Sunderland Fight Back With Late Brobbey Equaliser To Hold Leaders Arsenal

Maybe it should not person travel arsenic specified a astonishment that nan squad that was capable to slow Arsenal’s title complaint would beryllium led by Granit Xhaka, their erstwhile captain. The substitute Brian Brobby scored an injury-time equaliser aft second-half goals from Bukayo Saka and Leandro Trossard had put nan visitors successful nan lead pursuing a first-half extremity from nan Sunderland captain, Dan Ballard.

It was a rocky nighttime for nan Premier League leaders, but Arsenal person a seven-point advantage complete Manchester City, who are astatine location to Liverpool connected Sunday, and Sunderland, though Chelsea could trim nan lead to six successful Saturday’s later game.

Xhaka – who near nan Emirates Stadium successful 2023 looking for what he described arsenic a caller situation – has been outstanding successful nan promoted side’s midfield this play aft signing from Bayer Leverkusen, but nan 33-year-old’s shape connected Wearside will not person amazed Arsenal fans. The Switzerland world turned his Arsenal profession astir nether Mikel Arteta, who did not want to suffer him.

Sunderland went into nan crippled pinch thing to suffer aft making nan champion commencement to a Premier League play by a promoted broadside complete 10 games since Hull City successful nan 2008-09 season. A deflected onslaught from Xhaka against Everton connected Monday nighttime had lifted Sunderland up to fourth, a position fewer location supporters would person envisaged earlier a shot was kicked fixed that their squad had spent 8 years extracurricular nan apical flight.

Xhaka’s experience, overmuch of it gained during his 7 years astatine Arsenal, and activity person helped nan squad quickly set to Premier League football. He seemed to revel successful nan physicality of nan contest.

Arteta, again without Gabriel Jesus, Martin Ødegaard, Kai Havertz, Noni Madueke, Viktor Gyökeres and Gabriel Martinelli, had an early interest erstwhile Mikel Merino, playing up beforehand aft netting 2 goals successful Tuesday night’s 3-0 Champions League triumph astatine Slavia Prague, was caught by an elbow from Ballard arsenic he attacked a shot into nan location box. Merino was capable to play on.

Arsenal extended their lead astatine nan apical of nan Premier League earlier title rivals Manchester City look Liverpool connected Sunday. Photograph: Owen Humphreys/PA

Eberechi Eze almost took advantage of an correction from Enzo Le Fée, who mislaid nan shot connected nan separator of nan box, but nan changeable flew complete nan bar.

Wilson Isidor changeable wide astatine nan different extremity earlier different lengthy stoppage aft a conflict of heads betwixt Le Fée and Jurriën Timber, who had to proceed pinch a caput bandage.

A much achy rustle was to travel adjacent for bruised Arsenal. Sunderland launched a free-kick into nan visiting container and Ballard held disconnected Declan Rice to lash nan shot past David Raya aft it was knocked out. It was nan first extremity Arsenal had conceded since their past sojourn to nan north-east successful precocious September, erstwhile they had underlined their title credentials pinch a precocious triumph complete Newcastle.

Arsenal had kept a club-record 8 successive cleanable sheets successful each competitions since Nick Woltemade’s scored against them astatine St James’ Park.

Sunderland ensured that it was different uncomfortable sojourn to nan region for Arsenal, who recovered themselves pegged backmost for spells aft nan break.

They needed a infinitesimal of quality, and it came successful nan 54th minutes. Rice took nan shot disconnected Le Fée and a flowing move involving Eze and Merino ended pinch Saka beating Robin Roefs astatine his adjacent post.

Arsenal pushed for a 2nd extremity and Le Bris made 3 changes to his onslaught – he sent connected Brobbey, Chemsdine Talbi and Simon Adingra – midway done nan 2nd half.

Another infinitesimal of value was not agelong successful coming. Arsenal worked nan shot from correct to left, and Trossard, conscionable extracurricular nan box, recovered capable abstraction to lash a right-footed changeable into nan apical near corner.

Raya had to beryllium alert successful nan past 10 minutes arsenic Sunderland pressed for a 2nd goal, but could not extremity an acrobatic decorativeness from Brobbey aft nan shot was headed into nan box. The onslaught was greeted by a immense roar.

Fittingly Ballard – for illustration Xhaka different ex-Gunner, this 1 coming done Arsenal’s academy – had nan last opportunity pinch a flying artifact astatine nan feet of Merino successful nan game’s past action.