Arsenal 3 - 1 Sunderland

We needed to get all three points today, and we did.  Arsenal players found the back of the net four times, three time in the right goal.  Giroud's own goal denied Cech his record-tying clean sheet, and Sunderland missed a few golden opportunities to make this the third disastrous outing in a row for the Gunners.  But two really fine finishes by Joel Campbell and Giroud put us in front, the last time for good, and a rebound goal from Ramsey at the death removed all doubt.  In truth, Arsenal looked increasingly comfortable as the game ground on.  Sunderland had won their last two, but this was not going to be their day.  Man City lost, and Man U and Tottenham drew, so Arsenal sits in second, two back of Leicester and just a point above the Manchester clubs.  Bonus:  Chelsea lost to Bournemouth at the Bridge, and Mourinho could be fired any minute now.

Positives:
-  No one got injured!
-  Campbell played well
-  Ramsey is his old self, and it seems as though he'll be scoring again if he keeps getting opportunities.  He missed by a foot on his first good opportunity, hit the keeper on his second, and was just a half step ahead of the ball on another.  It's coming.
-  Flamini did well.
-  Ozil got another assist.
-  Walcott got a half hour and looked pretty decent.

Negatives:
-  AOC was poor.
-  We allowed Sunderland too many really good opportunities.  Had they finished them, they could have won this game.

I don't see this team (and it will probably be the same lineup) traveling to Greece and potting three goals, but you never know.  Giroud will be a handful, and if we can get some penetration from our mids, we could get a penalty to help us.  Alexis will be a huge miss.  Campbell may help us by cluing Wenger in on some info on the players, and he'll be motivated to show up well in front of the club he played for a couple years back.  Here's hoping we get a little luck and the guys are in top form.  Europa League is not ideal.

If no one else catches fire, Arsenal still has a shot at the Premiership.  I just can't see Leicester keeping this up.  We'll get Coquelin and Alexis back early next year, maybe Wilshere and Welbeck too.  There's always the transfer window.  Realistically, Arteta and Rosicky will be passengers even if they do get healthy.  And then there's the Cech factor.