defeat of the season spells bad news for manager David Moyes.

Home supporters were seen leaving in their droves after Sanchez netted Arsenal's fourth, and the Daily Mail's Craig Hope detailed the deflated atmosphere at the Stadium of Light on Saturday afternoon:

Black Cats boss David Moyes will have come into Saturday's test knowing a win was sorely needed at the Stadium of Light after going their first nine of the Premier League season without tasting victory.

Even with that motivation in mind, however, it didn't take the Gunners long to develop a head of steam, and broadcaster Deji Kofi Faremi highlighted one factor of Sunderland's play that's been a recurring theme of late:

Duncan Watmore and Wahbi Khazri looked lively out wide for the Black Cats, but the closest the north-east hosts came to scoring in the first period was a whizzing free-kick from Patrick van Aanholt.

It was in the 19th minute that Arsenal's pressure finally came good, however, and a tame-looking Sunderland team finally caved under the weight of a Gunners onslaught.

Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain made a darting run past Van Aanholt down Arsenal's right flank, and Sanchez was able to beat Lamine Kone to the chase in nodding his headed effort past Jordan Pickford.

As impressive as Sanchez's awareness might have been, the Daily Mail's Hope concurred it was Kone who was to be held accountable for Arsenal's opener:

As pointed out by the Premier League Twitter account, Arsenal also dazzled with a calm piece of sustained buildup play before their breakthrough:

Sunderland saw out the remainder of the half with a whimper, struggling to challenge their guests in open play and heading in at the interval with their tails between their legs. John O'Shea succumbed to injury just before the break and was replaced by Papy Djilobodji.

The response in the second period was hardly an improvement, as a beleaguered set of sides struggled to generate chances, although broadcaster Stan Collymore noted that could have worked in the home side's favour:

The game was handed an injection of pace just after the hour mark, however, when referee Martin Atkinson waved away Sanchez's appeal for a penalty at one end only for Watmore to win one for Sunderland minutes later.

Kone was lucky to escape punishment inside his own area, but Laurent Koscielny and Petr Cech weren't as fortunate against Watmore, and Defoe stepped up to convert and continue his prolific run, per Unibet:

Moyes could perhaps sense the tide turning in his side's favour and withdrew Steven Pienaar for the fit-again Adnan Januzaj, but it was Arsenal's 69th-minute introduction, Giroud, who made the next big incision.

Kieran Gibbs clipped a delightful cross into the box for the French forward to sweep home with his first touch after coming off the bench in place of Alex Iwobi, and FourFourTwo's Andrew Gibney praised his initiative:

Wenger's change was vindicated once more as Giroud grabbed his second just five minutes later, again needing just a snap second to head home a Mesut Ozil corner at the near post.

Having failed to score this term before Saturday's outing and struggling with injury, Giroud was enjoying his opportunity against a poor Sunderland defence:

After setting up Giroud for his first, Gibbs almost came close to slamming in his own strike with 12 minutes remaining, but his ricochet instead found its way to Sanchez, who shimmied home his second under huge pressure.

The Chile international has benefited from being granted the central striking slot at Arsenal of late, but Sky Sports Statto attested to Sanchez's superb Gunners scoring record, much of which has been based from the wing:

The home fans departed the Stadium of Light in their dozens after that nail in the coffin, and the final 10 minutes resembled something closer to an exhibition than anything reminiscent of competition.

A fourth loss in succession for Sunderland in all contests leaves Moyes' men three points adrift at the base of the Premier League standings, and that gap could increase in size if Swansea City defeat Stoke City on Monday evening.

Arsenal, on the other hand, are flying high after going a 14th game in succession without defeat, and they travel to Bulgaria on Tuesday to face Ludogorets Razgrad in the latest leg of their UEFA Champions League campaign.

Post-Match Reaction

LINDSEY PARNABY/Getty Images

A second-half collapse of mighty proportions saw Sunderland surrender an eighth defeat of the season at Arsenal's hands on Saturday, although it looked as though the Black Cats might have been capable of the comeback at 1-1.

Wenger himself was all too wary of the threat his hosts posed after Defoe slotted past Cech from the 12-yard spot, and he told BBC Sport:

"

It was a mental test when we were at 1-1. We missed so many chances, so many opportunities and I was worried we could lose, but we have shown great strength to bounce back.

In the Premier League at 1-1 you can lose the game but it was how we respond. Do we panic, give up, feel sorry for ourselves? We responded well and in the end it was a comfortable win.

It was an important result for us. We had six wins, then one draw at home which was disappointing and a second draw or defeat would have been like we had dropped our level.

"

Moyes' post-match press conference was a far more dour occasion, but despite the three-goal void separating his team from their oppressors, the Scot was eager to glean some positive notes from the result.

"

It was tough to take and I certainly didn't think we deserved to lose 4-1. We put up a really good show to stick with Arsenal when they were good.

We fought really hard to stay in the game and we grew into the game. We were the better team at one each, but they have that quality.

If you lose goals to Arsenal with great interplay then you hold your hands up but I'm disappointed we lost two goals to crosses.

"

Wenger also attracted praise for his introduction of Giroud, but the Arsenal boss was eager to praise the quality of his player and outlined: "It was 1-1 and we had Giroud on the bench."