SUNDERLAND UPSET DISSECTED
Hard one to take. Johnny had it right on the podcast after the game.
“You win some. You draw some.”
The key focus of hopium here for me is that last season, we lose that game. No doubt.
There were a number of shocks to the system yesterday.
We conceded actual goals — a real “holy shit, what are those things happening to us” kind of day.
We were roughed up quite a bit, and the team wasn’t really relishing it like they have done.
We exited the game without three points, something we haven’t felt the sting of in a while.
Sunderland were, without doubt, really fu*king impressive. The biggest compliment I can pay them is that it felt like playing a really good Brentford side. They had total belief in the plan, the crowd were outrageously vocal, and the heart they showed was probably quite inspiring if you were a neutral.
Arsenal started slow. We tried to feel our way into the game like we normally do, but we got sucker punched in a moment of chaotic madness that saw ex-Academy centre-back Daniel Ballard pick up a loose ball and wallop it inside Raya’s near post like Kevin Phillips would have done in his heyday. There were moments in the build-up to that goal we could have done better in, but sometimes, you just have to hand it to a team — it was a well-worked goal.
Arsenal couldn’t find any rhythm in the game. Our passing was Champions League leggy, we missed Gyökeres menacing defenders, and our creators were kind of anonymous. It truly felt like we were going to have one of those days — hard to see how we were going to inspire ourselves out of the attacking coma we’d found ourselves in.
But to my amazement, Arsenal came out a different team in the second half. They put Sunderland on the back foot, moved the ball at speed, took more chances, and let Saka do Saka things after Declan rustled the ball from Le Fée, passing to Eze, who moved the ball to Merino, who cushioned a ball into Saka. He took what looked like an awkward touch moving the ball to his right foot, where he ripped an unexpected strike into the near post. It was a difficult finish, executed to world-class levels.
Arsenal really were finding gaps everywhere. Zubimendi hit the bar amongst a number of near misses. You felt something was brewing — and it was. Trossard, who was having a really strong second half, cut in from the left, looked for a pass that wasn’t on, shuffled inside, and ripped off a monstrous thunderbolt into the top corner.
It felt like a winner, but it wasn’t. Sunderland went all out for the point, freshening the attack with more power and pace. Arteta chose to close out the game with Mosquera, which, in my opinion, often signals you are worried and gives confidence to the other team.
It did. In the 93rd minute, a ball was looped into the Arsenal box. Ballard, playing the FALSE BIG LAD, nodded speculatively towards our goal. Brobby followed it, Big Gabi couldn’t beat him to the ball, Raya had a head loss and flew at the ball, and somehow, the ex-Ajax forward threw a leg at it and scored. A horrible way to end the game.
There was still time for Arsenal down the other end. Calafiori had a free header from four yards out, he hit the keeper, and the second ball was looking good for Merino but Ballard got a foot to the striker.
It just wasn’t going to be our day — a point shared. Sometimes, it be like that.
There’s not a lot of venting to be done here. Arteta chose to shut out the game, and we’re normally really good at that. Arsenal dropped two points in a game they scored two goals in. That won’t often happen. Sunderland scored two goals off two shots on target after creating 0.45 xG. Sometimes that happens, but not often.
I’d have liked to have seen Arteta throw Dowman or Nwaneri into the mixer. I understand people think they would have lacked control and could have made a mistake, but they also could have offered a threat and an unknown. Maybe Ballard isn’t up front if he knows a lightning-quick Dowman is lurking. Sunderland took all the risks and they were rewarded. I understand that we are the best in the world at shutting out teams, but Mosquera gave the crowd a boost, it motivated Sunderland, and the rest is history. Sometimes a bit of boldness wouldn’t go amiss.
Performance-wise, Eze really didn’t deliver for us. I know he’s learning on the job, but I was kind of hoping he was going to show us one of those “wow, he’s him” types of performances, and it hasn’t landed yet. Flashes of brilliance, sure. But a sustained 90 minutes of WOW? I’m yet to see it.
