Arsenal draw 2-2 with Sunderland: Saka, Trossard shine
Arsenal led 2-1 thanks to Saka and Trossard's long-range shot but were equalized by Sunderland late in the match. Merino assisted Saka, Zubimendi set up, Raya saved in the 79th minute but could not hold on to all 3 points.
Arsenal dropped a Premier League win against Sunderland after leading 2-1 and then being held to a late equaliser. Bukayo Saka equalised before Leandro Trossard fired home from distance to put the game ahead, but a moment of defensive lapses saw the visitors leave with just a point.
Key moment: from Trossard's long-range shot to the late equaliser
After a lacklustre first half, Leandro Trossard made the difference with a long-range strike to put Arsenal 2-1 up. Bukayo Saka had earlier levelled things up with an equaliser. However, Arsenal's efforts were short-lived as Sunderland found a late equaliser, ending a dramatic score chase.
The final stages of the match saw David Raya make a crucial save in the 79th minute to deny Brobbey from a close-range shot. However, Arsenal’s defence still failed to hold firm at the crucial moment.
Decisive midfield pivot: Rice wins the ball, Zubimendi – Merino connects
Declan Rice opened the scoring by winning the ball from Le Fee, showing his value in transition. However, Rice himself lost the aerial challenge that led to Ballard’s opener – a detail that highlights Arsenal’s lack of consistency with set pieces and second balls.
Martin Zubimendi made a double impact: assisting Trossard and hitting the crossbar. He also picked up a yellow card for the first goal, reflecting the heated midfield battle. Up front, Mikel Merino played up front for Gyokeres, holding the ball well and setting up Saka for a goal, giving Arsenal a more flexible attacking structure in the second half.
Fragile defense: Raya's bright spot, the gap in front of the goal
David Raya was largely blameless for Sunderland's opener, and his diving save from Brobbey in the 79th minute was a standout moment for the goalkeeper. However, Gabriel was unsure of Brobbey's strength and was beaten in the build-up to the late equaliser. In central defence, William Saliba was good with the ball and had a poor chance to shoot in the first half, while Jurrien Timber played well after a minor knock early on. Riccardo Calafiori provided good attacking support on the left but lacked the quality of his movement up front.
Arsenal's personal highlights
Bukayo Saka was the sharpest striker with the equalizer and many situations threatening the Sunderland goal. Trossard returned to his familiar role as the trigger-maker in the second half. Meanwhile, Eberechi Eze played energetically in the early game, creating pressure despite finishing inaccurately before leaving the field.
Player scoring and assessment
| Player | Point | Short review |
|---|---|---|
| David Raya | 6 | Couldn't do anything about the opening goal; excellent save in the 79th minute against Brobbey, helpless in the final equalizer. |
| Riccardo Calafiori | 6.1 | Active attacking support on the left but lacks explosiveness when pushing up. |
| Jurrien Timber | 6.1 | Played well; had a slight collision at the beginning of the match but was still stable. |
| William Saliba | 6.2 | Had a regrettable finish in the first half; good kick-off but not enough to control the opponent's attack. |
| Gabriel | 6.3 | Lacked confidence against Brobbey, beaten in the build-up to the equaliser. |
| Martin Zubimendi | 6.8 | Assisted Trossard; hit the crossbar; received a yellow card in the situation leading to the first goal. |
| Declan Rice | 6.7 | Winning the ball from Le Fee opened the scoring; losing the aerial battle led to Ballard's opener. |
| Eberechi Eze | 7.1 | Inaccurate finishing but good pressure early on; energetic off the field. |
| Leandro Trossard | 7.2 | The second half exploded with a long-range shot to make it 2-1; Arsenal's most dangerous striker. |
| Mikel Merino | 7.3 | Played the most advanced role for Gyokeres; assisted Saka; kept the ball and linked play effectively. |
| Bukayo Saka | 7.4 | Scored the equalizer; constantly threatened the Sunderland defense; was sharp and sharp as usual. |
Moments in pictures
Impact
The draw showed that Arsenal are still reliant on the inspiration of Saka and Trossard, while consistency in set pieces and the final minutes of the game needs to be tightened. The bright spots in midfield (Rice, Zubimendi, Merino) are the foundation, but to turn advantage into victory, the ability to protect the result remains the central problem.
