SUNDERLAND 2-2 ARSENAL: Premier League leaders Arsenal looked to be on the way to a crucial win at the Stadium of Light only for the Black Cats to steal a point in dramatic circumstances
Brian Brobbey
Brian Brobbey sealed a late point vs Arsenal(Image: Getty Images)
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Arsenal let a potentially crucial win slip through their fingers as they were pegged back late on by a stubborn Sunderland at the Stadium of Light.
Dan Ballard ended Arsenal's long run without conceding a goal as he gave Sunderland the lead with a spectacular finish. But the visitors levelled matters minutes into the second half thanks to a lethal strike from Bukayo Saka.
Martin Zubimendi then went close to flipping the game on its head but struck the crossbar. The Gunners were not to be denied as Belgian winger Leandro Trossard fired home a brilliant goal.
It looked as though the points would be heading to North London but Brian Brobbey acrobatically netted a late equaliser. Here are all of the talking points from the Stadium of Light:
Ballard on target again
Dan Ballard has picked up a very useful habit of finding the net in key moments for Sunderland - and his latest strike came arguably against his most poingnant opponents yet. The defender came through the Arsenal academy - never making an appearance - and was sent out on a series of loans before finding a permanent home at the Stadium of Light.
His goal against Arsenal saw him latch onto a long ball, brush off Declan Rice in the process and thunder the ball past David Raya in the Arsenal net. It was the finish of a cultured striker, not a burly centre-back, but it was no surprise that it required something magnificent to end Arsenal's long run without conceding a goal.
Dan Ballard
Dan Ballard celebrates his goal vs Arsenal
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Xhaka continues to shine
There was a familiar face in the Sunderland side at the Stadium of Light. Granit Xhaka was making his first appearance against Arsenal since leaving for Bayer Leverkusen.
Xhaka has been terrific so far for Sunderand - and he was equally as impressive against his former side. The Swiss midfielder gave the side the experinced and collected head that they desperately needed as they came under pressure against arguably the toughest opponents that they've faced this season.
And his performance, alongside his Sunderland teammates, was enough to seal a dramatic point in the North East.
Saka pounces on error
While Sunderland's captain was key to their impressive performance, Arsenal required their skipper to dig them out of a hole. Enzo Le Fee had the ball robbed from him by Rice, who rolled it into Mikel Merino.
The Spaniard bided his time before playing the perfect pass to Bukayo Saka, who finished low past Robin Roefs to equalise. It represented Saka's sixth goal of the campaign, having already gotten halfway to his entire total from last term.
Bukayo Saka
Bukayo Saka hauled Arsenal level vs Sunderland
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Trossard turns it around
From the moment Saka's equaliser hit the back of the net, it appeared that there would only be one winner, with Sunderland's goal under siege for the vast majority of the second-half.
And Arteta's men deservedly got ahead with 15 minutes remaining. Leandro Trossard picked the ball up on the corner of the penalty area, manufactured room for himself and then fired in a stunning effort from range.
He's no longer considered a mainstay of the Arsenal side but there is no doubting that he continues to come up trumps for the Gunners.
Brobbey the heartbreaker
For large spells of the second-half, Arsenal dominated. And it would not have been unreasonable to suggest that they deserved the three points. But this is football.
As Sunderland desperately hunted an equaliser, a ball was thrown into the Arsenal box. Summer signing Brobbey outmuscled Gabriel and nudged the ball home with an instinctive throw of his leg.
Given Sunderland's form this season, a point is not the end of the world but Arteta and his players will be gutted that they've left the door ajar to Liverpool and Manchester City.
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