Arsenal Held to 0-0 Draw with Sunderland, Miss Chance to Cut United Gap to One

A combination of great goalkeeping, poor finishing and dubious officiating have held Arsenal to a 0-0 draw with Sunderland.  They have missed out on what could be a pivotal two points in the title race with Manchester United.

Before today's match, there was reason to be a bit skeptical as regulars Cesc Fabregas, Theo Walcott, Robin Van Persie, and Alex Song were all sidelined with injuries.  Hosting Sunderland, however, Arsene Wenger was surely expecting his side to win, especially considering the visitors' recent losing streak of four games. 

Most of the first half was a fairly balanced contest, with Sunderland creating some decent chances at the Gunners' end of the pitch.  Arsenal's midfielders were having a hard time breaking the Sunderland ranks to find upfront man Niklas Bendtner in scoring positions.  

Near the end of the half, though, it took a great save from Simon Mignolet to keep the fixture scoreless.  Jack Wilshere played Bendtner into the right part of the area and the Dane cracked a shot from a tight angle heading into the roof of the goal.  Mignolet reacted well to just get a piece of the ball and send it high.

In the second half, with their home fans growing anxious, Arsenal turned up the heat.  Samir Nasri hit a well-struck free kick that Mignolet made a fantastic save on.  Then Wilshere's cross found the head of a rising Marouane Chamakh at point blank who drilled the ball off the underside of the bar and out.   

More chances came, and the match officials will be heavily criticized for their decisions late in the game.  On a wonderful through ball from Nasri, Andrei Arshavin got past the last defender down the left side, who grabbed him back by the arm as he entered the box.  This in itself could have been deemed a penalty, albeit on the softer side.

However, Arshavin was unperturbed and kept driving towards goal.  As he started to shoot, Titus Bramble reached out with both hands and pushed the diminutive dynamo in the back to throw him off balance. 

The result was a shot well off target, and remarkably no penalty and red card for Bramble.

Minutes later with the outcome still in the balance, Arshavin again got in behind the defense, this time down the middle via a well-timed delivery from Wilshere.  He looked to have finally ended the deadlock after rounding the keeper and putting the ball in the back of the net,  but the linesman's flag was up for offside. 

Replays showed Arshavin was even with the last defender when the ball was played, leaving Arsenal and Wenger disgusted after the game.

There was still more drama to come.  Wojciech Szczesny was called into action to make a fully extended stop as Danny Welbeck looked to steal all three points for Sunderland.  Then Bendter's stoppage time header from five yards out lacked the needed conviction to escape the excellent Mignolet.

In the end, Arsenal were doomed to suffer for their failings in front of goal and for the unkind officiating.

After the match, the Arsenal manager commented on the officiating in vintage Wenger style. ''What can I do about it now?  It is my job to deliver football games and the referee's job to give the right decisions.  I can explain my job, but to [explain] the referee's decision? That is your job.''

Despite Arsenal's well-documented troubles when they play without their best players, these were two much-needed points they should have had. 

While the referees should have to answer for their mistakes, so should the likes of Chamakh and Bendtner for not finishing their quality chances.

Just when Manchester United tried to snatch public sympathy for the decisions that went against them in the Chelsea match, Arsenal showed all why they are the kings of being aggrieved.

However, only time will tell if they can still be kings of England despite missing out today.