Similar with Bukayo Saka. He should be fit by now, but he looks off the pace. Yes, I know he scored a goal, but you get what I’m saying — he doesn’t look unstoppable at the moment. It’s a little leggy for me. Salah last season glided. Saka hasn’t been that player for a while. So while he delivered a piece of world-class magic, the fitness levels concern me a little.
Zubi got the full treatment from Sunderland in the first half. They realised if they choked him out of the game, we’d struggle, and they were right. The player that came out for the second half was much better. Combined with some of the athletic shift work put in by Declan, it was a much better spectacle — fast passing, aggressive shutting down, and a relentless work ethic. Declan had a pop from 60 yards at the end — obviously, he took Matt’s Beckham comparison to heart.
Can we all hold hands on something? Granit Xhaka: officially dead to me. Let’s not hold a candlelit vigil for him when he comes to The Emirates. I’m booing him harder than I did at the Palace game. Who’s with me?
Jamie Carragher put down 1000 words pre-Sunderland stating that Premier League standards have dropped because teams are scoring from set pieces. It was quite an incredible piece. He said that things haven’t been the same since City vs Liverpool set the tone for footballing standards in 18/19 — loads of passing, false 9 nonsense, and 12 shots on target. He didn’t comment on the boring draw three months earlier that cooked up two shots on target each. But my view on this sort of comment is it’s an aesthetics comment. The Premier League standards are way higher than they were seven years ago. The league is richer, teams are smarter, fitter, and better run.
Look no further than Sunderland. They have done a total reboot up there. They have a 27-year-old owner, they have great players, a great coach, and the football was incredible considering the form we’ve been in. The truth of the Premier League in 2025 is every team has at least six really, really good players — and you will get smacked the fu*k up if you’re not on your game.
Does it feel like dropped points? Yes. Could we regret it? Maybe. But all the top teams are going to have games like that away from home this season. The Premier League is hard, momentum is hard to maintain, and you are always two games away from a crisis.
City vs Liverpool tomorrow needs to be a draw, but I’d also take Pep G smacking up Liverpool and burying their title hopes. If Liverpool lose, I think their season is done. The manager will come under question, heads will drop, and other teams will smell the fetid chum in the water. The irritating thing is that both those teams have fairly easy runs after the break compared to Arsenal. So the extra two points would have been nice.
But we just have to keep faith with what our eyes are telling us.
We are VERY good.
I still think we’re the best team in the league and I truly believe this is going to be our season.
We also have to remember — Liverpool and City would be fu*ked if they had the attacking injuries we’ve been suffering with. Names will return after the break, but I’m just worried it won’t be right away. Jesus, Kai, Noni, Gabi Martinelli, Gyökeres, and Ødegaard will all be back by the Brentford game. The worry is how we’re going to cope with Spurs, Bayern, and Chelsea, because we’re going to be light. Gyökeres is not starting against Spurs, nor will the rest of them — they’ll all need easing back. So my worry is we’re going to have to play three really good teams relying on Mikel Merino as our 9 again.
Not a fun thought. Not fun at all.
So, big takeaway — shit happens. Keep your chin up. If I offered you three wins and a draw from this phase of the season plus wins in all your cup games, you’d have been gnawing on my arm like it was a bag of petrol-garage jerky. We’re not chasing, we’re not looking weak, we’re at the top in a time of injury crisis, and there’s still so much to come from this team.
Ok, buckle up for a big hate watch this afternoon! Also, check outOn The Whistle andJohnny’s Ratings.
Podcast## SUNDERLAND (A) | ON THE WHISTLE
Pedro
·
Nov 8
SUNDERLAND (A) | ON THE WHISTLE
Arsenal drop points late at the Stadium of Light in a frustrating 2–2 draw that ends the clean-sheet record and sends fans into therapy mode.
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