Fabregas (pen) 90 + 3

Arsenal moved to within two points of second-placed Manchester United, thanks to a Nicklas Bendtner tap-in and a stoppage time penalty from Cesc Fabregas.

It was an open game in which the Gunners could have matched Chelsea’s seven goals against Sunderland, while the Black Cats had chances themselves with the score at 1-0.

Theo Walcott caused untold problems down Arsenal’s right flank in the early stages.

And he and Bendtner wasted good chances before Bendtner opened the scoring on 27 minutes after a driving run from Emmanuel Eboue and a shot across goal which the unattended striker turned into a cross by tapping-in from three yards.

Sunderland’s Kenwyne Jones missed a glorious chance of a first-half equaliser, shooting wide after being put through by Kieran Richardson.

Black Cats keeper Craig Gordon made a string of second-half saves to keep his side in it, the best a low left-handed stop from Walcott’s left-foot drive on 52 minutes.

But Arsenal keeper Manuel Almunia had to block Darren Bent’s 64^th minute shot when the England striker latched onto a Jones header.

Arsenal weren’t safe until stoppage time when Fraizer Campbell clumsily brought down Fabregas in the box and the Spaniard converted the penalty.