Arsenal wouldn’t go away but upstart new boys Sunderland wouldn’t either in a 2-2 draw at the Stadium of Light on Saturday.
The draw ends Arsenal’s remarkable winning streak at 10 games in all competitions, though they now can lean on a 14-match unbeaten run.
LATEST — Mikel Arteta speaks after draw
Daniel Ballard put Sunderland up early and then made a result-saving stoppage-time block just after Brian Brobbey put the Black Cats level.
Bukayo Saka and Leandro Trossard scored classy goals between Sunderland’s two markers but the hosts kept coming and remarkably remain in the top four heading into the international break.
WATCH — Sunderland v Arsenal full match replay
Arsenal’s 26th point is seven more than anyone else in the division but their table lead will dip depending on the result of Manchester City vs Liverpool on Sunday.
Sunderland sit third with 19 points and will finish the weekend no lower than fifth on the table.
Daniel Ballard’s three-ring circus defines Sunderland’s magic return
Ex-Arsenal academy man Dan Ballard had a resonant, triumphant performance even if you remove the emotional modifiers of his background. The 26-year-old was with the Gunners from 2007-19 but never got to hit the pitch as a senior player. That would’ve made Saturday special enough before the center back — yes, center back — scored a rocket of a goal, won a header that led to the equalizer, and made a stunning, brave block as he was Man of the Match in both boxes. This is Sunderland right now. They don’t quit, they have the memory of a club that will not again take top-flight status for granted, and there’s a wizard at the wheel in Regis Le Bris. Surely they’ll be fortunate to finish above mid-table but who cares? The Black Cats have nine lives, after all.
What’s next?
The international break awaits, and Arsenal comes back to a gauntlet: Spurs at home in the North London derby on Nov. 23, then a Champions League visit from Bayern Munich, and a Premier League trip to Chelsea.
Sunderland go to Fulham at 10am ET Saturday, November 22.
Sunderland vs Arsenal final score: 2-2
Dan Ballard 36', Bukayo Saka 54', Leandro Trossard 74', Andrew Brobbey 90+4'
Regis Le Bris reaction
Another magical late goal: “The lads worked hard til the end. They believe it was possible to change the game. We faced one of the best teams in Europe. It was a benchmark for us. We struggled but we stayed connected in belief that iwas possible to score one more goal.”
How are you doing this? “Our fans help a lot and we showed before that it was possible. We have this faith, this belief that until the final whistle anything is possible.”
First half go about as well as planned? “Yes, more or less. Defensively we were well-organized. We had the opportunity to keep the ball, to build up under pressure. We’re a new squad, really young without big experience in the Premier League. It’s possible to struggle, to feel their pressure, their quality. It’s a good lesson for us.”
Was part of the plan moving the advertising boards closer to pitch? “We tried to find the details to win the game. They are good on set pieces. We are too.”
Dan Ballard reaction
What does this say about Sunderland? “You saw again the incredible fight in the team. The boys worked so hard for the whole week. We show it on the pitch, we fight to the end. It’s brilliant.
How did you manage the game? “They caused us a lot of problems to be fair. We were camped into the edge of the box. We knew we’d have to take our chances and be aggressive with the ball.”
Does the season have a special feel? “We’re very calm to be honest. it’s a long season. We’ve had a good start but we’ve had a lot of games that are tight.”
Brian Brobbey reaction
What did Regis Le Bris tell you upon bringing you on? “That I needed to be important, hopefully with a goal.”
Describe your goal: “It’s a long ball, I don’t know from who. The big man made a good header and I was at the right place.”
Double save!
Roefs makes a close-range save on Riccardo Calafiori’s header and then Ballard lunges to block a rebound rip from Mikel Merino. What a finish we have here! Arsenal corner is managed and it remains 2-2 with maybe a minute to go.
Brian Brobbey goal — Sunderland 2-2 Arsenal
Wow!
A very brave finish from Brian Brobbey who darts into a dangerous area and flashes the outside of his right boot between Raya and William Saliba to make it 2-2!
What a remarkable goal.
Seven minutes stoppage
Well, well, well.
More subs
Eliezer Mayenda enters for Lutsharel Geertruida, while Arsenal counter with their first sub of the match. It’s Cristhian Mosquera replacing Eze as Arteta rightly opts for more defense.
David Raya strong in the box
Raya makes a close-range stop on the Black Cats for the second time in a handful of minutes, as Sunderland have not quit on this one.
Arsenal still lead 2-1 into the 86th minute.
Leandro Trossard wonder goal — Sunderland 1-2 Arsenal
It’s Zubimendi who finds Trossard 1v1 with Sadiki. The Sunderland man stays with Trossard but help isn’t coming and the 30-year-old cuts this way and that before unleashing a cannonball into the upper reaches of the goal.
Wow. Trossard has done this a few times... go quiet for long stretches and then scream onto the scoreboard.
Martin Zubimendi smacks the bar
The Spaniard nearly gives Arsenal its first lead, and Eberechi Eze can’t quite settle the rebound into a dangerous shot.
