Sunderland 2-2 Arsenal: WOW! What a point! James Copley and Phil Smith react at the Stadium of Light
Sunderland snatched a late point against Arsenal thanks to Brian Brobbey’s equaliser
Arsenal thought they had secured all three points after second-half goals from Bukayo Saka and Leandro Trossard, but Brian Brobbey's stunning stoppage-time volley ensured Sunderland were able to preserve their unbeaten home record. Arsenal missed a big late chance even after Brobbey's goal, with Dan Ballard making a brilliant late block from Mikel Merino.
"Obviously, the last feeling is disappointment and frustration because we wanted the three points, and we have to navigate through a really tough game," Arteta said.
"We knew that they are very disruptive. We have to deal with situations obviously that are difficult to deal with. They do it really well and we conceded a goal that is not in our standards. But after that, I think the team reacted really well, showed a lot of personality and courage. They scored the first goal, they scored the second goal and we totally dominated the game.
"You have to rely on defending the box when they start to commit six or seven players there. It can be from a direct play, it can be from a throw-in, it can be from any situation. We can defend the action better, and today we haven't done it; we conceded the goal.
"And in the last minutes we have another massive chance with Ricky and Mikel to win, which I think we deserve to do. But it didn't happen, but I think it shows what we've done in the last ten games. Winning them in the manner that we've done it, with clean sheets, missing seven players in the front line. So it shows you how difficult it is."
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"We had to adjust certain things [at half time] and at the end you have to credit the opposition as well," Arteta added.
"They are here and competing for a reason and they do what they do really, really well and they make it very difficult for you. And you have to be very patient, you have to dominate certain things in order to earn the right to dominate the game in the manner that you want. And we did that much better in the second half.
"I'm not satisfied because I want to win. And the game was almost there, but you know this is the Premier League and the manner that they play, they're going to hang in there when it's just one goal difference there. I'm upset and frustrated because it's an action that we can defend better, but as well you have to give credit to the opposition to do what they've done, to put the ball there, to head the ball the way they've done it, and then they strike it to do that action and to put the ball in the net and sometimes you have to do that and recognise that as well."
Arteta said his side were fully aware of how difficult a task it would be at the Stadium of Light and that Sunderland were fully deserving of their lofty position in the table.
"It is, and we knew that from the beginning," Le Bris said.
"But that's the Premier League, you don't get to any place in the Premier League where you think you're going to have a comfortable afternoon, evening, how you want to call it. And again, it's not a coincidence what they are doing, and they deserve to be where they are... and we do as well."
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