Sunderland Stage Comeback with Injury-Time Brian Brobbey Equaliser to Draw With Leaders Arsenal

It perhaps wasn't such a surprise that the side capable of halting Arsenal's championship push would be captained by Granit Xhaka, an ex-Gunner. The substitute Brian Brobbey netted an stoppage-time leveling goal after second-half strikes from Bukayo Saka and Trossard had given Arsenal ahead following a early goal from the home side captain Dan Ballard.

A Rocky Night for the Top Flight Leaders

Proved to be a difficult match for the English top division pace-setters, but the Gunners maintain a seven-point advantage over Manchester City, who host Liverpool on Sunday, and the hosts, though the Blues could reduce the gap to six in Saturday's later game.

Xhaka's Impact on Sunderland

Xhaka – who departed the Arsenal's home in last year seeking what he described as a new challenge – has been exceptional in the newly promoted team's midfield this campaign after joining from Bayer Leverkusen, but the veteran's performances on Wearside will not have surprised Gunners supporters. The Switzerland international turned his Arsenal career around under Mikel Arteta, who did not want to see him leave.

Sunderland's Impressive Opening

The Black Cats went into the game with no pressure after making the best start to a Premier League campaign by a newly promoted club over 10 games since Hull City in the 2008-09 term. A deflected strike from Xhaka against Everton on earlier in the week had boosted them up to fourth, a position not many local fans would have envisaged before a ball was kicked given that their team had been almost a decade away from the top flight.

Xhaka's Experience and Guidance

Xhaka's expertise, much of it earned during his seven years at Arsenal, and captaincy have helped the squad rapidly adapt to Premier League football. He appeared to thrive in the intensity of the contest.

Early Incidents and Injuries

The Arsenal manager, again without Jesus, Ødegaard, Havertz, Madueke, Gyökeres and Gabriel Martinelli, had an initial worry when Merino, playing up front after scoring a brace in Tuesday night's three-nil Champions League win at Slavia Prague, was caught by an elbow from Ballard as he challenged for a ball into the Sunderland area. The forward was fit to continue.

Eze nearly took advantage of an mistake from Le Fée, who was dispossessed on the edge of the box, but the shot soared over the bar.

Isidor fired wide at the opposite side before a further long break after a clash of heads between Le Fée and Jurriën Timber, who had to carry on with a bandaged head.

Sunderland Take the Lead

A tougher setback was to follow for stunned Arsenal. Sunderland sent a set-piece into the visiting area and Ballard held off Rice to lash the ball past Raya after it was cleared. It was the first goal Arsenal had conceded since their previous trip to the north-east in late September, when they had underlined their title credentials with a last-gasp win over the Magpies.

The Gunners had maintained a club-record eight consecutive shutouts in all competitions since Nick Woltemade's scored against them at Newcastle's ground.

The Gunners Fight Back

The Black Cats made sure that it was a further difficult outing to the area for the London side, who found themselves pegged back for periods after the break.

They needed a moment of quality, and it came in the 54th minute. Rice took the ball off his opponent and a smooth attack featuring Eze and the striker culminated in Saka beating Robin Roefs at his near post.

The visitors pressed for a next score and the coach introduced three changes to his offense – he brought on the substitute, Talbi and Simon Adingra – in the middle of the second half.

Trossard Increases the Advantage

Another example of skill was not far away. They moved the play from one flank to the other, and Trossard, just outside the area, found enough room to fire a right-foot shot into the top corner.

Late Leveler from Brobbey

Raya had to be alert in the final stages as the hosts pressed for a second goal, but could not stop an acrobatic finish from the substitute after the ball was nodded into the box. The goal was greeted by a deafening cheer.

Appropriately the defender – similar to his teammate another ex-Gunner, this one coming through Arsenal's academy – had the final say with a diving challenge at the toes of Merino in the game's last action.