Sunderland subs
Off go Wilson Isidor, Enzo Le Free, and Bertrand Traore for Brian Brobbey, Simon Adingra, and Chemsdine Talbi in the 64th minute.
Bukayo Saka does not misfire — Sunderland 1-1 Arsenal
Le Fee is caught on the ball in a place he shouldn’t be messing around, and Arsenal are lethal in turning the mistake into a goal.
It’s Rice stealing the ball and then one touch ease for Eze and Merino before Saka buries his shot near-post in the 54th minute.
Bukayo Saka misfires
Better possession in the final third from Arsenal, and Saka has a chance to test Roefs but is quite errant with a vicious left-footed attempt from a tough but hardly impossible angle.
Halftime — Sunderland 1-0 Arsenal
Better from the Gunners just before halftime but the lack of a target man has allowed Sunderland so much freedom to defend the wings with aggression and a relative lack of fear.
Arsenal have been better, for sure, but Sunderland have been disciplined without the ball and took their chance when it came to them.
Perfect recipe?
Now the Black Cats have the lead in a game where the chasers are missing proven game-changers in the XI and on the bench.
All due respect to Christian Norgaard but he’s not known for prolific playmaking from a forward role. Max Dowman, Ethan Nwaneri, and Andre Harriman-Annous are tantalizing prospects but just that.
The Gunners will have to figure it out against a well-organized and -motivated batch of Black Cats in a den of din.
Dan Ballard goal — Sunderland 1-0 Arsenal
Dreams continue at the Stadium of Light.
Robin Roefs’ long feee kick is knocked down by Nordi Mukiele and absolutely hammered into the upper 90 by big Black Cats back Daniel Ballard.
He flexes his biceps for the crowd, and why wouldn’t he? Can’t really flex your thighs in a similar feat of showcase.
Black Cats surprise
Noah Sadiki wins a third ball and pushes Wilson Isidor into the box.
The forward drags a low shot across goal and wide of the post, reminding the Gunners that they’re hungry and unafraid to take a bit at the proverbial apple.
0-0, 29' as Eberechi Eze and Enzo Le Fee get treatment after a clash of heads.
Arsenal free kick
A dangerous free kick for the Gunners sees Declan Rice spin a shot over the wall and toward the far post.
Robin Roefs stoops to his left and parries out for a corner kick. The Black Cats deal with it but Arsenal keep the ball.
Game going the way of the visitors into the second quarter hour.
0-0, 17'.
Hosts not scared
Good signs for both the Black Cats faithful and the neutral watching at home — Sunderland are, of course, ready to defend but have already showed an eagerness to counter with confidence and vigor.
Now it’s on Arsenal to bring fear to the Sunderland back line despite less-than-pacey Mikel Merino leading the line.
Sunderland lineup
Roefs, Hume, Mukiele, Ballard, Geertruida, Reinildo, Xhaka, Sadiki, Traore, Le Fee, Isidor
Arsenal lineup
Raya, Timber, Saliba, Magalhaes, Calafiori, Rice, Zubimendi, Eze, Saka, Trossard, Merino
Sunderland vs Arsenal preview
Xhaka, 33, played nearly 300 games for Arsenal before leaving for two glorious seasons at Bayer Leverkusen, and now the Swiss midfielder is part of Sunderland’s incredible start to life in the Premier League. The Black Cats are fourth in the PL after 10 games, as close to the table-topping Gunners as they are to 15th.
Arsenal, of course, represent their stiffest challenge yet. The 8-1-1 Gunners have won their last 10 matches across all competitions including a midweek 3-0 cruise past Slavia Prague in Czechia. A Week 3 loss at Liverpool in the Premier League is their only loss and a Week 5 draw with Manchester City their lone draw.
There are still big injuries keeping Mikel Arteta’s Gunners from their very best, which is a frightening thought. Viktor Gyokeres is not expected to play before the international break and Martin Odegaard, Noni Madueke, Gabriel Martinelli, Kai Havertz, and Gabriel Jesus have also been absent from the attack.
Sunderland team news, focus
OUT: Habib Diarra (groin), Aji Alese (shoulder), Romaine Mundle (thigh), Leo Fuhr Hjelde (achilles), Dennis Cirkin (wrist) | QUESTIONABLE: Omar Alderete (concussion)
Arsenal team news, focus
OUT: Viktor Gyokeres (muscular- MORE), Gabriel Martinelli (unspecified), Martin Odegaard (knee - MORE), Kai Havertz (knee - MORE), Gabriel Jesus (knee), Noni Madueke (knee) | QUESTIONABLE: Kepa Arrizabalaga (personal)
Sunderland vs Arsenal prediction
The Black Cats will hope that both the Stadium of Light and Arsenal’s midweek trip help level the playing field. Sunderland boss Regis Le Bris has been a wizard this season, changing formations and tactics to keep the opposition off balance. But Arsenal truly are a different level, the sort that can manage even if outfoxed. Team 2-0 may well just do that again. Sunderland 0-2 Arsenal.
How to watch Sunderland vs Arsenal live, stream link and start time
Kick off time: 12:30pm ET Saturday
Venue: Stadium of Light — Wearside
TV Channel: NBC
Streaming: Watch online via NBC.com
