Sunderland Fight Back with Injury-Time Brobbey Equaliser to Hold Table-Toppers Arsenal

It perhaps wasn't so shocking that the team able to slow Arsenal's championship push would be captained by Granit Xhaka, an ex-Gunner. Replacement striker Brobbey scored an stoppage-time equaliser after second-half strikes from Bukayo Saka and Trossard had given Arsenal in the lead following a early goal from the home side captain Ballard.

A Rocky Evening for the Premier League Front-Runners

Proved to be a rocky night for the English top division pace-setters, but the Gunners maintain a seven-point advantage over City, who host Liverpool on the weekend, and Sunderland, though the Blues could reduce the gap to six in Saturday's later game.

Xhaka's Impact on Sunderland

The Swiss international – who left the Arsenal's home in 2023 looking for what he described as a new challenge – has been outstanding in the newly promoted team's engine room this campaign after signing from Bayer Leverkusen, but the 33-year-old's performances on Wearside will not have surprised Gunners fans. The Swiss international turned his Arsenal career around under Mikel Arteta, who was reluctant to see him leave.

Sunderland's Impressive Opening

The Black Cats entered the match with no pressure after making the strongest opening to a top-flight campaign by a promoted side over 10 games since Hull City in the 2008-09 season. A deflected strike from the midfielder against Everton on earlier in the week had boosted them up to fourth, a standing not many local fans would have predicted before a ball was kicked given that their side had been almost a decade away from the Premier League.

Xhaka's Experience and Guidance

The player's experience, largely earned during his lengthy spell at the Emirates, and captaincy have helped the squad quickly adjust to Premier League soccer. He appeared to thrive in the physicality of the contest.

Early Moments and Knocks

The Arsenal manager, once more without Jesus, Martin Ødegaard, Havertz, Noni Madueke, Gyökeres and Gabriel Martinelli, had an early concern when Merino, playing up front after scoring a brace in Tuesday night's three-nil Champions League win at Prague, was caught by an elbow from the defender as he challenged for a ball into the home box. The forward was fit to continue.

Eberechi Eze almost cashed in of an error from Enzo Le Fée, who was dispossessed on the edge of the penalty area, but the attempt soared over the crossbar.

Wilson Isidor fired off target at the other end before another long stoppage after a head collision between Le Fée and Jurriën Timber, who had to continue with a head bandage.

Sunderland Take the Lead

A tougher blow was to come next for stunned Arsenal. Sunderland launched a free-kick into the visiting box and Ballard resisted Declan Rice to drive the shot past David Raya after it was knocked out. It was the opening strike they had conceded since their previous trip to the north-east in late September, when they had underlined their championship potential with a late win over the Magpies.

Arsenal had maintained a team best eight successive shutouts in every match since Nick Woltemade's scored against them at Newcastle's ground.

Arsenal Respond

Sunderland made sure that it was another difficult visit to the region for Arsenal, who found themselves pegged back for spells after the interval.

They required a moment of quality, and it arrived in the 54th minute. The midfielder took the ball off Le Fée and a flowing move featuring Eze and the striker ended with Saka beating Robin Roefs at his near post.

The visitors pressed for a next score and Le Bris introduced a triple substitution to his attack – he sent on the substitute, Chemsdine Talbi and Adingra – in the middle of the second half.

Trossard Increases the Lead

A further moment of quality was not far away. Arsenal moved the play from right to left, and the Belgian, just outside the box, created enough space to lash a right-foot strike into the top corner.

Dramatic Equaliser from The Sub

The keeper had to be sharp in the final stages as Sunderland pressed for a equalizer, but was unable to prevent an acrobatic shot from the substitute after the ball was nodded into the box. The strike was met by a huge roar.

Fittingly the defender – like Xhaka another ex-Gunner, this one developed in the youth system – had the last word with a flying challenge at the feet of Merino in the match's final moment.