By Ian Grant

Arsenal 3 Sunderland 1

Robin van Persie makes a difference to Arsenal, not least because the team is less reliant on Thierry Henry.

He also gives the option of the ball over the top, when defences hold a high line.

Looks like Arsenal are developing a plan B, a longer ball which could add great variety to their play.

On 7 Reyes intercepted and ran on to goal. With the keeper to beat, you just knew he wouldn't score. And so it proved with a shot just wide.

On 13, Campbell sent a long through ball, around the fifth of the game. Van Persie chested it to the left ran on and hit it hard with his left past Alnwick. Henry says vP is lethal with his left - and so it proved.

Instead of dominating, Sunderland came back into it. Proceedings were interrupted with seven Sunderland fans ejected in ones and twos.

Nothing was coming off for Henry - offside four or five times, passes not coming off.

However, as if to emphasise the counterpoint, van Persie performed a cameo dribble in the box with a gentle lob which Alnwick caught.

However, Henry can come to life at any moment and a great diagonal ball from Lauren, set up by a perceptive flick by van Persie was met with great anticipation for number 2.

Van Persie demonstrated his latent threat with a great turn and shot in the second half. He then set up Henry with a bouncing ball. with the goalkeeper to beat.

A responsible captain would have controlled it and fired past Alnwick. But Henry went for the spectacular overhead, which grazed the upright. Could have been a costly decision, and illustrated Arsenal's existential dilemma - the need for efficiency v the need to entertain.

Eboue came on for Reyes, with Dennis Bergkamp replacing van Persie. Both departing players got ovations, but more people stood for van Persie. The currency of goals counts for a lot.

As with the Sparta game, Arsenal allowed Sunderland chances and from a corner, Caldwell rose above Toure and Gilberto ball- watched as Stubbs poked home.

Arsenal had relaxed, thinking the game was won. Someone said Arsenal fail to finish teams off. And given the 70%/30% possession, it was farcical to think there was just one goal in it.

But some neat possesion ended with a Fabregas pass to Henry. He poked it under Caldwell and fired past Alnwick for number three.

Eboue nearly set up Bergkamp for number 4, but he scores less this season and his shot was blocked.

This result and performance however signals that Arsenal are back in business.

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