McCarthy saved by a solid gold late goal
tannoy played Bob Marley’s “Don’t Worry About A Thing” at half-time but Moyes could not join in.
By then, the Scot was heading for defeat after ending his programme notes with a hopeful message, telling the faithful to “enjoy the match”.
Not much chance of that when the Gunners are in town.
Sunderland’s seafront illuminations with a Halloween theme were not brighter or scarier than Arsenal’s start to this one-sided contest.
Wenger’s men were simply wonderful. The champions of free-flowing football carried the threat of a knockout blow every time they challenged Sunderland’s teetering back four.
They passed for fun but, clearly, the Black Cats were not laughing with Arsenal in such a commanding position that they should have been out of sight before the break – and would have been with more clinical finishing.
Mesut Ozil gave a glimpse of what was to come when he slipped through unchallenged and should have scored instead of seeing his low, squirming shot easily collected by keeper Jordan Pickford. But in the 19th minute, the Gunners were ahead. Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain delivered the perfect, pinpointed cross for Sanchez to power in a stooping header. Patrick van Aanholt tried to lift Sunderland spirits with a free-kick he steered just past a post and Defoe had an effort disallowed for offside. But when normal service was resumed, Sanchez was just off target with a whipped in free-kick and then Ozil looked a gift horse in the mouth as he missed. Ozil was clean through once more and tried to chip Pickford but the keeper blocked a weak effort. Defoe could not reach a Didier Ndong drive across the face of goal which would have lifted the Stadium of Light before the game was turned on its head. Sanchez appealed for a penalty when he wriggled past Lamine Kone and crashed to earth as they tangled in the box but ref Martin Atkinson waved away the claim. He had no hesitation in pointing to the spot, though, when Duncan Watmore tumbled as he brushed past keeper Petr Cech after racing clear.
Defoe confidently sent Cech the wrong way and the whole of Sunderland believed the impossible dream with 25 minutes to go.
Arsenal had other ideas. Giroud had only been on for two minutes when he tucked the ball comfortably into the bottom corner from Kieran Gibbs’ cross.
He then backheaded in from Ozil’s corner and in the 78th minute Sanchez turned in a fourth from close range to send Sunderland fans heading for the exit door.
Moyes said: “We played against a team of better quality than us. The players are giving everything they can.
“It was not through the lack of effort or lack of trying – they played a team with a lot of quality who will be competing for the title.
“We are not in a good position and need to play better. The players are doing their best but you will only ever be judged by your results.” DAVID McGOLDRICK grabbed an equaliser deep into stoppage time to rescue a point for Mick McCarthy’s Ipswich.
Rotherham had looked on course for their first win in 11 matches thanks to two goals from the excellent Danny Ward.
But it was heartbreak for the Championship’s bottom club after McGoldrick, making his first start since the opening day of the season, drilled the ball into the corner from 25 yards out.
It was not enough to satisfy the home fans who made their anger clear to McCarthy both during the match and after the final whistle.
The Tractor Boys boss said: “I thought we played well in the first half but we didn’t play well in the second half so I understand it. We were nervous following their second goal which was real Keystone Cops defending.
“For three years and about nine months here I have had relative success with people thinking I am doing a good job and chanting ‘Super Mick’ and the like.
“I prefer a good atmosphere and I prefer the nice comments but I don’t get too carried away by them, like I don’t get too carried away by the boos and jeers.
“This is a tough time for all of us but maybe a late equaliser can be a turning point for us.”
Ipswich got off to a flyer when Freddie Sears poked Tom Lawrence’s free-kick beyond Lee Camp at the near post in just the third minute.
But by the seventh minute, Rotherham were level, Ward taking advantage of some static defending to turn and fire home.
Rotherham grabbed a 48th-minute lead as Will Vaulks’ long throw saw Christophe Berra and Adam Webster get in each other’s way and Ward side-footed a volley into the corner.
It looked as if Rotherham would hang for their first win for more than three months until McGoldrick provided a sublime finish with almost the last kick off the game.
Boss Kenny Jackett said: “Football can be a cruel game and it is very deflating for our players who worked so hard during the match.”