Arsenal vs Sunderland - Emirates Stadium, London - Sunday 7th October 2007

If ever proof were needed about how much football has changed over the last 15 years, it arrived this weekend. Because of Thursday night's UEFA Cup games, and just about every other game (including this one) being moved for TV, there was only one Saturday 3pm kick off in the Premiership this weekend. A very sad weekend for the football traditionalist, and it made watching Soccer Saturday and Match Of The Day a very boring affair indeed.

Still, Arsenal are still top of the League, winning away in the Champions League during the week (and becoming the first English side ever to beat Steaua Bucharest at their ground) - so it isn't all bad. The good results (in potentially difficult games) keep on coming - although we haven't played a properly decent side on top form yet, it is all useful stuff to get these kinds of results on the board. Sunderland at home is also a game that should be won easily, despite the obvious determination of our old mate Roy Keane's side.

Quite a few people were wearing black for this game, to mourn the passing of Denton, an absolutely legendary Gooner - who died in a car crash this week. There was a huge march of hundreds of people around the ground before the game kicked off - a massive turnout of people (from other clubs as well as Arsenal fans) who knew and respected Denton. Many were still there after the game finished, outside The Armoury, and lots of people joined them to pay their respects. May he rest in peace.

The game was a very strange one - Arsenal were 2-0 up and seemingly cruising inside the first 15 minutes. The first goal came after Arsenal had actually put the ball in the net, but Rob Styles stupidly failed to play advantage, and pulled play back for a free kick. Luckily, Robin Van Persie absolutely smashed the free kick over the wall, whereupon it hit the crossbar and ricocheted back off the ground, and into the roof of the net. A blistering shot, which reminded me of his penalty against Fulham on the first day of the season. No messing around from Van the Man. Less than 10 minutes later, Arsenal added a second, from a bizarre source - Philippe Senderos. When a third goal was disallowed for offside (harshly) shortly afterwards, it looked like a complete rout could be on the cards.

Then Sunderland came back into the game. They were committed and physical (sometimes over-physical, as Alex Hleb among others found out), and never seemed to believe that they were out of the game. 2 goals, the latter just after half time, brought them level, and started to remind Arsenal fans of the frustrations of last season. Sunderland kept up the commitment, defended well once they were level, wasted lots of time, and although Arsenal looked much the better side, another goal was proving elusive. There were loads of chances, the woodwork was hit at least twice, and there were some incredible fluffs by Arsenal players in front of goal - but no goal.

Finally, with around 10 minutes left (and after the introduction of the hugely impressive Theo Walcott), Van Persie got the winner from a Walcott pass, and the ground went crazy. A few more missed chances later (and a red card for a terrible tackle by a Sunderland player), and Arsenal's 10th victory in a row was complete. Afterwards, Roy Keane tried to claim that Manchester United are currently better than Arsenal, but we all know how seriously to take that. This was a rollercoaster of a game, obviously a relief that Arsenal won, but it was very entertaining and absorbing along the way. A 4-0 thrashing would have been easier on the nerves, but this was one of the better games of football we'll see this season.