Arsenal legend Martin Keown reserved special praise for a Sunderland star during their defeat at the Emirates Stadium, with the Black Cats ace impressing.
Mikel Arteta's side needed patience before breaking down the Black Cats' stubborn resistance, with Martin Zubimendi firing them ahead just before halftime.
zubimendi
The Spanish midfielder unleashed a spectacular strike from outside the box following Leandro Trossard's assist, watching his curling effort nestle into the net past Robin Roefs.
Sunderland arrived looking to frustrate the league leaders after their impressive 3-0 thrashing of Burnley on Monday, deploying a cautious approach with Regis Le Bris setting up a defensive structure featuring Mukiele, Ballard and Alderete across the backline.
Brian Brobbey led the line in isolation as the visitors sat deep, but they ran their socks off and often made life difficult for the Gunners, even if the scoreline doesn't reflect that.
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Arsenal doubled their advantage midway through the second period when substitute Viktor Gyokeres finished clinically following Kai Havertz's creative work.
The Swedish striker, introduced for Gabriel Jesus on the hour mark alongside Gabriel Martinelli, made an instant impact.
Gyokeres wrapped up the points deep into stoppage time, converting after Martinelli's dangerous run opened up space in front of goal. The striker's brace secured Arsenal's ninth consecutive victory and maintained their nine-point cushion over second-placed Man City.
The result leaves Sunderland sitting ninth on 36 points, with Champions League qualification slipping further out of reach.
Martin Keown praises Sunderland star Enzo Le Fee in Arsenal defeat
Speaking on talkSPORT commentary duty, Keown says that playmaker Enzo Le Fee was one of their shining lights in the "valiant" loss, with Sunderland playing well but ultimately being outdone.
Enzo-Le-Fee
The Frenchman, who was signed permanently by Sunderland from Roma last summer after helping them achieve promotion, has been a mainstay for them all season.
Le Fee has started all but two of Sunderland's league games this season, chipping in with three goals and four assists, including contributions against the likes of Liverpool and Tottenham.
Keown says that Le Fee has added Arsenal to his list of great games this term, with the 26-year-old proving a tricky customer for Arteta's title chasers.
"He's some player," Keown said on talkSPORT, just after the second half restart.
"Having a great game today."
The former FC Lorient and Rennes star is now showcasing his worth in world football's most competitive division, and his quality hasn't been lost on Le Bris either.
“He understands football. He can play out on the left, in the midfield, almost in three positions I think," Le Bris told reporters in August.
“He can manage different problems in real time. You have the gameplan, so we can anticipate some problems, but the quality of a player is to solve problems in real time and seize opportunities when you have opportunities."
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