Sunderland Halt Arsenal's Ten-Game Winning Streak with Late Equalizer
Sunderland and Arsenal played to a thrilling 2-2 draw at the Stadium of Light on Saturday, ending Arsenal's impressive ten-game winning streak across all competitions. Brian Brobbey's dramatic, late goal secured a point for the Black Cats in a match filled with twists and turns.
The draw also brought an end to Arsenal's run of eight consecutive clean sheets, dating back to late September. The Gunners now hold a seven-point lead over Manchester City, who are set to face Liverpool on Sunday. Meanwhile, Sunderland's strong performance solidified their position as a team to watch following their promotion, and they moved to third in the Premier League standings.
The first half was a tightly contested affair, punctuated by lengthy injury stoppages that disrupted the flow of the game. Despite Arsenal's early dominance in possession, it was Sunderland who broke the deadlock in the 36th minute. A free-kick from Robin Roefs was flicked on by Dan Ballard to Nordi Mukiele, who headed it back into Ballard's path, allowing the former Arsenal academy graduate to fire a powerful shot past David Raya. It was the first goal Arsenal had conceded in 812 minutes across all competitions. Arsenal had a chance to level the score before halftime, but William Saliba volleyed over the bar from close range.
Arsenal emerged with renewed intensity after the break. Their persistence paid off in the 54th minute when Bukayo Saka equalized with a well-placed, low shot. The goal shifted the momentum in Arsenal's favor, and they began to dictate the match's tempo. As Arsenal pressed for a winner, Martin Zubimendi nearly put them ahead, but his shot struck the crossbar. In the 74th minute, Leandro Trossard scored a stunning goal from outside the box, giving Arsenal the lead for the first time.
Sunderland, however, refused to surrender. In the fourth minute of stoppage time, Brobbey latched onto a flick-on from Ballard and hooked the ball into the net, sparking jubilant scenes at the Stadium of Light. Ballard then made a crucial block to deny Mikel Merino a potential winner in the dying seconds.
Sunderland's resilience was a key factor in the draw, as they have now scored more 90th-minute goals than any other Premier League team this season. This late equalizer also underscored Sunderland's impressive form at the Stadium of Light, where they remain unbeaten in their league matches this season. For Arsenal, the dropped points represent a setback in their title aspirations, but they still maintain a lead at the top of the table. Manager Mikel Arteta expressed his disappointment at conceding goals, highlighting the team's recent defensive solidity.
