Well result wise it wasn't what we wanted or expected but overall there was plenty of positives to come from the game.

Cazorla and Arteta looked great. Gervinho looked lively just needs to shoooooot. Giroud and Podolski will be great once they settle and the backline even without Kos looked very solid. Diaby looked very strong on the ball just seems a bit lazy without it and with tracking runners in defensive duties. One or 2 more new players and we have a squad capable of a strong challenge for trophies. Even now it is an upgrade on last season.

That's pretty much what I thought.

I missed the first 20 mins (joy of chasing streams online) and their two early chances but from what I saw, Sunderland lacked ambition and our defence was untroubled in the second half (did Szez even touch the ball?). We really miss Sagna as Walcott and Jenk's don't make effective partners. It was obvious that the CMs didn't really trust Jenk's to be effective going forward and only passed to him when it was last resort or he was very very open. That meant Walcott was largely invisible and Gervinho was preferred. Gibbs supported him ably.

We lacked real inspiration in the final third but Martin O'Neill is great coach an his sides are always well organised, well drilled and hard to break down.

Defensively we looked much better organised and each player more effectively supported their colleagues. I think Per will come on this year and with Kos and Verm give us real security. Arteta sitting very deep broke up a number of plays and I think it suits his game. More space to play raking long balls to the wingers or neat exchanges with Caz.

Cazorla is quality.

C overall for me. Giroud's miss was awful

Yeah ed 10mins in we got carved open but the shot was straight at suez