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

Maybe it shouldn't have been such a surprise that the team able to slow Arsenal's title charge would be captained by Granit Xhaka, their former captain. Replacement striker Brobbey scored an injury-time leveling goal after second-half goals from Bukayo Saka and Trossard had given Arsenal in the lead following a early goal from Sunderland skipper Dan Ballard.

A Rocky Night for the Premier League Leaders

Proved to be a rocky night for the Premier League pace-setters, but Arsenal have a seven point advantage over City, who host the Reds on the weekend, and Sunderland, though the Blues could reduce the gap to six in the weekend's later game.

The Midfielder's Influence on His New Team

Xhaka – who left the Emirates Stadium in 2023 seeking what he described as a fresh opportunity – has been outstanding in the promoted side's midfield this season after joining from Bayer Leverkusen, but the 33-year-old's form on Wearside will not have shocked Arsenal fans. The Switzerland international revived his Gunners stint under Mikel Arteta, who did not want to see him leave.

Sunderland's Strong Start

The Black Cats entered the game with nothing to lose after achieving the best start to a Premier League campaign by a newly promoted club over 10 games since Hull City in the 2008/09 term. A redirected effort from Xhaka against the Toffees on earlier in the week had boosted them up to fourth place, a position few local fans would have predicted before a ball was kicked given that their side had spent almost a decade away from the top flight.

His Know-How and Leadership

The player's experience, largely gained during his seven years at the Emirates, and captaincy have assisted the squad rapidly adapt to top-tier soccer. He appeared to thrive in the physicality of the contest.

First-Half Moments and Knocks

Arteta, once more without Gabriel Jesus, Martin Ødegaard, Kai Havertz, Madueke, Gyökeres and Martinelli, had an early concern when Mikel Merino, playing up front after scoring a brace in midweek's three-nil European win at Prague, was struck by an arm from the defender as he challenged for a cross into the home box. The forward was fit to continue.

Eze nearly took advantage of an error from Enzo Le Fée, who was dispossessed on the border of the penalty area, but the shot soared over the crossbar.

Isidor shot wide at the other end before a further long break after a clash of heads between Le Fée and Jurriën Timber, who had to carry on with a bandaged head.

Sunderland Go Ahead

A more painful blow was to come next for bruised the visitors. Sunderland sent a free-kick into the Arsenal box and the captain held off Rice to drive the ball past David Raya after it was knocked out. It was the opening strike they had let in since their last visit to the north-east in September's end, when they had demonstrated their championship potential with a late win over the Magpies.

Arsenal had maintained a team best eight successive clean sheets in every match since Nick Woltemade's scored against them at St James' Park.

The Gunners Fight Back

The Black Cats ensured that it was a further difficult outing to the area for Arsenal, who were pegged back for periods after the interval.

They required a moment of quality, and it arrived in the 54th minute. Rice took the ball off his opponent and a smooth attack involving the winger and the striker ended with the forward beating Robin Roefs at his near post.

Arsenal pressed for a next score and the coach introduced three changes to his attack – he brought on the substitute, Chemsdine Talbi and Simon Adingra – midway through the second half.

Trossard Increases the Advantage

A further moment of quality was not long in coming. Arsenal worked the play from one flank to the other, and the Belgian, on the edge of the box, found enough room to fire a right-foot shot into the top corner.

Dramatic Equaliser from The Sub

Raya had to be alert in the last 10 minutes as Sunderland pressed for a second goal, but could not stop an acrobatic shot from Brobbey after the delivery was nodded into the box. The goal was met by a deafening cheer.

Appropriately Ballard – like Xhaka a former Arsenal player, this one developed in the youth system – had the final say with a flying block at the toes of Merino in the match's last action.