Mikel Arteta and Arsenal had to do plenty of work to emerge from Sunderland with all three points on Saturday.
David Raya saved a penalty that had Arteta ‘worried’ about the state of the league, and Bruno Guimaraes came off the bench to score minutes later. Bukayo Saka converted a late penalty to give the Gunners a 2-0 win at the Stadium of Light.
MORE — Arteta furious with Sunderland ‘judo roll’ penalty
Arsenal created so many chances in the game, especially in the first half, only to be denied by Sunderland keeper Robin Roefs or flash the ball clear of the goal.
But Guimaraes’ fantastic goal from well outside the box and some brilliant goalkeeping from Raya helped the Gunners get to three points and a 4-0-0 record on the young season.
Sunderland finished with 10 men as Reinildo was shown a second yellow card for conceding the penalty in stoppage time. They fall to 1-1-2 on the season ahead of their first Europa League match on Wednesday versus AZ Alkmaar.
Unlucky Gunners nearly made to pay
This game really wasn’t about Sunderland out-playing Arsenal, it was about the Gunners keeping the game in play via substandard finishing. Kai Havertz and Bukayo each should’ve had a goal and could’ve had two in the first half alone, but the lack of clinical finishing on the day meant Sunderland headed to halftime thinking they had a shot at all three points. They nearly got it thanks to Ezri Konsa’s take down of Dan Ballard in the box, but David Raya saved Enzo Le Fee’s ensuing penalty and Arsenal finally got their goal a couple of minutes later. It wouldn’t have been an indictment on Arteta or Arsenal’s mettle had they lost nor is the win some sort of holy sign that the Gunners will win every trophy of offer (though they could!).
Bruno Guimaraes is ready to start
Yes, the ex-Newcastle United man had injury issues and perhaps Mikel Arteta’s refusal to start Bruno Guimaraes to this point has been sincerely down to fitness. Perhaps. But it seems like there was more to it as Myles Lewis-Skelly has regularly started next to Declan Rice and Mikel Merino got the start in Champions League action. Guimaraes’ goal was spectacular, yes, but Lewis-Skelly’s passing range and possession appeal are at-best a slight change and upgrade from Martin Zubimendi at this stage in the 19-year-old’s career. Guimaraes is readier to shoot and even more ready to get stuck into the dirty areas of the pitch. Maybe his start was being saved for the midweek cup tie at Ipswich Town but there can be no question that Arsenal’s Best XI should involve the finished product more than the future star.
Kick off time: 3pm ET Saturday, September 12
Venue: Stadium of Light — Monkwearmouth, Sunderland
TV Channel: USA
Stream link: Watch on USA
“Frustrating result. Good game, especially the second where we went toe-to-toe with them. We had an opportunity to score, didn’t, and just 30 seconds after we conceded a goal. They are relentless. When you don’t seize your opportunities, it’s hard.”
“First half we were a bit reserved, respectfully, knowing the way they can threaten your defense. We agreed during halftime it was important to show our quality on the ball. We created chances and Raya was one of the best players on the pitch today.”
Bruno Guimaraes reaction
How was your first goal for Arsenal? “Unbelievable. I feel very good. Everyone knew I had a difficult start with injuries. I’m glad to be back and glad to play. A good moment for me and my family.”
Feel good to do it at Sunderland? “Beautiful goal. Everyone knows my past. I had an amazing history at Newcastle and now I’m trying to make it here.”
On Raya’s penalty save: “Very good save. He kept us alive in the game. After this moment we had a bit more confidence to pay forward. This guy is a brilliant player.”
David Raya reaction
On Bruno’s goal: “What a goal, especially coming to this place where it’s so so difficult. Big, big battle. Very physical. We dealt with it well. We defended very well. At the end of the day we got the three points.”
Did you know Enzo Le Fee’s penalty history? “We keep that for ourselves but it’s a big moment, especially nil-nil away from home where they are a little bit on top of us. The save gave us a little bit of faith. Even if we conceded the goal, I think we had the faith to get back in the game.”
David Raya can afford lots of dinners and often gets them for free we imagine, but he shouldn’t pay for his this evening.
Saka finally solves Roefs from the cushier range of a penalty.
Reinildo is shown his second yellow after trying to give Saka a fashionable off-the-shoulder jersey look before taking him to the turf inside the box.
He’s off.
The Spanish keeper makes three interventions including two rapid-fire saves to keep Arsenal up 1-0.
Odegaard subs out for Mikel Merino in the 85th minute.
Declan Rice and Christos Tzolis see their days end in the 82nd minute as Eberechi Eze and Martin Zubimendi take their places with the Gunners up 1-0.
Just not the right winger’s day.
Odegaard drives down the middle then puts it on a plate for Bukayo Saka on his right.
Robin Roefs does so well to make a save and limit the damage to an Arsenal corner kick.
Daniel Ballard denies Kai Havertz off the corner and it stays 1-0 in the 75th minute.
An incredible hit from a world-class midfielder.
