Sunderland, England – In a thrilling encounter at the Stadium of Light, Brian Brobbey's dramatic 94th-minute equalizer secured a 2-2 draw for high-flying Sunderland against Premier League leaders Arsenal. The late goal not only salvaged a point for the Black Cats but also brought an end to Arsenal's impressive winning streak.
The match was a captivating affair from the start, with Sunderland matching Arsenal's intensity and disrupting their rhythm. The first half was marked by lengthy injury stoppages, preventing either side from establishing sustained momentum. However, the game burst into life in the 36th minute when Daniel Ballard, a former Arsenal academy player, powerfully struck home from a Nordi Mukiele knockdown, ending Arsenal's remarkable run of eight consecutive clean sheets in all competitions. This was also Sunderland's first shot on target.
Arsenal emerged for the second half with renewed determination, increasing the pressure on the Sunderland defense. Their efforts paid off in the 54th minute when Bukayo Saka leveled the score with a precise, low shot. The Gunners continued to press, and in the 74th minute, Leandro Trossard put Arsenal ahead with a stunning strike from outside the box, seemingly securing a fifth successive league victory for his team.
Just as Arsenal appeared to be cruising to victory, Sunderland mounted a late surge. In the dying moments of the game, Brian Brobbey, who joined Sunderland on September 1, 2025, for a fee of €20 million, delivered the decisive blow. Brobbey connected acrobatically with a header from Ballard, beating Arsenal goalkeeper David Raya to snatch a draw. This marked Brobbey's first goal for Sunderland.
The draw sees Arsenal's lead at the top of the Premier League cut to seven points ahead of Manchester City, who play Liverpool on Sunday. Sunderland, currently managed by Régis Le Bris, continue their strong home form, extending their unbeaten league record at the Stadium of Light to six matches this season. They have a record of 5 wins, 3 draws, and 2 losses in the Premier League this season. Notably, Sunderland has scored more 90th-minute goals than any other side in the Premier League this season, with three of these goals directly altering the match result in their favor.
For Arsenal, the result is a setback after a dominant run of form. While their unbeaten head-to-head run against Sunderland now extends to 16 Premier League games, they will rue the missed opportunity to extend their lead at the top of the table. Mikel Arteta's side will need to regroup quickly as the title race begins to heat up.
The match was also notable for Sunderland naming the same starting eleven for the third successive game, while Arsenal made three changes from their midweek Champions League win, with Eberechi Eze, Martin Zubimendi, and Riccardo Calafiori all starting.
