Isa Zina: Theo Walcott off, bring on Welbeck! Giroud has been brilliant today though!

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Rich: On the bright side - at least it will be cheaper for the Sunderland players to reimburse their fans' travel expenses this time!

The club offered to reimburse fans who travelled to see Sunderland's 8-0 away defeat by Southampton last October.

Former Aston Villa loan signing Jermaine Jenas:, external Think Tim Sherwood's had a bit of an impact - Villa 4-0 up, Stadium of Light emptying very fast.

Adam B: The way the Aston Villa are scoring they could be above Everton in the Premier League with a better goal difference (they need another 12). Up the Villa!

Daniel, Darlington: I think your vote today should be: How many goals will Villa score before the full-time whistle? Shocking stuff.

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Allan Abbas: A win today and we're just 6pts behind the league leaders Chelsea. Arsenal back as title contenders?

Image source, AFP

Tremendous stuff from Tim Sherwood's side. Ten attempts on goal in the first half with six shots on target. Sunderland shots on target? Zero.

Championship: Matt Derbyshire scored for Rotherham in first-half injury-time, but his side go into the break 2-1 behind in their home game versus Wigan.

League One: Three goals in nine minutes at Boundary Park. Hosts Oldham trail 2-1. Lewin Nyatanga and Conor Hourihane moved Barnsley 2-0 in front, but Michael Jones has pulled one back for the Latics.

League Two: Ryan Leonard's stoppage-time volley has put Southend 2-1 in front at Dagenham and Redbridge.

Arsenal's passing and movement has been as good in that first half as I've seen in a long, long time. Mesut Ozil and Aaron Ramsey played a lovely one-two in the build-up to Olivier Giroud's opener

John Roder
Match of the Day commentator at the Stadium of Light

"Anger and vitriol directed at Gus Poyet. Sunderland have been woeful. Aston Villa had only scored 15 goals this season but have managed four in 45 minutes."

Kurt Booth: Some days you are the pigeon, and other days you are the statue. Sunderland, being bombed by Villa, are the statue today.

Shuvam Sinha: The Sunderland board may well apprise the inevitable to Poyet at HT. Hopeless, hopeless Sunderland

Karen Lynch: So the 11 on the field aren't to blame in any way?

Mike, London: Remember when a Paul Lambert Villa beat Sunderland 6-0?

Andre in Aylesbury: Poyet to be the first manager to be sacked at half time?

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Jimmy Armfield
BBC Radio 5 live sports extra

"Tim Sherwood will think Christmas has come early because of all the presents for his team. Sunderland have been so tentative and defensive. Frankly, 4-0 is a fair reflection of the game, Sunderland have given them every opportunity."

Listen now on BBC Radio 5 live sports extra.

Image source, PA

Sunderland boss Gus Poyet was playing down this match when he spoke to the press on Friday.

"We've been (treating) every game for the last two months like it was the most important game and a cup final," said Poyet.

"I think we need to be more calm and positive and believe in the team. We need to make sure we give the fans something early in the game so we make the Stadium of Light very difficult."

The Stadium of Light is certainly very difficult right now.

Championship: A 39-minute hat-trick from Brett Pitman has put Bournemouth 3-0 in front against Blackpool. Matej Vydra has doubled Watford's lead against a much-changed Reading side. Two goals from Adam le Fondre has taken Bolton 2-0 up against lowly Millwall.

League One: Colchester took the lead against Crawley, but are now 2-1 behind. Gavin Tomlin has put the Red Devils ahead against their fellow strugglers. Coventry could be in the bottom four by the end of the day. They were 1-0 ahead against Chesterfield, but Jay O'Shea has equalised for the the Spireites.

Chris Sutton
Former Norwich, Blackburn and Celtic striker on Final Score

"Where has that art of defending gone from the English game? It's just incredible how Aston Villa are getting in and scoring at will. This scoreline could be anything. Sunderland manager Gus Poyet could go after this game it's that bad."

Jimmy Armfield
BBC Radio 5 live sports extra

"They can't get in fast enough, the supporters. The ball came in from the right and he just powered the header in from six yards. A lovely cross, and Pantilimon did not have a prayer. You would never have believed the score could be like this - we thought maybe a 0-0, or a 1-0."

Listen now on BBC Radio 5 live sports extra.