Two minutes after Raya’s save, Guimaraes makes a statement to his boss after spending another day on the bench for Myles Lewis-Skelly.
A rocket from outside the 18 to the underside of the bar and the back of the net.
Enzo Le Fee is at the spot to face David Raya in the 56th minute.
SAVED! David Raya pushes the hard, low shot onto the post.
A fine penalty. A better save.
John Brooks has seen Ezri Konsa ride Dan Ballard to the ground off a corner kick.
It’s one of those that look like a penalty in every situation, but we just haven’t seen them given especially on Arsenal corner kick.
Ballard has a hold of Konsa’s sleeve, yes, but the Arsenal back just uses his body weight to drop the Sunderland man.
The second half starts with some hope for Sunderland.
First, David Raya and a defender miscommunicate and the keeper has to make a close-range save.
Then Brian Brobbey leads a long, physical dribble down the center of the pitch that leads to some tense defensive moments for the visitors.
Here come Bruno Guimaraes and Jurrien Timber.
Off go Lewis-Skelly and Ben White.
Guimaraes gets a passionate round of boos from the Sunderland fans after his starring role in the rebirth of Newcastle across the region.
There only feels like there’s one possible winner here, but a draw wouldn’t feel crazy.
It feels like a game where Havertz and Viktor Gyokeres could do some damage together but how often has Arteta tried that?
Arsenal lead in possession (67%), xG (0.86-0.13), passing (89%-78%) but shots are 5-5.
Saka and Havertz look set to get a redemptive goal in stoppage time.
They don’t because Saka’s pass through the six to Havertz is put over the bar by Granit Xhaka in what is close to a scorpion kick, lifting his trail leg and bopping the ball clear with the bottom of his boot.
Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has been shown a yellow card for straying from his box into the Sunderland technical box.
It’s still so early but Havertz has two misses — one a solid jumping Robin Roefs save — that will be kindling thoughts of an upset at the Stadium of Light.
He chopped one cutback over the bar and had a second from a similar space tipped above the cross bar by Roefs.
0-0, 36'
The Gunners might be over 80% in possession and their first bit of ultra danger should be a goal.
Declan Rice chips a pass to Bukayo Saka about 10 yards out from goal. Saka tries to use the outside of his left foot to knife it past Robin Roefs.
He just doesn’t get a lot of it, and could’ve had a much better go if he tried to pass it home with his right peg.
Still airborne but for someone of Saka’s skill you expect it to be 1-0.
Here go the Black Cats and Gunners from Sunderland!
Three of the four changes to the Arsenal team are either on the left flank or near to it.
You could say four if you count Kai Havertz coming into center forward for Viktor Gyokeres, as he’ll play a big role combining with left wing Christos Tzolis.
Myles Lewis-Skelly will be left of Declan Rice in the midfield, and Riccardo Calafiori slots in at left back.
Wilson Isidor and Chemsdine Talbi start on the bench for Sunderland against the Gunners.
Robin Roefs is between the posts, with Thomas Meunier, Nordi Mukiele, Dan Ballard, and Kevin Danso at the back.
Reinildo, Granit Xhaka, and Noah Sadiki are in the midfield with Enzo Le Fee, Nilson Angulo, and big Brian Brobbey leading the attack.
No big surprises here as Arteta clearly prefers Myles Lewis-Skelly next to Declan Rice over Martin Zubimendi and Bruno Guimaraes.
David Raya starts in goal behind Ben White, Ezri Konsa, Gabriel Magalhaes, and Riccardo Calafiori.
Red-hot Martin Odegaard will set the stage for a front three of Bukayo Saka, Christos Tzolis, and Kai Havertz.
Jurrien Timber does th make the bench after a long absence from the team.
Relatively-speaking you wouldn’t expect that a now two-time European entrant would have such a decent record against near-perennial continental contributors.
But Sunderland have won 50 of their 156 matches with Arsenal, drawing 42.
It’s this century that has changed it in favor of the Gunners. This isn’t nice reading for Sunderlands fans — since January 2000, Arsenal are 22W-10D-4L against Sunderland.
And the Gunners haven’t lost to the Black Cats since February 18, 2012, a run of 14 games which includes just four draws.
Le Bris’ men were able to take a point off the Gunners last season, which few teams are able to claim from Arsenal’s 2025-26 championship campaign.
Daniel Ballard and Brian Brobbey scored in November 20225 at the Stadium of Light as Sunderland managed a thrilling 2-2 draw with the Gunners.
Arsenal got revenge in February as Viktor Gyokeres scored twice off the bench in a 3-0 win at the Emirates Stadium.
Regis Le Bris’ incredible debut season in the Premier League saw Sunderland seal a shock return to Europe.
They’ll meet AZ Alkmaar, Torreense, Lech Poznan, Dinamo Zagreb, Jagiellonia Bialystok, AC Milan, Anderlecht, and Levski Sofia in this season’s UEL league phase.
It’s their second ever European competition and first since the 1973-74 European Cup Winners’ Cup, which ended in the second round.
