Leading through Dan Ballard’s first-half finish, Sunderland found themselves behind after Bukayo Saka and Leandro Trossard scored in the second half.
However, Brobbey swivelled to fire home in the 94th minute as Sunderland became the first side to score two goals in a game against Arsenal this season.
What were the main talking points from today’s game at the Stadium of Light?
**LAST-DITCH DRAMA AGAIN**
Brobbey likes a stoppage-time goal. The summer signing from Ajax set up Chemsdine Talbi’s last-gasp winner at Stamford Bridge last month – here, he was Sunderland’s goalscoring hero in the 94th minute.
Ballard nodded Trai Hume’s cross into his path as Sunderland pushed to try to find an equaliser, and the Dutchman did the rest, muscling ahead of Gabriel before swivelling to fire past David Raya.
It was a brilliant finish, with Brobbey certainly making the most of the limited opportunities he has been afforded since moving to Wearside.
He has moved ahead of Eliezer Mayenda in the attacking pecking order, and while Wilson Isidor remains Regis Le Bris’ first-choice option when it comes to starting matches, Brobbey is proving a hugely-valuable alternative from the bench.
The way in which he was mobbed by his team-mates after scoring - and the delirious way in which he celebrated in front of the Roker End - suggests another cult hero is emerging.
This was his first goal since signing for Sunderland on deadline-day – on the evidence of his last few substitute appearances, it is unlikely to be his last.
**BALLARD’S BULLET**
Ballard is making a habit of scoring memorable goals at the Stadium of Light. The centre-half’s play-off semi-final decider against Coventry City will never be forgotten, along with the thumping header that helped secure the [Black Cats](http://www.thenorthernecho.co.uk/sport/football/sunderland?ref=au)’ win over West Ham in their first game back in the Premier League.
Now, the Northern Irishman has another memorable moment to add to his collection. There was still plenty for him to do when Nordi Mukiele nodded Robin Roefs’ long clearance into his path, but after taking a touch to bring the ball under control, he drove forward and lashed a brilliant finish past Raya.
All the pre-match talk had been focused on what Granit Xhaka might do against his former employers – instead, it was another ex-Arsenal player stealing the headlines.
Arsenal actually let Ballard go on three separate occasions after he joined them as an eight-year-old – twice when he was a youngster in their academy and then again when they sold him to Sunderland in the summer of 2022, as the Black Cats were finally clambering out of League One. Still just 26, the centre-half has played a pivotal role in Sunderland’s subsequent resurrection.
**DEFENSIVE SHAPE**
Having played with a five-man backline in the two previous matches against Chelsea and Everton, Regis Le Bris opted to stick with the same formation for the visit of Arsenal.
This time, though, the five really was a five. In both the Chelsea and Everton games, players were stepping out of the backline to bolster the midfield. Occasionally it would be Lutsharel Geertruida, more regularly it was Trai Hume, but there was a fluidity to Sunderland’s shape depending on whether they were in or out of possession.
Here, with Arsenal predictably dominating the ball, the home side’s formation was much less malleable. Hume’s forays forwards were few and far between, with the Northern Irishman spending the vast majority of his time as an orthodox right wing-back.
In the first half, Sunderland were rock solid. They were less secure after the break, but that was more to do with Arsenal’s marked improvement rather than any real defensive deficiencies of their own. Le Bris clearly trusts this new 5-2-3 system – and on this evidence his faith in it is justified.
**ARSENAL’S IMPROVEMENT**
You don’t win Premier League titles by cruising to victory in every game you play. Sometimes, you have to dig deep when things look like they might be going against you. To their huge credit, Arsenal did that, even if they ended up bitterly disappointed by being pegged back in stoppage time.
The Gunners deserved to be trailing at the break, having lacked any kind of urgency or intensity in the first half. From the minute they resumed after the interval, though, they looked a completely different side.
Everything was stronger, punchier and half-a-yard quicker, leading to the moment that got the visitors back level. Declan Rice’s aggressive pressing paid dividends, with the England midfielder robbing the ball off Enzo Le Fee deep in the Sunderland half. Mikel Merino teed up Saka, and the winger drilled home a clinical finish from the right of the box.
Would Arsenal be content with a point? That’s not what champions do. With Noah Sadiki standing off him in the 74th minute, Trossard crashed a brilliant finish into the roof of the net from the edge of the penalty area.
True, Mikel Arteta’s side failed to prevent Sunderland from levelling in the 94th minute. Unlike in previous seasons, though, they look to be made of fairly stern stuff.