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Arsenal 3 Sunderland 1

Last updated : 06 October 2002 By Footymad Previewer

Two goals by Kanu ended the contest by the ninth minute and ensured that the champions became the first team to go 30 consecutive Premiership matches unbeaten.

The victory kept Arsenal at the top of the table while Sunderland's day was summed up when they lost first-choice keeper Thomas Sorensen after 15 minutes with a suspected dislocated elbow.

Kanu, making his 100th Premiership appearance, hooked in a third minute rebound after Freddie Ljungberg caused confusion at a near post corner.

The Nigerian then arrived unmarked at the far post to head home Ashley Cole's cross six minutes later. Skipper Patrick Vieira nodded Arsenal's third in first-half stoppage time after substitute keeper Thomas Myhre had beaten out Sylvain Wiltord's shot.

Sunderland showed more spirit after the interval and Jody Craddock headed an 83rd-minute goal from Kevin Kilbane's cross.

But manager Peter Reid admitted after the match: "We didn't make Arsenal work. We defended poorly for their first goal and we missed a tackle for their second.

"The game was all over by half time. Then Arsenal took their foot off the pedal."

In-form Kanu said: "There's so much confidence in our dressing room. I'm very happy to be scoring regularly. It's been very important to me to start regularly again."