Arsenal's more fluid and liberated style will help them dispatch opponents efficiently, but underpinning their imperious form is the ability of different individuals to single-handedly decide outcomes, as Bruno Guimarães and David Raya showed at Sunderland.
Guimarães and Raya showed where Arsenal's fortunes can stem from at Sunderland
Bruno Guimaraes and Mikel Arteta celebrate Arsenal's 1-0 victory over Sunderland. (Photo by Joe Prior/Visionhaus via Getty Images)
Two crushing defeats at the hands of rivals Sunderland last term left Bruno Guimarães and his Newcastle United team devastated. He returned to the North East to exact revenge, superbly finding the breakthrough at the Stadium of Light for the champions.
After a protracted process to get Guimarães through the door, his cameos have been sharp and convincing, and he was given his first full second half to impose himself on this tie, replacing Myles Lewis-Skelly at half-time.
Compared to Martin Zubimendi’s measured ball retention to manage games in the latter stages, the Brazilian has so far punched passes through the lines and turned down the safe option, perhaps to leave an impression.
It is a style to sway his manager to install him alongside Declan Rice from the outset of upcoming matches.
Guimarães breaks the deadlock
The Arsenal fans were up in the heavens, hoping for any dullness of an Arsenal 1-0 to at least amount to some spice, some entertainment, all to justify their trek from North London for an 8 pm start.
So far this season, they have been treated to exactly that, all with the weight of a burdensome expectation lifted.
Their Brazilian midfielder took a preparatory glance towards goal, trusted his ability, and took the chance by pulling the trigger on the edge of the box in the 58th minute.
A sublime strike found the net off the underside of the crossbar, and the goalscorer’s taunting gesture to suggest Sunderland are a small club signalled his lingering allegiance to neighbouring Newcastle United.
SUNDERLAND, ENGLAND - SEPTEMBER 12: Bruno Guimaraes of Arsenal celebrates scoring his team’s first goal during the Premier League 2026/27 match between Sunderland and Arsenal FC at Stadium of Light on September 12, 2026 in Sunderland, England. (Photo by Joe Prior/Visionhaus via Getty Images)
SUNDERLAND, ENGLAND - SEPTEMBER 12: Bruno Guimaraes of Arsenal celebrates scoring his team’s first goal during the Premier League 2026/27 match between Sunderland and Arsenal FC at Stadium of Light on September 12, 2026 in Sunderland, England. (Photo by Joe Prior/Visionhaus via Getty Images)
A cauldron subdued, and Guimarães successfully opened his account in Arsenal colours.
Raya rescues Gunners from falling behind
This was not the culmination of an Arsenal barrage wearing down their opponents, as they managed in their Champions League curtain-raiser against Napoli.
Cutting edge was again deficient, and they were hardly able to breach Sunderland’s defence before the interval. They almost paid the price until they were rescued heroically by their goalkeeper just two minutes prior to the opening goal.
Gunners centre-back Ezri Konsa had been in a grappling contest with Brian Brobbey all night, but one physical duel with Dan Ballard ended up being costly and contentious inside the box.
Another long throw was hurled in by the hosts to spark chaos, and Ballard fell to the floor after what the referee adjudged to be sufficient and sustained holding.
Mikel Arteta’s outright dismissal of the decision after his victory has validity if the Arsenal academy graduate Ballard initiated most of the contact. The fallout over this should attract attention for future scenarios, considering VAR concurred so swiftly with the original decision.
Nonetheless, clamping down on these types of offences during set-pieces officially came into the Premier League rulebook at the beginning of this season.
The champions have conceded just once, to Morgan Rogers against Chelsea, this season, and David Raya kept his clean sheet intact by denying Enzo Le Fée from the spot, springing to his left and roaring in celebration.
SUNDERLAND, ENGLAND - SEPTEMBER 12: Sunderland's Enzo Le Fée sees his penalty saved by Arsenal's David Raya during the Premier League 2026/27 match between Sunderland and Arsenal FC at Stadium of Light on September 12, 2026 in Sunderland, United Kingdom. (Photo by Rich Linley - CameraSport via Getty Images)
SUNDERLAND, ENGLAND - SEPTEMBER 12: Sunderland's Enzo Le Fée sees his penalty saved by Arsenal's David Raya during the Premier League 2026/27 match between Sunderland and Arsenal FC at Stadium of Light on September 12, 2026 in Sunderland, United Kingdom. (Photo by Rich Linley - CameraSport via Getty Images)
Clawing away an effort from the constantly tenacious presence of Nordi Mukiele, claiming crosses and commanding his area, this is precisely what Arteta means when he stresses the importance of individual and magic moments.
Raya once again proved vital in decisive moments, which is a hallmark of a side bidding to retain their crown, following his routinely quiet affair between the sticks, protected by a usually impregnable defence.
Diligent defending and relishing key moments
"Win in any context" were the words displayed on a poster in the dressing room before Arsenal faced off with Napoli.
It seemed even more befitting for their away day in Sunderland, and Arteta’s ranks certainly fulfilled that message.
Brobbey was a nuisance for Konsa and Gabriel to contain physically when he pinned himself to them, and he doggedly probed to find opportunities. The Black Cats kept upping the ante and their energy, albeit chances from breakaways or open play lacked the necessary quality.
Even in moments of desperation to clinch a clean sheet, with sprawling bodies attempting to block close-range shots, Arsenal were able to resist and protect, a result of their evolution into battlers across Arteta’s tenure.
Gabriel and Ezri Konsa of Arsenal celebrate their second goal during the Premier League match between Sunderland and Arsenal at the Stadium of Light in Sunderland, on September 12, 2026. (Photo by Michael Driver/MI News/NurPhoto via Getty Images)
Gabriel and Ezri Konsa of Arsenal celebrate their second goal during the Premier League match between Sunderland and Arsenal at the Stadium of Light in Sunderland, on September 12, 2026. (Photo by Michael Driver/MI News/NurPhoto via Getty Images)
Eventually, Guimarães was the one to slip the ball through to Bukayo Saka, who won a penalty in stoppage time. He converted his spot kick past Robin Roefs.
Arsenal have won their last nine Premier League games in a row, which is the first time they have strung that many top-flight wins together since the Invincibles season.
There is no set formula to produce an emphatic title defence, but certain individuals taking their turn to step up will be pivotal to emerge victorious from fine margins, all while following Arteta’s emphasis on control, in whatever guise that principle appears to overcome each hurdle.
Mikel Arteta, manager of Arsenal, gives instructions to his team during the Premier League match between Sunderland and Arsenal at the Stadium of Light in Sunderland, United Kingdom, on September 12, 2026. (Photo by Alfie Cosgrove/News Images/NurPhoto via Getty Images)
Mikel Arteta, manager of Arsenal, gives instructions to his team during the Premier League match between Sunderland and Arsenal at the Stadium of Light in Sunderland, United Kingdom, on September 12, 2026. (Photo by Alfie Cosgrove/News Images/NurPhoto via Getty Images)
The elusive capture of a higher-class left-sided forward casts an understandable shadow over Arsenal’s shrewd business in recent windows, if their ambition now is to win the Champions League.
However, as long as Arteta’s harmonious squad has several individuals to produce key moments, it seems there is little any competitor can do to derail their new title charge.