Arsenal endured a frustrating afternoon in the Premier League on Saturday, as they let victory slip away in dramatic fashion.
Playing away from home at the Stadium of Light, the Gunners were moments away from securing all three points before a late equalizer from Sunderland forced a 2-2 draw.
The result came in the 11th round of the English Championship, leaving Arsenal to rue missed opportunities despite maintaining their position at the top of the table.
The game began with Sunderland showing great determination in front of their home fans. Their persistence paid off in the 36th minute of the first half when defender Dan Ballard put them ahead.
After receiving a long pass inside the penalty area, Ballard controlled the ball well with his left foot and unleashed a strong finish that beat Arsenal goalkeeper David Raya, sending the Stadium of Light into celebration.
Arsenal, who have been in fine form this season, struggled to find their rhythm early on but came back stronger in the second half. Just nine minutes after the restart, Declan Rice capitalized on a defensive mistake from the home side.
He quickly intercepted the ball and set up Bukayo Saka, who struck a precise right-footed shot to make it 1-1. That goal lifted the visitors’ confidence, and they began to dominate possession, pushing Sunderland deeper into their half.
Their efforts were rewarded in the 29th minute of the second half when Belgian forward Leandro Trossard produced a moment of brilliance. After outmaneuvering his marker, he fired a spectacular shot from outside the box straight into the top corner, leaving Sunderland’s goalkeeper rooted to the spot.
It was a goal worthy of winning any match, and Arsenal looked set to secure another important victory in their pursuit of the Premier League title.
However, the home side refused to give up. Deep into stoppage time, Sunderland launched one final attack that caught Arsenal’s defense off guard.
Dutch striker Brian Brobbey battled with defender Gabriel Magalhães and goalkeeper Raya inside the area before managing to get a decisive touch that sent the ball into the back of the net, making it 2-2 and rescuing a vital point for Sunderland.
With the draw, Arsenal remain the Premier League leaders with 26 points from 11 games, still ahead of their closest challengers. Sunderland, on the other hand, moved up to third place with 19 points from the same number of matches, continuing their impressive season.
After the upcoming international break, Arsenal will return to action on November 23, when they host Tottenham Hotspur at the Emirates Stadium. Sunderland will also be back a day earlier, facing Fulham away from home in another crucial Premier League fixture.
