By MATT BARLOW, FOOTBALL WRITER
Published: 12:27 EST, 7 February 2026 | Updated: 12:27 EST, 7 February 2026
Martin Zubimendi was not bought for his goals, and yet the one he fizzed across the turf and in off the base of post against Sunderland might end up in Arsenal folklore.
It was a sublime connection, for starters. Despatched with a hint of shape from the outside of his right boot. Although it was all about the timing, at the end of an untidy first half against dogged opponents to remove some of the tension from the air.
Viktor Gyokeres was bought for his goals and has been criticised for not scoring enough but two from the bench put this game beyond Sunderland and added a gloss that sent the Premier League leaders nine points clear at the top.
Gyokeres crashed his first in from 10 yards within six minutes of coming on and his second, a tap in after a wonderful counterattack by Gabriel Martinelli, took him to six goals in his last eight games.
It feels as if things might be dropping into place for Mikel Arteta in pursuit of Arsenal’s first title for 22 years.
Another tricky fixture overcome as Aston Villa dropped points at Bournemouth. The heat is on Manchester City at Liverpool on Sunday.
Martin Zubimendi opened the scoring for Arsenal with a drilled finish that bounced off the post
Victor Gyokeres grabbed Arsenal's second as the Gunners cruised to victory over Sunderland
Things might be dropping into place for Mikel Arteta in his pursuit of the Premier League title
Kai Havertz glanced a free header wide inside the first minute and the opening phase descended into a disjointed affair.
Sunderland sat deep, well-organised and industrious as ever. Brian Brobbey and Habib Diarra made life uncomfortable for William Saliba and Gabriel on the break and the visitors were dangerous at set pieces.
Arsenal dominated the ball but found it difficult to penetrate. Declan Rice whistled one just wide from distance before Zubimendi’s goal from a pass by Leandro Trossard gave Arsenal an element of comfort just before half time. The relief and release of pressure was clear.
Within seconds Gabriel Jesus sped clear and thought he had won a penalty when bundled over by Dan Ballard as he shimmied around keeper Robin Roefs but as referee Sam Barrott pointed to the spot a flag was raised for offside.
Replays showed Jesus seemed to have both feet inside his own half as he set off in pursuit of the ball, but the VAR technology ruled that his lean had taken the top half of his body was offside.
Kai Havertz, who was preferred to Eberechi Eze in midfield in the absence of Martin Odegaard, then went close to a second, bursting clear and curling a left footer narrowly wide of the far post from the edge of the penalty area.
More VAR confusion brought the first half to a close when Sunderland claimed a foul on Ballard at a corner. The incident was checked and not given, which was just as well because most of the Arsenal team had disappeared down the tunnel.
Gyokeres added a third in injury time to cement Arsenal's dominant win on Saturday afternoon
Regis Le Bris's side sat deep put Arsenal broke them down and managed the game with ease
Once ahead, Arsenal managed the game well. There was a scare when David Raya saved early in the second half from Enzo Le Fee, but Arteta’s team were solid and eased further clear soon after two changes on the hour.
Gyokeres and Martinelli came on and it was the Sweden international who proved influential, smashing in the second of the day after a crisp pass through the defensive lines by Trossard and a square ball from Havertz to create the chance.
Roefs was beaten for power on the finish and had no chance with Arsenal’s third scored in stoppage time to send fans home happy and dreaming on the title.