Arsenal defeated Sunderland 4-1 at the Stadium of Light.
Arsenal defender Kieran Gibbs put in a terrific display on his first Premier League start of the season as his side defeated struggling Sunderland 4-1 at the Stadium of Light.
The Gunners headed in to the match having won six of their last seven league matches, and in the opening period they played with a confident swagger and deservedly led 1-0 at the half-time interval.
In the second half the visitors switched off allowing Sunderland to come back into it and grab an equaliser, yet three goals in a devastating 10-minute spell saw Arsene Wengers men ultimately run out big winners.
The likes of Alexis Sanchez and two-goal substitute Olivier Giroud will no doubt grab the headlines for their attacking contributions, yet it was arguably Gibbs who was Arsenal’s most complete performer.
| Tackles | Interceptions | Effective Clearances | Def Duels Won | Ball Recoveries | Touches | Key Passes | Mins Played | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kieran Gibbs | 1 | 2 | 7 | 10 | 5 | 96 | 3 | 90 |
As shown by the table provided by Opta, the 27-year-old was heavily involved at both ends of the pitch and proved exactly why he should be a contender for that regular left-back spot.
Nacho Monreal is deemed Arsenal’s number one left-back meaning Gibbs is predominently restricted to just cup matches and Champions League games against so-called lesser opposition.
But against Sunderland he displayed his capabilities to play regularly in the Premier League, posting two interceptions, five ball recoveries, seven effective clearances and 10 duel winners.
In possession he was reliable as ever, taking an impressive 96 touches and creating three chances for his teammates going forward via key passes.
The victory momentarily left Arsenal at the top of the Premier League table, while for Sunderland it is now 10 games without a win.
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