The AFC Sunderland remains the stumbling block for top teams Premier League. Also leaders FC arsenal gave the newcomers a break.
After ten wins in a row, Arsenal had to settle for a 2-2 (0-1) draw in Sunderland on Saturday (November 8th, 2025). Brian Brobbey (90.4) ensured that the AFC remained unbeaten at home. Bukayo Saka (54th) and Leandro Trossard (74th) had previously turned Sunderland’s half-time lead through Daniel Ballard (36th) for the guests.
Arsenal missed their eleventh competitive win in a row, but remain the confident leader in the Premier League with 26 points. How big the lead is will be decided in the top game between Manchester City and the FC Liverpool on Sunday (5:30 p.m. in the live ticker from sportschau.de). Sunderland remains in the top group with 19 points.
Tom Ballard breaks Arsenal’s clean sheet streak
The “Black Cats” proved to be the expected tough guy. With a solid defense, the team around midfield strategist Granit Xhaka waited patiently for their chances – and struck straight away with their first serious attempt.
The advanced Ballard – in his youth “Gunners” trained – got the ball on the right in the penalty area, took it with him and shot powerfully high into the short corner to make it 1-0. It was the first goal conceded in over 800 minutes for the guests, who are used to success. And Sunderland’s second attempt also almost ended up in the goal. But Nordi Mukiele (45th + 9) missed his free shot from the left half of the penalty area.
Another “Gunners” face in the second half
There was almost no sign of the favorite from London in the first round. Only a free kick from Declan Rice (16th) found its way towards the goal. But AFC goalkeeper Robin Roefs punched the ball out.
But in the second half, Arsenal showed why they are currently considered one of the best teams in Europe. The “Gunners” tightened the screws, played with speed and variety and with a lot of pressing pressure. The guests plunged the second-best defense in the Premier League from one embarrassment to the next.
Bukayo Saka converts the ball to equalize
Saka (52nd) missed the first shot. But just two minutes later nothing could be done. Rice won the ball while pressing. It quickly went over three stations from the right into the penalty area and Saka coldly converted it into the near corner from 14 meters to make it 1-1.
In the following ten minutes, Arteta’s team could have closed the bag, if not even should. But Martin Zubimendi first pushed a cross from outside past the goal (58th) and then hit the crossbar with a well-considered shot from 15 meters (65th). Eberechi Eze (61′) also failed to get the ball in from a promising position.
Leandro Trossard with a dream goal
Sunderland had to work hard and were no longer effective on offense apart from one or two long balls. And then Trossard’s big moment came: The Belgian got the ball on the left side of the penalty area, wobbled back and forth a few times and then brutally smashed the ball into the top left corner to make it 2-1, a well-deserved result.
Sunderland needed to do more. The “Black Cats” tried everything. First, Arsenal keeper David Raya made a strong one-on-one save in the six-yard box against substitute Brobbey (84′). But in stoppage time, Raya was not entirely uninvolved in the equalizer when he didn’t come out with enough energy on a half-high ball and Brobbey hit the goal with a side kick past him to make it 2-2.
In return, the “Gunners” had a double chance to score the winning goal – but it didn’t come and so Sunderland celebrated the late point win.