Arsenal had one of their toughest nights of the season on Wearside as they conceded two goals in a game for the first time this campaign amid some ferocious Sunderland pressure.
There were periods in the game where the Gunners were on top, most notably at the start of the second half when they scored goals through Bukayo Saka and Leandro Trossard, but Sunderland just about shaded the first half and came on strongly at the end, culminating in Brian Brobbey’s stoppage-time equaliser.
Arteta conceded that Sunderland’s physically aggressive approach had knocked his side off their stride, and commended the Black Cats for being willing to commit a large number of players into Arsenal’s 18-yard box.
“We had to navigate through a really tough game,” said Arteta, whose side had been on a ten-game winning run in all competitions prior to their trip to the North-East. “We knew that - it was very disruptive. We had to deal with situations that are obviously 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.
“But 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.”
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Dan Ballard’s opener was the first goal Arsenal had conceded in more than 800 minutes of football, and it was followed by Brobbey’s stoppage-time equaliser, with the Dutch forward hooking the ball home after muscling his way ahead of Gabriel.
In their last three matches, Sunderland have beaten Chelsea and drawn with Arsenal, shattering the myth that their excellent start was because they ‘hadn’t played anyone’ in the first two months of the season and cementing the club’s position in the top half of the table following May’s promotion via the Championship play-offs.
“You have to credit the opposition,” said Arteta. “They are here and competing for a reason, and they do what they do really, really well. They make it very difficult for you. You have to be very patient, you have to dominate certain things in order to end the right to dominate the game in the manner that you want. We did that much better in the second half.
“This is the Premier League, and you don't get to go to a y place in the Premier League where you think you're going to have a comfortable afternoon, evening, whatever you want to call it.
“And again, it’s not a coincidence what they [Sunderland] are doing. They deserve to be where they are - and we do as well.”