Premier League, Stadium of Light – Sunderland 0 Arsenal 0

Sunderland climbed out of the relegation drop zone after battling to a deserved point against Arsenal at the Stadium of Light.

Indeed, with a little more luck, it could have been Sunderland who took all three points from their spirited performance.

Only the woodwork prevented Patrick van Aanholt’s free-kick from finding the back of the net in a first half that saw referee Mike Dean deny both sides penalties for hand balls in the box.

And it was Sunderland who looked the more likely in the second half, Arsenal having keeper Petr Cech to thank for denying Jermain Defoe and Wahbi Khazri with fine saves as the Gunners mustered only a shot on target in response.

The result means that Sunderland climb above Norwich into 17th on goal difference and still have a game in hand over rivals Newcastle United. Arsenal are level with Manchester City in joint third.

A tale of two non-penalties. Both Per Mertesacker and DeAndre Yedlin blocked shots in the box using their arms. Ball to hand or hand to ball? Referee Dean went for the former and it evened out in the end. Make your own minds up!

Jermain Defoe (Sunderland): Frightened the life out of a ponderous looking Arsenal defence and could easily have had another goal but for an in-form Arsenal keeper.

Sunderland: Mannone 6, Yedlin 6, van Aanholt 7, Kaboul 7, Kone 6, Kirchhoff 7, M'Vila 6, Cattermole 6, Borini 6, Khazri 7, Defoe 8. Subs: Larsson 6, Watmore 6.

Arsenal: Cech 7, Bellerin 6, Mertesacker 5, Koscielny 6, Monreal 6, Elneny 7, Ramsey 6, Iwobi 6, Ozil 6, Alexis 7, Giroud 5. Subs: Wilshere 6, Walcott 6, Welbeck 6.

22’ – CROSSBAR! Van Aanholt sees his free kick clatter back off the joint of crossbar and post.

34’ – DOUBLE SAVE: It’s Mannone to the rescue for Sunderland, saving Sanchez’s free kick low to his left before blocking Elneny’s follow-up.

37’ – PENALTY SHOUT! Defoe’s rasping volley in the box comes off Mertesacker’s arm but Mike Dean waves play on.

41’ – PENALTY SHOUT! Now Arsenal have a claim as Yedlin blocks Iwobi’s shot, again with his arm.

50’ – DOUBLE SAVE! Cech blocks Defoe’s effort before stretching to keep oot M’Vila on the follow-up.

64’ – DEFOE CLOSE: he skins Mertesacker yet again but lobs his finish a few yards wide of an anxious Cech’s post.

80’ – ARSENAL CHANCE: Mannone gets it horribly wrong, mistiming his headed clearance, but Kaboul tackles Welbeck before he can lob into an unguarded net.

Sunderland are now winless in 18 PL home matches against London opposition, since the 3-0 victory against West Ham United on 12 January 2013.

Arsenal have won only three of their last 12 PL matches away from home (D6-L3).