Sunderland were knocked out of the Carabao Cup on Tuesday evening after their 5-1 quarter-final defeat to Arsenal at the Emirates. 

It was a promising start for the visitors who put plenty of pressure on the hosts in the opening stages as Johnson’s side were organised in a high-press. The difference between the two sides is evident in the final result. However, the Black Cats were in the game until early in the second half.

Eddie Nketiah netted a hat-trick for the Gunners, who put it up a gear in the second period and scored twice in the space of fifteen minutes to put the game to bed.

The cup dream may be over for the Wearsiders but the League One club did themselves proud, both on and off the pitch. Nketiah’s scoring prowess helped guarantee a slightly harsh margin of victory as Sunderland showed in spells why they are fighting for promotion back to the Championship.

Lee Johnson admits that Nathan Broadhead’s injury is a ‘disaster’ for Sunderland and shows why the Black Cats need to bring in reinforcements in the January transfer window.

Broadhead had given the visitors a way back into the game after his sublime dink over Arsenal ‘keeper Bernd Leno cut the deficit to one. However, his departure in first-half injury time severely damaged Sunderland’s chances of getting back into the game.

Sunderland were the lowest-ranked team left in the competition and were always going to have a difficult night against an Arsenal side that recently moved back into the top four of the Premier League.

Harry Patino’s first senior goal for Arsenal added gloss to the victory as the Gunners booked a place in the semi-final draw on Wednesday evening.

Johnson’s side had massive support on the evening and put a huge amount of energy into the performance which the fans will no doubt be happy with. Not many people expected to get a result but the team gave their all and that is all you can ask for as a supporter.

A positive evening for the visitors, despite the result…

HOW IT HAPPENED

Arsenal’s breakthrough came in the 17th minute when Eddie Nketiah reacted quickest in the six yard box to knee the ball over the diving Burge into the empty net, following a decent save from Sunderland ‘keeper to prevent Holding’s header.

Just ten minutes later Nicolas Pepe made it two after his deflected effort nestled into the top of the Sunderland net – it was decent build up play from the hosts.

Sunderland grabbed themselves a lifeline when Elliot Embleton sliced open the Arsenal defence, before Nathan Broadhead superbly chipped the ball over Leno to make it 2-1 – his sixth of the season. It was some brilliant build-up play to dissect the Arsenal midfield and back four.

Pritchard turned the pressing Elneny and played the ball to the feet of Neil who found Embleton first time. Embleton then cut the Gunners defence with an inch-perfect throughball before Broadhead’s quality chipped finish.

Perhaps the biggest moment of the game for the Black Cats came in first half stoppage time when Broadhead stayed down clutching his hamstring following a strong tackle from Arsenal centre-back Rob Holding.

The 23-year-old was eventually replaced, with the extent of his injury still unknown – a big price to pay for the visitors who are chasing promotion to the Championship after three years in League One.

Credit: DAVID-KLEIN via REUTERS – Broadhead injures hamstring in defeat to Arsenal on Tuesday evening…

The 5,200 away fans that travelled to North-London must have been pleased with their sides first half showing which often forced the opposition into making mistakes and put them under severe pressure.

However, Arsenal were out of the blocks quickly after half-time and put the Sunderland goal under instant pressure.

The difference in quality showed and the hosts doubled their lead just four minutes after the restart when Nketiah skilfully slotted Nuno Taveres’ drilled cross from the left into the back of the net.

Despite the disappointment of conceding so early after half-time, Sunderland continued to play out from the back and stuck to their style of play.

The visitors came close just moments later when Embleton’s curling shot clipped the outside of the post from 25 yards – what an effort.

The game was put to bed minutes later courtesy of top-class build up play and a sublime back-heeled finish. Winger Pepe received the ball on the right via a perfect throughball from Odegaard, before skillfully nutmegging substitute Denver Hume just inside the box.

The subsequent cross found the run of Nketiah who let the ball run across his body before diverting it towards goal from a superb flick. A goal worthy of winning any game.

Sunderland continued to press as their fans continued to sing, however the hosts put the icing on the cake in the closing stages when 18-year-old debutant Harry Patino netted from close range.

Pepe was involved again and gave Hume a nightmare all half. This time, the Ivorian skipped inside before his low cross found the forward run of Patino who poked it passed Burge to make it five.

PLAYER RATINGS

Burge (6); Doyle (6), Flanagan (6), Wright (6); Gooch (6), Winchester (6), Neil (6), Embleton (8); Pritchard (8), Broadhead (8), Stewart (6).

Subs: Hume (4), O’Brien (6), Evans (n/a), Kimpioka (n/a)

MANAGERS COMMENTS

Sunderland Manager Lee Johnson: 

“I thought we had a really good spell just after we scored, we grew in confidence and Arsenal found it quite difficult to get us off the ball in that final third. Earlier on in the game I think we threw the ball into the box too early, but we scored a really good goal and overall I’m really proud of the players. We’ve been beaten 5-1 but we have had some good spells in the match.”

He added:

“The bigger picture for us is that it’s a great learning experience for our players. We’ve said in there that now they know the standard, and even senior players can take it away. When you can feel the quality of Premier League opposition, you learn so much more than you do in something like a passing drill I’ve put on in training.”

On the Broadhead injury:

“It’s a disaster.

“I don’t know if I’ve run over a black cat or what. From Jordan Willis, to Broadhead, Aiden McGeady, Luke O’Nien and everyone else in between, it’s hard to take. We’re going to need help in January for sure. We’re going to need to find a way of bringing in quality to help the boys.”

Arsenal Manager Mikel Arteta:

“It’s great. We’re in the semi-finals and that’s what it was about today. We started well and scored two goals, but then we started not to respect our basics too much and we suffered a little, but then we picked up our level after that in the second half and we won.

“Eddie does what he does in training every day, he put the ball in the net. I think I’ve been very consistent with what I think about him, how much we like him and his contribution for us every time he plays is top.”

He added:

“I want [him to stay], but he just wants more minutes. It’s difficult to go against that, but as a club and personally I really want him to stay here. That’s what we are trying to do, he’s our player and a really important part of the squad.”

Post-match thoughts? Happy with the performance?

How much will Sunderland miss Broadhead? Who would you like to see brought to the club in January?

Join in the conversation and have your say…