Sunderland ensured that they would be playing Premier League football again next season by holding Arsenal to a 0-0 draw at the Emirates Stadium this evening.

A point was all the Black Cats needed from their game in hand to prevent their relegation battle being taken to the last day, and they looked well on course for that after a quiet first half.

The match livened up after the break, however, with both sides missing clear chances to get a winning goal in the second period.

Here, Sports Mole looks at whether a goalless draw was the right result in North London.

Match statistics

ARSENAL
Shots: 28
On target: 8
Possession: 75%
Corners: 5
Fouls: 6

SUNDERLAND
Shots: 7
On target: 3
Possession: 25%
Corners: 2
Fouls: 8

Was the result fair?

One quick look at the statistics will tell you that Arsenal should have run away with this game, but that would be doing Sunderland a disservice. The Black Cats were certainly on the back foot for the vast majority of the match but, when it comes to clear chances, it was the visitors who created arguably the best ones. Steven Fletcher alone could have had a hat-trick in the second half, so Sunderland may have even won this game rather than coming away with just a point.

Any defeat would have been very harsh on Arsenal, though, with the Gunners subjecting the visiting goal to heavy pressure for much of the second half. They were also on top in the first half, but their possession before the break lacked creativity for the most part and Sunderland coped with Arsenal's attacks relatively comfortably. There were one or two close calls, but Costel Pantilimon in the Sunderland goal was never truly troubled in the opening 45 minutes.

That changed after the break, however, and Sunderland needed their Romanian keeper on top form to keep Arsenal at bay. As mentioned, the visitors did have a few moments of their own at the other end, but for the most part they put in a stoic and stubborn defensive showing tonight. They once again rode their luck at times, with Olivier Giroud clipping the top of the bar and Billy Jones hitting his own post, but it is hard to begrudge the Black Cats a point following such a spirited showing.

Arsenal's performance

A point all but seals third place in the Premier League table for Arsenal, but there were no signs of the hosts settling for a draw tonight. The match quickly fell into the expected rhythm, with Arsenal camped inside the Sunderland half trying to break the visitors down. Jack Wilshere created a couple of decent chances for Mesut Ozil and Giroud, but wayward shooting and frustration was the story of the first half from the home side's point of view.

The latter will still be prevalent at full time, but their failure to break through Sunderland was not down to a lack of trying. They probed this way and that to find a route past the Black Cats, but their visitors put in a defiant showing at the back. When Arsenal did manage to get shots past the likes of Sebastian Coates and John O'Shea, they found Pantilimon in brilliant form. Substitutes Theo Walcott and, later, Tomas Rosicky made a difference for Arsene Wenger's side, but ultimately they could not get a winner.

Defensively they coped very comfortably throughout the first half, but they were almost stung on the break a few times in the second. Fletcher had three golden chances, while David Ospina was also forced to deny Patrick van Aanholt. A draw ultimately suits Arsenal, with the exception of leaving second place out of reach, but Wenger will be frustrated that his side were unable to find an answer to Sunderland's stubbornness today, particularly as Aston Villa may now be tempted to employ similar tactics in the FA Cup final.

Sunderland's performance

There were never going to be any surprises from Sunderland today - they needed a point and they came to the Emirates to get it. It was never going to be easy either, but these Sunderland players have shown that they are up for the fight and they put in another inspirational showing tonight. The likes of Coates, O'Shea, Pantilimon and Lee Cattermole were all exceptional as they repeatedly rebuffed Arsenal's relentless attacks in the second half especially.

The Black Cats certainly had luck on their side again this evening, not least when Jones almost turned the ball into his own net, but nothing should be taken away from the spirit and desire they showed. There were no passengers tonight, with every player giving everything for the cause. They could have even picked up a second away smash-and-grab win on the bounce had Fletcher, whose half-time introduction made a difference, taken one of his chances.

It was their defiant defensive work that stood out this evening, however, with players throwing themselves in front of everything to protect their goal. Dick Advocaat must have been the proudest manager in the league watching his side tonight, and his tears at the final whistle show just how much of himself he has invested in this relegation battle, despite being fairly new to the scene. Sunderland will be desperate to keep the experienced manager on this summer but, for now, they can deservedly look forward to a stress-free final day.

Sports Mole's man of the match

Costel Pantilimon: Plenty of Sunderland players stepped up to the plate tonight, but none more so than Pantilimon. The big keeper only had a couple of routine stops to make in the first half, but in the second he was forced into a string of really smart saves to keep the Gunners at bay. Arsenal's shooting was wayward at times, but whenever they got one on target, Pantilimon was equal to it.

Biggest gaffe

It seems Lady Luck is a Sunderland fan. Having somehow come away with a 2-0 win from their last away game at Goodison Park, the Black Cats once again found fortune on their side tonight when Aaron Ramsey's vicious ball into the box was missed by Coates and hit Jones. The full-back knew nothing about it, but it bounced off his head and onto his post, with Pantilimon beaten for the only time on the night.

Referee performance

It was a full-blooded performance from Sunderland, but Anthony Taylor won't have many easier games to officiate. He only handed out one yellow card, and that wasn't even to Cattermole.

What next?

Arsenal: The Gunners end their league season at home to West Bromwich Albion on Sunday before looking to retain the FA Cup against Aston Villa at Wembley six days later.

Sunderland: Sunderland, meanwhile, can now try to enjoy their final-day meeting away to champions Chelsea.