Player Ratings: Arsenal 3-0 Sunderland 

Arsenal moved nine points clear at the top of the Premier League after beating Sunderland 3-0: Find out who impressed with View From The Armchair's Player Ratings

David Raya: 8/10 - Another clean sheet at the Gunners move nine points clear at the top. Very nearly lost his clean sheet as he came to claim a cross and fumbled, should have been punished there. Saves well low down on after the break. I feel he needs a song made for him about the lack of use of his hands this season. 

Jurrien Timber: 8/10 - Sunderland gave us our fair share of problems in the first half but another dominant defensive display after the interval means it’s another clean sheet, and most importantly three more points to leave us in a commanding position. 

Gabriel: 8.5/10 - like a giant megalithic rock at the heart of our defence, Brazilian one, captain for the day, this is the kind of game where Big Tony Adams would supply us with a vital winner in years gone by, when it’s tight, like this match, but as it turns out it was Zubi and Gyok's day to shine in that role, as he helped marshall the Gunners backline to another shutout. 

William Saliba: 8/10 - booked on 25 mins as his man escapes his attention, cynical, but needed, rode the tightrope with calm aplomb for the rest of the match to secure us another clean sheet at home to send everyone home happy, even those who left early to beat the rush at 2-0 and missed the Gyok secure his brace on the day.

Riccardo Calafiori: 7/10 - first outing for a while from the start, I’m trying to remind myself this is just another three points but it’s undeniable this is massive today, definitely showing signs of a bit of ring rust with his possession for sure. Replaced by Hincapie.

Declan Rice: 8.5/10 - fizzes one close just before the half hour mark, about 6” wide, leaving the keeper rooted like Alan Rough at the 82 World Cup against Brazil, a mere bystander in proceedings. Simply, sublimely, magnificent as he always is again today.

Martin Zubimendi: 9/10 - gets nobbled on 40 minutes, could and maybe should have been a straight red for Brobbey. Thankfully not only does he get up straight away, he proceeds to fire us in front from distance with an exquisite sliced skimmer that finds its way into the Sunderland net off the post 1-0 to the Arsenal. Defensively sound too, sweeping up at the back. That is my POTM pick decided, hard to imagine he is not in contention for the captain's armband in any of the discussions taking place online. Didn’t put a foot wrong today.

Kai Havertz: 8/10 - instant pick it seems for Arteta when fit, so so close to making it 2-0 just before half time as the pitch opens up for him and the defence retreats, reaps the reward of the substitutions and strength in depth off the bench as he feeds the Gyok who fires it past the keeper to make it 2-0. Subbed soon after for Eze.

Leo Trossard: 8.5/10 - I love what Trossard offers from the off, straight from the start like a silver tornado trying to nick the ball. Despite all that he is still on the pitch on 82 mins to bring one down out wide on the left that had snow on it that  Rosenoir can only dream of taking under control. On 87 minutes he goes down, let’s get this lad rested, we are going need him. Replaced by Christian Norgaard following an excelelnt afternoon's work.

Gabriel Jesus: 7/10 - showed some great touches early on as we went looking for the opener, nifty footwork, plenty of guile, subbed off on 58 minutes, as we looked to feed the Gyok

Noni Madueke: 7/10 - had to change his boots on four mins, one was a different colour from tne other, and that has completely skittled my OCD’s Jim. Thankfully out at the start  of the second half in a matching pair. On 59 minutes he is replaced by Martinelli, had a quiet game I’m blaming the odd coloured boots.

Substitutes:

Gabriel Martinelli: 8.5/10 - slots in over on the right in an adjusted 4-4-2 just before the hour mark. So evident to see that he is one of the main beneficiaries of having the strength in depth we now have, squad rotation is his friend. Arteta has done an incredible job of instilling that in every single player. Rapid break away attack in injury time as the Gyok grabs a double to make it 3-0, with an assist for Gabi. Blistering cameo off the bench.

Viktor Van Battering Ram Gyokeres: 8.5/10 - Thrown into the action on 58 minutes with Sunderland still in the game at only 1-0 down, a mere six minutes he killed the game off. The hustle and bustle suited his game. Big up my man with the box fresh low skin fade. Grabbed a brace in the 93rd minute as he keeps pace with Martinelli and manages to stay onside to make it 3-0. Our player of the month for January is off to a flyer in February.

Piero Hincapie: 8/10 - Fresh from his POTM performance against Chelsea in the week our Ecuadorian replaced Calafiori on 67 minutes to seal the deal and maintain the backine's clean sheet, no complaints here.

Ebere Eze: 8/10 - 67 minutes on for Havertz. Has to seize these moments off the bench to stake a claim, just like the Viktor the battering ram has done. Fired one low and wide just inside the box, but, alas, unable to get on the score sheet.

Christian Norgaard: 7/10 - comes on with four minutes remaining to replace a tiring Leo Trossard

View From The Armchair's Crowd Watch:

Good to note the ground came alive after the interval to show their support after Jesus gave the ball away, prompting a Sunderland player to misplace his pass, sending it out for a throw. Whoever lit that song off take a bow, it’s just what these players need, to bring it home, belief as well as the noise levels amplified.

Makes me want to be there in the ground with you, moments like that are going to be so important from now until the end of this campaign.

On 80 minutes a lengthy burst of Clock End/ North Bank rings out, still not seen or heard Paddy Get Up to have a sing song this season yet.

PS: My mind boggles as to how you have failed to come up with a song about Raya not using his hands thus far, special chuckle must go out to the plums who left their seats to beat the rush, thereby missing Viktor Van Battering Ram's second goal to seal the victory and make it 3-0.

Chin up, next time please stay the course like this team is doing: that is the moral of this story.

Nine points clear. Have a top Saturday night Gooners.