Arsenal 3 Sunderland 1Arsenal extended their unbeaten run in the Premiership to 30 games with another blistering display to destroy Sunderland today.
Nigerian forward Nwankwo Kanu struck twice inside the first ten minutes and with Patrick Vieira adding the third just before the interval, Arsene Wenger's men had the game wrapped up by the break at Highbury.
Jody Craddock grabbed a late consolation goal for Sunderland but Peter Reid's side never vaguely looked like making a fight of it.
The 3-1 win allowed Arsenal to briefly stretch their lead at the top of the league to five points with second-placed Liverpool not due to play until later in the day.
To make matters worse for Peter Reid, he could also be deprived of Danish goalkeeper Thomas Sorensen, who had to go off with a dislocated elbow.
Thierry Henry came through a fitness test to lead the Gunners attack and it was his low corner that led to the opening goal.
Sorensen could only push the ball back out and Kanu was the first to react, hooking his shot into the net from close range. The goal means Arsenal have now scored in 48 consecutive league games.
The second goal started with a Freddie Ljungberg back-flick which sent Ashley Cole haring down the left flank. His deep cross found Kanu at the back post and he headed home.
Sorensen went off shortly afterwards after an accidental collision with Henry and two defenders.
That brought Thomas Myhre into the firing line, with Reid using the long delay to attempt to reorganise his shell-shocked team.
Arsenal maintained their pressure and it paid off just before the break when Myhre could only parry Sylvain Wiltord's fierce low free-kick and Vieira headed home the loose ball.