It was the 2 ex-Arsenal males – Granit Xhaka and Dan Ballard – who maybe epitomised Sunderland’s battling spirit greatest of their draw towards Arsenal.
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 stop Arsenal snatching the win.
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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.
“It is a good morale increase to point out we are able to go towards a very high workforce – in all probability among the best in Europe on the minute – and delighted with that,” Ballard advised Match of the Day after Saturday’s sport.
“But it surely is only one level and we have numerous work to do to realize our purpose of staying up this yr.”
Former England striker Alan Shearer advised BBC Match of the Day: “Ballard epitomised every little thing Sunderland have completed so nicely, together with his aggression and stopping Arsenal play.
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“They’re actually, actually powerful to play towards and there have been so many examples of him and his workforce placing their our bodies within the line. Arsenal is not going to have many harder video games than that this season, and Sunderland totally deserved the purpose.”
The draw means Sunderland stay unbeaten at dwelling and so they have 19 factors from 11 video games, nicely 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, other than 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.
“They had been nicely organised and I did not assume they’d have the ability to stick with it for 90 minutes.
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“There is a purpose why Sunderland might be nice on this league. The Stadium of Gentle just isn’t a simple place to play soccer.
“It was probably the most rattled I’ve seen Gabriel and William Saliba this season.”