Sunderland Fight Back with Injury-Time Brian Brobbey Leveler to Draw With Table-Toppers Arsenal

Maybe it shouldn't have been so shocking that the team able to slow Arsenal's championship push would be captained by their former skipper, their former captain. Replacement striker Brian Brobbey scored an stoppage-time leveling goal after second-half strikes from Saka and Leandro Trossard had given Arsenal in the lead following a first-half goal from Sunderland skipper Dan Ballard.

A Rocky Evening for the Premier League Leaders

Proved to be a rocky match for the English top division pace-setters, but the Gunners have a seven-point lead over City, who are at home Liverpool on Sunday, and the hosts, though the Blues could reduce the gap to six points in Saturday's later game.

The Midfielder's Impact on His New Team

Xhaka – who left the Emirates Stadium in last year looking for what he called a fresh opportunity – has been exceptional in the promoted side's midfield this season after joining from the German club, but the 33-year-old's performances on Sunderland's home turf will not have surprised Gunners supporters. The Switzerland international turned his Arsenal career around under Mikel Arteta, who did not want to lose him.

The Home Side's Strong Start

Sunderland went into the match with nothing to lose after achieving the best start to a top-flight campaign by a newly promoted club over ten matches since Hull City in the 2008/09 season. A redirected effort from the midfielder against the Toffees on earlier in the week had boosted them up to fourth, a standing few home supporters would have envisaged before a ball was kicked given that their side had been almost a decade outside the top flight.

His Know-How and Guidance

Xhaka's experience, much of it gained during his seven years at the Emirates, and leadership have helped the squad quickly adjust to Premier League soccer. He appeared to thrive in the intensity of the encounter.

Early Moments and Knocks

The Arsenal manager, again without Jesus, Martin Ødegaard, Havertz, Noni Madueke, Gyökeres and Gabriel Martinelli, had an initial worry when Merino, leading the line after scoring two goals in midweek's three-nil Champions League win at Slavia Prague, was caught by an elbow from Ballard as he challenged for a cross into the home box. The forward was fit to continue.

Eze almost cashed in of an error from Enzo Le Fée, who lost the ball on the border of the box, but the attempt flew over the crossbar.

Wilson Isidor fired off target at the opposite side before another lengthy stoppage after a clash of heads between Le Fée and Jurriën Timber, who had to carry on with a head bandage.

The Hosts Go Ahead

A tougher blow was to come next for stunned the visitors. The home team sent a set-piece into the Arsenal box and Ballard held off Declan Rice to lash the ball past David Raya after it was cleared. It was the opening strike they had conceded since their last visit to the North East in late September, when they had underlined their championship potential with a late win over the Magpies.

The Gunners had kept a team best 8 consecutive shutouts in every match since Nick Woltemade's goal against them at Newcastle's ground.

Arsenal Fight Back

The Black Cats made sure that it was another difficult outing to the region for the London side, who were under pressure for spells after the break.

They needed a moment of quality, and it arrived in the 54th minute. Rice won possession off his opponent and a flowing move featuring the winger and the striker culminated in the forward beating Roefs at his near post.

Arsenal pressed for a next score and Le Bris introduced three changes to his offense – he brought on the substitute, Talbi and Simon Adingra – midway through the final period.

The Winger Extends the Lead

Another moment of quality was not long in coming. Arsenal worked the ball from one flank to the other, and the Belgian, just outside the area, created enough space to fire a right-footed strike into the top left corner.

Late Leveler from Brobbey

Raya had to be sharp in the last 10 minutes as the hosts pressed for a equalizer, but could not stop an acrobatic finish from the substitute after the delivery was nodded into the penalty area. The goal was greeted by a huge roar.

Appropriately 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 feet of the attacker in the match's final moment.