Sunderland’s FA Cup campaign is over after just one game, with the Black Cats throwing away their early lead to lose 3-1 to Arsenal for the second time in the space of a month.
With two Premier League matches coming up later in the week, Big Sam ringed the changes to utilise his squad to the full. He made seven changes to the side that were victorious over Aston Villa a week ago, the most notable being that young goalkeeper Jordan Pickford made his competitive début for the club.
The 21-year-old, who spent the first half of the season on loan at Preston, impressed with a string of fine saves and could do very little about the three goals.
Jeremain Lens marked his return to the starting line-up with a goal on 17 minutes to put the Black Cats into the lead. The Dutchman impressed throughout the game and his determination allowed him to catch Koscielny in possession and rifle a 17 yard shot past Petr Cech.
The sides went in level at the break after Joel Campbell poked unmarked, but Allardyce took Cattermole and O’Shea off in the second half to preserve them for the league and the holders made the most of the change – Aaron Ramsey putting the hosts into the lead minutes after coming on and then Olivier Giroud securing their place in the fourth round just three minutes later.
DeAndre Yedlin was perhaps lucky not to concede a penalty and a red card late on after bundling down an Arsenal attacker, but referee Martin Atkinson waved away the penalty claims.
Arsenal: Cech, Bellerin, Gabriel, Koscielny (c), Gibbs, Oxlade-Chamberlain, Chambers (Arteta 67), Campbell (Reine Adelaide 81), Iwobi (Ramsey 67), Walcott, Giroud
Subs: Macey, Debuchy, Monreal, Arteta, Ramsey, Reine Adelaide, Willock
Sunderland: Pickford, Yedlin, Coates, O’Shea (c) (Jones 65), van Aanholt, Cattermole (M’Vila 57), Toivonen, Watmore, Lens, Graham, Fletcher (Mavrias 76)
Subs: Mannone, Jones, Beadling, M’Vila, Mavrias, Borini, Defoe
Booked: Gabriel (90, foul)
Goals: Lens (17), Campbell (25), Ramsey (72), Giroud (75)
