Sport 07-10-2002 On-Form Arsenal Unbeaten In 30 who: Sunderland what: Lose 3-1 to Arsenal where: Highbury, LONDON when: Yesterday snippet: "It is getting to the stage where Arsenal should be forced to start with a two-goal deficit or nine men to make things more interesting," says The Guardian`s Jon Brodkin after the club so often derided for being boring delivered yet another predicably comfortable win at Highbury, this time at the expense of Sunderland, whose Jody Craddock headed in a brilliant consolation goal eight minutes from time to save their blushes as the one-sided game ended 3-1. "Do not be misled by the scoreline," writes Glenn Moore in The Independent. "Had it been 6-0 to Arsenal it would not have exaggerated their dominance. Few games have better illustrated the extent of the Premiership divide between the élite and the cannon fodder." The Gunners "put two more records into the books," notes Nick Szczepanik in The Times, "a new club mark of 12 successive home league wins and a Premiership record of 30 matches without defeat, beating Manchester United`s total of 29." Although Nigerian striker Kanu scored twice and Patrick Vieira headed the third for Arsenal, The Sun says that new left-footed centre-half Pascal Cygan is the player most worthy of closer examination. "In tandem with the right-footed [Sol] Campbell, he provides Arsenal with a balance that is already starting to look the envy of every other club in the Premiership." [... more]

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