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Maybe it should not have come as such a surprise that the team that was able to slow Arsenal’s title charge would be led by Granit Xhaka, their former captain. The substitute Brian Brobby scored an injury-time equaliser after second-half goals from Bukayo Saka and Leandro Trossard had put the visitors in the lead following a first-half goal from the Sunderland captain, Dan Ballard.
It was a rocky night for the Premier League leaders, but Arsenal have a seven-point advantage over Manchester City, who are at home to Liverpool on Sunday, and Sunderland, though Chelsea could cut the lead to six in Saturday’s later game.
Xhaka – who left the Emirates Stadium in 2023 looking for what he described as a new challenge – has been outstanding in the promoted side’s midfield this season after signing from Bayer Leverkusen, but the 33-year-old’s form on Wearside will not have surprised Arsenal fans. The Switzerland international turned his Arsenal career around under Mikel Arteta, who did not want to lose him.
Sunderland went into the game with nothing to lose after making the best start to a Premier League season by a promoted side over 10 games since Hull City in the 2008-09 season. A deflected strike from Xhaka against Everton on Monday night had lifted Sunderland up to fourth, a position few home supporters would have envisaged before a ball was kicked given that their team had spent eight years outside the top flight.
Xhaka’s experience, much of it gained during his seven years at Arsenal, and leadership have helped the team quickly adjust to Premier League football. He seemed to revel in the physicality of the contest.
Arteta, again without Gabriel Jesus, Martin Ødegaard, Kai Havertz, Noni Madueke, Viktor Gyökeres and Gabriel Martinelli, had an early concern when Mikel Merino, playing up front after netting two goals in Tuesday night’s 3-0 Champions League win at Slavia Prague, was caught by an elbow from Ballard as he attacked a ball into the home box. Merino was able to play on.
Eberechi Eze almost took advantage of an error from Enzo Le Fée, who lost the ball on the edge of the box, but the shot flew over the bar.
Wilson Isidor shot wide at the other end before another lengthy stoppage after a clash of heads between Le Fée and Jurriën Timber, who had to continue with a head bandage.
A more painful blow was to come next for bruised Arsenal. Sunderland launched a free-kick into the visiting box and Ballard held off Declan Rice to lash the ball past David Raya after it was knocked out. It was the first goal Arsenal had conceded since their last visit to the north-east in late September, when they had underlined their title credentials with a late win over Newcastle.
Arsenal had kept a club-record eight successive clean sheets in all competitions since Nick Woltemade’s scored against them at St James’ Park.
Sunderland ensured that it was another uncomfortable visit to the region for Arsenal, who found themselves pegged back for spells after the break.
They needed a moment of quality, and it came in the 54th minutes. Rice took the ball off Le Fée and a flowing move involving Eze and Merino ended with Saka beating Robin Roefs at his near post.
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Arsenal pushed for a second goal and Le Bris made three changes to his attack – he sent on Brobbey, Chemsdine Talbi and Simon Adingra – midway through the second half.
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ShowAnother moment of quality was not long in coming. Arsenal worked the ball from right to left, and Trossard, just outside the box, found enough space to lash a right-footed shot into the top left corner.
Raya had to be alert in the last 10 minutes as Sunderland pressed for a second goal, but could not stop an acrobatic finish from Brobbey after the ball was headed into the box. The strike was greeted by a huge roar.
Fittingly Ballard – like Xhaka another ex-Gunner, this one coming through Arsenal’s academy – had the final say with a flying block at the feet of Merino in the game’s last action.
