Santi Cazorla completed a season-high 154 passes in Arsenal's 0-0 draw with Sunderland on Wednesday night.

The Gunners were left frustrated by the visitors' resolute defence, as Dick Advocaat's side preserved their Premier League status with their third consecutive clean sheet.

Sunderland set their stall out to defend in numbers in north London, with the pace of Adam Johnson and Jermain Defoe utlised on the counter-attack.

Santi Cazorla (left) completed a season-high 154 passes in Arsenal's 0-0 draw with Sunderland

Another good chance goes begging for Olivier Giroud as Arsenal were left frustrated by Sunderland

Cazorla's comprehensive pass map vs Sunderland

It meant that Arsenal's midfield enjoyed large spells of possession, with Cazorla pulling the strings at the core of each assault on Costel Pantilimon's goal.

As the graphic on the right shows, the Spain international rarely put a foot wrong in possession - the few yellow arrows represent wayward attempts - and seldom passed backwards in his efforts to finally find a breakthrough.

It is surprisingly the first time that Cazorla, who joined Arsenal in a £16.5million move from Malaga in August 2012, has made it on to the list of top 20 passers from Premier League games this season.

But in gatecrashing the list of ball retainers with one round of fixtures to go, the 30-year-old usurps team-mate Aaron Ramsey in the pecking order along with previous record-holder Cesc Fabregas, who features no fewer than five times in the top 20.

The former Villarreal midfielder has played in every Premier League game for Arsenal this season, scoring seven goals and assisting another nine.

Manchester City's Yaya Toure also makes the list on five separate occasions.