Perhaps Arsenal aren’t going to be able to stroll to the title after all. And perhaps Sunderland really do have to be taken seriously as European contenders. How else do you explain this crazy evening at the Stadium of Light?
Brian Brobbey’s 94th-minute equaliser prevented Arsenal claiming what would have been an 11th straight win in all competitions, and lifted Sunderland back into the Champions League places as their remarkable return to the Premier League continues to dazzle.
Arsenal deserve credit for shaking off a sluggish first-half display to claim the lead through goals from Bukayo Saka and Leandro Trossard, but unlike on so many occasions this season, their defence was unable to hold firm when it mattered most.
Dan Ballard flicked on Trai Hume’s cross deep into stoppage time, and substitute Brian Brobbey reacted quicker than Gabriel to hook home his first Sunderland goal since his summer move from Ajax.
Having gone 812 minutes without conceding a goal, Arsenal had shipped two in the same game for the first time all season.
Sunderland’s opener came when Nordi Mukiele cushioned goalkeeper Robin Roefs’ long clearance to Ballard. After taking one touch to control, the former Arsenal trainee crashed a brilliant shot past David Raya.
William Saliba should have equalised when he hooked over from close to the penalty spot, but with Sunderland more than matching their opponents, the first half ended with Mukiele dragging a shot just wide as Arsenal’s defenders once again struggled to deal with a diagonal ball into the box.
The league leaders needed more urgency in their play, and to their credit, it was evident from the moment the game resumed after the break. Saka and Martin Zubimendi both wasted half-chances in the Sunderland box, before the former levelled nine minutes into the second half.
Arsenal’s aggressive pressing paid dividends as Declan Rice robbed Enzo Le Fee of possession deep in the Sunderland half, and after Mikel Merino rolled a pass to Saka, the England winger fired home a low finish from the right of the area.
Suddenly, the game had turned completely, and after Zubimendi fired a shot against the crossbar, Trossard fired Arsenal into the lead with 16 minutes left. Noah Sadiki stood off him, and the Belgian crashed a brilliant shot into the roof of the net from the edge of the 18-yard box.
That looked like being that, but Brobbey, who had set up Sunderland’s stoppage-time winner at Chelsea last month, had the final say as he swivelled to hook home.
SUNDERLAND (5-2-3): Roefs 6, Hume 8, Mukiele 7, Ballard 9, Geertruida 6 (Mayenda 87, 6), Reinildo 7, Xhaka 8, Sadiki 6, Traore 6 (Talbi 63, 6), Isidor 6 (Brobbey 63, 8), Le Fee 5 (Adingra 63, 6).
Subs (not used): Patterson (gk), Masuaku, O’Nien, Neil, Rigg.
ARSENAL (4-2-3-1): Raya 7; Timber 7, Saliba 8, Gabriel 7, Califiori 7; Rice 7, Zubimendi 8; Saka 8, Eze 7 (Mosquera 87, 6), Trossard 8; Merino 6.
Subs (not used): Arrizabalaga (gk), Lewis-Skelly, White, Hincapie, Norgaard, Nwaneri, Dowman, Harriman-Annous.
Referee: Craig Pawson
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