First-half goals from Black Cats defender Danny Collins, Cesc Fabregas and
Thierry Henry secured the points, and although Jens Lehmann had to pull off a
magnificent save to deny Kevin Kyle eight minutes after the break, substitute
Robin van Persie should have increased the margin of victory late on.
Another 90 minutes for Sol Campbell - although not his most impressive - and a
substitute's appearance for Ashley Cole added to the satisfaction for Arsene
Wenger.
But with potential buyer Niall Quinn sitting in the stands at the Stadium of
Light, Sunderland were left without a home win in the Barclays Premiership all
season with just one game to play.
Perhaps even more depressingly, they now know that even victories over Fulham
on Thursday and at Aston Villa on Sunday would leave them with only 18 points,
one fewer than the current all-time low they already own.
• Wenger blasts Sunderland
On the day they were confirmed as the least successful team in Premiership
history, the home fans arrived in hope rather than sorrow.
The reason for that optimism was the presence of former striker Quinn at the
Stadium of Light.
However, the Irishman was left in little doubt over the task which faces he
and his partners should their bid be successful as his former club rubbed salt
into an already gaping wound.
Sunderland started rather well with striker Kyle causing problems for England
defender Campbell and Kolo Toure, and Arsenal were far from at their best
despite fielding six of the men who started the Champions League semi-final
against Villarreal in midweek.
The Scot rifled a long-range effort wide and twice ruffled Lehmann's feathers
in aerial challenges.
However, the gulf in class between the two sides was made abundantly clear
inside 15 first-half minutes.
There was a touch of fortune about the Gunners' opening goal, Collins heading
into his own net on 28 minutes as he tried to prevent Abou Diaby connecting with
Henry's inviting free-kick.
But there was something clinical about their second five minutes before the
break as Henry tore through the Black Cats' defence to feed Fabregas, and he
applied the finish with the minimum of fuss.
Sunderland `keeper Kelvin Davis has not enjoyed the most impressive season in
his first on Wearside, and he was left red-faced once again three minutes later
when Henry curled a free-kick over the defensive wall to beat him at his near
post.
The game was effectively over by the time the sides left the pitch at
half-time with caretaker boss Kevin Ball knowing only a huge improvement would
prevent his side slipping to a heavy defeat.
Worryingly, there was a suspicion the visitors had never even moved into
second gear.
Lehmann was forced into a save, although with few concerns, on 47 minutes when
Kyle connected well with George McCartney's left-wing cross, and Campbell was
forced to concede a corner as Dean Whitehead homed in on Daryl Murphy's cross
three minutes later.
But Sunderland's afternoon - and in some respects, their season - was summed
up on 53 minutes.
Campbell slipped and fell as he chased down a loose ball and substitute
Anthony le Tallec looked up before picking out Kyle in the middle with the
perfect cross.
The Scottish international rose to power a header towards the top corner, but
Lehmann instinctively threw out a hand to pull off a superb save and deny the
home side a crumb of comfort.
Le Tallec should have done better after being played in by McCartney on 58
minutes, but lifted his shot high over the bar.
However, the home fans at least had something to cheer, and as Quinn's name
echoed around the Stadium of Light, their side was responding.
But it might have been 4-0 on 69 minutes when Henry picked up possession on
halfway and carved his way towards goal before seeing Gary Breen block his
shot.
The Frenchman managed to pick up the rebound and fired in another effort
towards the near post, where Davis finally enjoyed a little luck, guiding the
ball on to the post before gratefully claiming the rebound.
Henry departed for Dennis Bergkamp three minutes later and received a standing
ovation from all four stands as a crowd of 44,003 rose to acclaim a master of
his trade.
With Ashley Cole and Robin van Persie having earlier been introduced as
substitutes, Arsenal were easing their way towards the whistle, and the Dutchman
should have increased their lead 11 minutes from time, but dragged his effort
wide.
Wenger blasts Smith
Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger slammed Sunderland defender Dan Smith after midfielder Abou Diaby's season was ended by a serious ankle injury. The Frenchman will now miss the Champions League final.
Wenger was angry at the full-back's injury-time tackle on Diaby, which cost
him a booking, in Arsenal's 3-0 Premiership victory at the Stadium of
Light.
The 19-year-old Frenchman was due to be taken to hospital on Wearside amid
fears that his injury is serious.
'Diaby looks to have a very serious injury, and that is in my opinion a shame
because it was a bad kick and an unnecessary one,' said Wenger minutes after the game.
'It hasn't been diagnosed, the only thing we know is it's a very serious
ankle injury. We will take him to hospital tonight here.
'It's a big blow to lose a player like that. It's one thing to lose the
player, but the other thing is I believe the spirit of the way he has been
kicked - and (Cesc) Fabregas a few times - is just not acceptable.
'That's the most difficult to take for me, and of course I feel very sorry
for him because he has worked very hard to come back.
'When you play football and you play against people who do not try to play,
it's very difficult to take.
'An accident can happen and you will accept that, but the way this happened
is not acceptable.
'On one side, I'm very happy with the players and the way they played, but on
the other hand it's sad because you can see players can damage their career just
because some people are on the pitch and do not even try to play football.
'It's part of respecting the game. If an accident happens because both go for
the ball and play with the right spirit, it's okay.
'But what happened there is just not acceptable. The only one who didn't see
it as a red card was the referee.'
However, Sunderland caretaker boss Kevin Ball defended Smith, 19, who was sent
off on his senior debut for the club in a Carling Cup tie against Cheltenham
earlier this season.
'If they (Arsenal) feel that, that's their prerogative,' he said.
'But Dan Smith is by no means a dirty player.
'He's gone to win the ball and yes, unfortunately, he has caught the player.
We all hope he's okay and wish him a speedy recovery from whatever the injury
is.
'But you have to understand the players tackling, and I think that's a little
bit unfair, to be honest with you.
'Mr Wenger can say what he likes. That's his opinion.
'In my opinion, I felt Dan did go for the ball and the lad knocked it away
and he accidentally caught him.
'Yes, it isn't an injury you want to see happen to a player, but it wasn't
malicious. He went for the ball and the player passed it quicker than Dan could
get there.'
Sunderland 0 - 3 Arsenal
