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“Identity” is a word that gets thrown around a lot in football, but what does it mean to have one?
At the end of Sunderland’s previous Premier League spell, it would be fair to say that the team lacked a clear identity. On the pitch, in the dugout and in the boardroom, we were a club void of any fingerprint. We possessed players with quality, but they didn’t care — and we had a talented manager who failed to motivate his players, as well as a board that had given up.
Even after our relegation to the Championship in 2017 and the changes that came with it, we still looked like a wounded animal, patched up to try and compete when there was only going to be one outcome: relegation. League One allowed us to rebuild, and the arrival of Kyril Louis-Dreyfus was the start of rediscovering that identity, but it took time — years, to be precise.
Now, after eleven matches of the 2025/2026 Premier League season, the club sits fourth in the table. Our latest triumph — a 2-2 draw with Arsenal — showcased a team that not only has immense quality, but that’s also synonymous with the city; a team that supporters deserve.
SUNDERLAND, ENGLAND - NOVEMBER 08: Fans of Sunderland show their support during the Premier League match between Sunderland and Arsenal at the Stadium of Light on November 08, 2025 in Sunderland, England. (Photo by George Wood/Getty Images)
SUNDERLAND, ENGLAND - NOVEMBER 08: Fans of Sunderland show their support during the Premier League match between Sunderland and Arsenal at the Stadium of Light on November 08, 2025 in Sunderland, England. (Photo by George Wood/Getty Images)
Getty Images
The encounter with the Gunners will live long in the memory for many reasons. Of course, the result and the performance were both exemplary, but some characteristics within this Sunderland side are making supporters fall in love with the club again.
When I was a kid, I was lucky to grow up with the Black Cats as a Premier League team under Peter Reid.
Living in London, I was the only Sunderland supporter in the school, and I wore my full kit with pride. I was known as that kid who didn’t support one of the big London clubs, and I loved it. In our best years, I witnessed back-to-back seventh-place finishes and probably took that success for granted.
However, as many fans can probably relate, we became a laughing stock, and that meant I became a laughing stock. I can remember as clear as day going into school after watching us fall to the lowly League One Brentford at Griffin Park, to jests from my mates. It felt like a curse at times, but little did I know things would get much worse.
Now, after our latest landmark result, I’m proud again, but it isn’t the fact that we’re fourth that I’m so chuffed with — it’s the way the Lads are playing.
The clash with Arsenal wasn’t the first time this season that we’ve shown belief, physicality and desire. Mikel Arteta’s side simply haven’t faced a side who’ve gone toe-to-toe with them, competed for every ball and wanted it as much as we did.
SUNDERLAND, ENGLAND - NOVEMBER 8: Brian Brobbey celebrates after scoring the equalising goal during the Premier League match between Sunderland and Arsenal at Stadium of Light on November 8, 2025 in Sunderland, United Kingdom. (Photo by Martin Swinney - Sunderland AFC/Sunderland AFC via Getty Images)
SUNDERLAND, ENGLAND - NOVEMBER 8: Brian Brobbey celebrates after scoring the equalising goal during the Premier League match between Sunderland and Arsenal at Stadium of Light on November 8, 2025 in Sunderland, United Kingdom. (Photo by Martin Swinney - Sunderland AFC/Sunderland AFC via Getty Images)
Sunderland AFC via Getty Images
Against Chelsea, we showed the same traits and produced the most ridiculous result of the season.
In defence, Dan Ballard embodied the spirit of the team and marched out of defence with the ball, looking like a prime Fabio Cannavaro. What happened at the end of the game emphasised the players’ hunger to fight for this club: Brian Brobbey’s hold up, Chemsdine Talbi’s run — no Chelsea players were near him. We simply wanted it more.
How on Earth we managed to build a team with so much quality and passion, I don’t know, but Florian Ghisolfi, Kristjaan Speakman and Kyril Louis-Dreyfus deserve all the credit in the world for what they’ve done. Finding top players is hard enough, but discovering talent with the right mindset is another thing.
Every time I watch a video on social media, it’s evident that the players are caught up in the emotions of the club — and that’s special. Granit Xhaka is the ringleader but in truth, all of them look like they genuinely want to be here and bring success to Wearside.
How long will this last? Who knows, but one thing that is for certain: these players care and are representing the city with pride. It means a lot to know that we have our identity back.