For a protracted whereas this season, Arsenal have appeared an unstoppable pressure.
They arrived at Sunderland on Saturday trying to prolong their successful run to 11 consecutive video games and hold a club-record ninth clear sheet in a row.
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Victory would have despatched them eight factors clear on the high by the top of the day, however the Black Cats that crossed the Gunners’ path on the Stadium of Mild had been set on being disruptive.
Regis le Bris’ aspect, the pre-season relegation favourites, have surpassed all expectations on their return to the Premier League and are sitting fairly within the European locations for now.
They used all the things of their energy to unsettle and in the end shock the league leaders, incomes a 2-2 draw that can have been celebrated far past Wearside.
Sunderland scored the primary aim Arsenal have conceded since September when Dan Ballard gave them a first-half lead, and though the hosts then slipped 2-1 behind, there was a late twist as Brian Brobbey scored a dramatic injury-time equaliser, sparking wild scenes of celebration on the pitch and within the stands.
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From transferring promoting hoardings to “creating chaos”, right here is how Sunderland achieved such a powerful consequence.
Board video games, aggression and ‘chaos’
The promoting boards across the pitch had been moved in to offer Arsenal gamers much less area for lengthy throws [AFP via Getty Images]
Arsenal have been identified for enjoying slick, attacking soccer prior to now, however there was extra directness about them this season, with set-pieces proving notably efficient. Lengthy throws have additionally more and more been a part of their menace.
To fight the throw-in hazard, Sunderland moved the promoting boards across the fringe of the pitch nearer in than normal, to restrict the quantity of area Arsenal gamers had when trying to launch the ball.
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“We tried to search out the small print to win the sport,” mentioned Le Bris, when requested after the 2-2 draw if that was true.
“They’re actually sturdy on set-pieces, we’re good as properly, and this menace was actually essential for this recreation and ultimately it was balanced.”
It was certainly extra balanced, with Sunderland in a position to prohibit Arsenal to only two corners all recreation – the identical quantity that they had.
But it surely was not nearly stopping what Arsenal may do, but additionally how Sunderland went in regards to the recreation themselves.
Led by their talismanic captain Granit Xhaka – who revelled in disrupting his former crew – Sunderland had been aggressive and courageous within the deal with, unsettling their opponents from the outset.
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Even after Arsenal had seemingly taken management by scoring twice within the second half after Ballard’s first-half opener, Sunderland swarmed ahead within the perception that they might discover an equaliser.
It was delivered by an acrobatic Brobbey end within the fourth added minute after a intelligent chip into the penalty space was headed on in direction of the sting of the six-yard field.
It’s not the primary time Sunderland have gotten their reward for combating to the very finish, with Saturday’s late leveller the fifth aim they’ve scored from the ninetieth minute onwards – greater than some other Premier League aspect.
“There are numerous video games like this within the Premier League proper now,” Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta mentioned.
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“We conceded a aim in a way we knew was one in all their greatest strengths. They do that actually properly.
“After that I feel we reacted properly. We scored the primary aim, then the second and the sport was dominated. However in any second, they simply want a foul or a protracted throw, a direct ball to create that chaos.”
‘They by no means stopped attempting’ – Sunderland’s spectacular statistics
Sunderland had a plan and caught to it, however the statistics spotlight simply how spectacular a consequence it was.
Brobbey’s equaliser for Sunderland was the primary result-altering aim Arsenal have conceded within the ninetieth minute or later of a Premier League match since September 2024, when John Stones scored within the eighth added minute to make it 2-2 for Manchester Metropolis.
Ballard’s opener – in addition to being Sunderland’s first shot on the right track – was the primary aim Arsenal had conceded in 812 minutes in all competitions, since Nick Woltemade’s strike for Newcastle in September.
It was the primary time since Could 2023 that the Gunners had did not beat a promoted aspect in a Premier League match, ending a 14-game successful run towards such groups.
Arsenal additionally conceded greater than as soon as in a match for the primary time this season in all competitions, with 40% of their complete objectives conceded coming towards Sunderland on this recreation (2/5).
“They by no means stopped attempting, asking questions of Arsenal,” former Sunderland striker Darren Bent mentioned.
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“They saved making Arsenal defend and when the prospect got here they took it.”
Ex-Arsenal man Ballard epitomises spirit
Dan Ballard acquired his second Premier League aim of the season [AFP via Getty Images]
It was the 2 ex-Arsenal males – Xhaka and Ballard – who maybe epitomised Sunderland’s battling spirit finest.
Xhaka was the chief on the pitch, orchestrating issues within the center, whereas Ballard drove the opener previous David Raya, supplied an help for the equaliser, and made an excellent block within the ultimate few seconds to forestall Arsenal snatching the win.
Ballard began his skilled profession on the Gunners, having been within the membership’s academy for the reason that age of eight, however didn’t make a first-team look for them earlier than becoming a member of Sunderland in 2022.
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“It is a good morale enhance to point out we are able to go towards a extremely high crew – in all probability among the finest in Europe on the minute – and delighted with that,” Ballard advised Match of the Day after Saturday’s recreation.
“But it surely is only one level and we have numerous work to do to realize our aim of staying up this 12 months.”
The draw means Sunderland stay unbeaten at house they usually have 19 factors from 11 video games, properly on the best way to avoiding relegation as they sit 9 factors above the underside three.
“Sunderland went bodily right this moment however inside the legal guidelines of the sport, aside from one second within the first half when Dan Ballard challenged Mikel Merino within the field,” Match of the Day pundit and former Arsenal ahead Theo Walcott mentioned.
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“They had been properly organised and I did not suppose they’d be capable to stick with it for 90 minutes.
“There is a motive why Sunderland shall be positive on this league. The Stadium of Mild will not be a simple place to play soccer.
“It was probably the most rattled I’ve seen Gabriel and William Saliba this season.”
Only a blip for Arsenal?
There may be maybe no hurt in title-challenging sides who’re on lengthy successful runs being reminded that they’re fallible.
The Gunners have been good this season, coping with a prolonged damage record whereas constructing a platform from which they will problem to win the Premier League.
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Now comes the worldwide break, which serves as an opportunity to take inventory and recuperate a few of their injured gamers earlier than Tottenham go to within the north London derby on Sunday, 23 November.
“Arsenal will not draw as many as they did final 12 months. If something it reveals resilience to return again the best way they did,” Walcott mentioned.
“Arsenal did virtually all the things proper up till the previous few minutes.”
Arteta, too, will not be studying an excessive amount of into the consequence, selecting to deal with the larger image.
“We gained the final 10 video games, not conceded objectives, we’ve got seven gamers injured and the crew has been phenomenal in performances and outcomes, so let’s hold going,” mentioned the supervisor.
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“We have had some very robust video games as properly. Let’s get some gamers again and go once more.”