Sunderland Fight Back with Injury-Time Brobbey Leveler to Hold Leaders Arsenal

Maybe it shouldn't have been so shocking that the team able to slow Arsenal's championship push would be captained by Granit Xhaka, an ex-Gunner. Replacement striker Brian Brobbey netted an stoppage-time leveling goal after second-half goals from Bukayo Saka and Leandro Trossard had given Arsenal in the lead following a first-half goal from the home side captain Dan Ballard.

A Rocky Night for the Top Flight Front-Runners

It was a rocky night for the Premier League leaders, but Arsenal have a seven-point advantage over City, who are at home Liverpool on Sunday, and the hosts, though the Blues could reduce the gap to six points in the weekend's later game.

Xhaka's Impact on Sunderland

The Swiss international – who left the Arsenal's home in last year looking for what he described as a fresh opportunity – has been outstanding in the newly promoted team's midfield this season after signing from Bayer Leverkusen, but the veteran's performances on Sunderland's home turf will not have shocked Arsenal supporters. The Swiss international turned his Arsenal career around under Mikel Arteta, who was reluctant to lose him.

The Home Side's Strong Start

The Black Cats entered the match with nothing to lose after achieving the best start to a top-flight season by a newly promoted club over 10 games since Hull in the 2008-09 term. A deflected strike from the midfielder against Everton on earlier in the week had lifted them up to fourth place, a standing few local fans would have envisaged before a match began given that their team had been eight years away from the top flight.

His Know-How and Guidance

The player's expertise, largely gained during his seven years at the Emirates, and captaincy have assisted the team quickly adjust to Premier League soccer. He seemed to revel in the physicality of the contest.

Early Moments and Injuries

Arteta, again without Jesus, Martin Ødegaard, Havertz, Noni Madueke, Gyökeres and Martinelli, had an initial worry when Merino, leading the line after netting two goals in midweek's 3-0 European win at Prague, was caught by an arm from the defender as he challenged for a ball into the Sunderland area. Merino was fit to continue.

Eze almost cashed in of an error from Enzo Le Fée, who was dispossessed on the edge of the penalty area, but the attempt flew over the crossbar.

Wilson Isidor fired off target at the other end before a further lengthy stoppage after a clash of heads between the midfielder and Jurriën Timber, who had to continue with a bandaged head.

Sunderland Take the Lead

A more painful blow was to follow for stunned Arsenal. The home team launched a free-kick into the Arsenal box and Ballard resisted Rice to lash the shot past David Raya after it was cleared. It was the first goal Arsenal had let in since their last visit to the north-east in September's end, when they had underlined their championship potential with a last-gasp win over the Magpies.

Arsenal had maintained a club-record eight successive clean sheets in every match since Nick Woltemade's goal against them at Newcastle's ground.

The Gunners Fight Back

Sunderland made sure that it was another difficult visit to the region for the London side, who found themselves pegged back for spells after the break.

They needed a instance of quality, and it arrived in the 54th minute. Rice took the ball off his opponent and a flowing move involving the winger and the striker ended with the forward beating Robin Roefs at his near post.

Arsenal pushed for a next score and Le Bris made three changes to his offense – he sent on the substitute, Talbi and Simon Adingra – midway through the second half.

Trossard Increases the Advantage

Another example of quality was not far away. Arsenal moved the play from one flank to the other, and Trossard, on the edge of the box, created enough space to fire a right-footed strike into the top corner.

Late Equaliser from The Sub

Raya had to be alert in the final stages as the hosts pressed for a equalizer, but was unable to prevent an acrobatic finish from Brobbey after the ball was nodded into the penalty area. The goal was met by a huge roar.

Fittingly the defender – similar to his teammate a former Arsenal player, this one coming through the youth system – had the final say with a diving block at the toes of Merino in the game's last action.