Mansion Sports – Sunderland managed to hold Arsenal to a dramatic 2-2 draw in the 11th week of the 2025/2026 Premier League season at the Stadium of Light.

Arsenal had briefly turned the game around through goals from Bukayo Saka and Leandro Trossard after trailing in the first half, but their victory hopes were dashed when Sunderland struck a late equalizer during injury time.

The draw allowed Arsenal to maintain their position at the top of the Premier League standings with 26 points from 11 matches. Meanwhile, Sunderland continued their impressive run this season, sitting third with 19 points.

First Half: Sunderland Surprise Arsenal with a Stunning Goal

From the opening whistle, Arsenal dominated possession and constantly looked to break down Sunderland’s tight defensive structure. 

The home side, however, remained compact and disciplined, patiently waiting for opportunities to launch swift counterattacks.

Declan Rice nearly opened the scoring for the Gunners in the 15th minute through a curling free kick, but goalkeeper Robin Roefs reacted brilliantly to parry the ball away. Eberechi Eze also had a promising chance, yet his strike sailed high over the crossbar.

The breakthrough came unexpectedly in the 36th minute when Daniel Ballard fired a powerful long-range shot that found the right side of Arsenal’s goal, giving Sunderland a 1-0 lead to the delight of the home crowd.

As the first half drew to a close, Arsenal came close to equalizing through William Saliba, who found himself unmarked inside the box. However, his close-range effort flew over the bar, and Sunderland went into halftime leading 1-0.

Second Half: Arsenal’s Comeback and Late Sunderland Drama

Arsenal began the second half with greater urgency and intensity. Martin Zubimendi immediately tested the goalkeeper with a strong effort, but Roefs was well-positioned to make an easy save.

The visitors eventually found their breakthrough in the 54th minute thanks to a smart combination between Mikel Merino and Bukayo Saka. 

Merino’s well-timed pass set up Saka, who calmly placed his shot into the bottom right corner to make it 1-1.

Boosted by the equalizer, Arsenal continued to press forward with relentless attacks. Their persistence was rewarded in the 74th minute when Leandro Trossard unleashed a spectacular long-range strike that flew past Roefs, putting Arsenal 2-1 ahead.

However, Sunderland refused to give up and fought back in stoppage time. In the 94th minute, Brian Brobbey capitalized on a loose ball inside the box and slotted it past David Raya to level the score. After a brief VAR review, the goal was confirmed, sealing a thrilling 2-2 draw at the final whistle.

Match Statistics: Sunderland vs Arsenal