Arsenal looked to reinforce their title credentials with a win away against in-form Sunderland but there was late drama as the newly promoted side snatched a draw.
The Premier League leaders fell behind in the first half thanks to a great goal from former Gunners academy star Dan Ballard, the centre-back who was on their books from the age of eight but never made an appearance for the club, before joining Sunderland in 2022.
But in the second half Mikel Arteta‘s title hopefuls showed their character and quality despite battling an injury crisis with two excellent goals, first from talisman Bukayo Saka, then secondly a staggering effort from winger Leandro Trossard – a surefire ‘goal of the month’ contender. Yet there was another goal to come as Brian Brobbey scored a stunning late equaliser.
The first half was a largely frustrating affair for the viewer, due to two injuries and long delays, with the ball rarely in play. There was a lengthy four-minute break at the start of the match, as Mikel Merino, deployed as a makeshift striker by Arteta in the absence of the injured Viktor Gyokeres, required treatment.
He caught an inadvertent elbow from Ballard, when the defender headed a cross away. And just before the half hour mark, Arsenal defender Jurrien Timber suffered a clash of heads with Sunderland midfielder Enzo Le Fee, leading to both men going down and the action being halted.
(Image: PA)
Arsenal had kept a record-equalling eight clean sheets in a row between October and November, their first run of that length in 122 years, having not conceded a goal across their Premier League, Champions League and League Cup fixtures in that time. In doing so they matched the feats of Preston North End in 1889 and Liverpool in 1920.
But they failed to break the record because in the 36th minute of this contest Ballard held off Declan Rice and took a tremendous touch from forward Wilson Isidor’s header, before lashing a shot past David Raya from close range, as the visitors saw their own goal breached for the first time in nine games.
Premier League pundit Jim Beglin said: “Everything is direct and pretty long from Sunderland – Ballard misses out initially but he follows up and Declan Rice gets caught out. It’s great control, to get that power on the shot – and it’s another wow moment for the Black Cats.”
Arsenal couldn’t make the nine minutes of injury time at the end of the first half count, despite a big chance when Bukayo Saka nodded the ball down to William Saliba, who blazed over the bar, before Arteta was given the chance to rally his troops at the interval. And whatever he said, it worked.
Saka dragged a shot wide when presented with a good chance shortly after the break. But the next time he didn’t miss, after Declan Rice harried and pressed Le Fee, who gave up the ball and when Rice fed Merino he found Saka, who struck with aplomb to level the score on 53 minutes.
Martin Zubimeni came so close to putting the Gunners ahead with a scintillating shot from the edge of the box – reminiscent of the stunner he scored against Nottingham Forest earlier in the campaign – which this time struck the crossbar.
(Image: Arsenal FC via Getty Images)
However, he isn’t the only man in the Arsenal team capable of the spectacular. As Trossard proved in the 74th minute, when he took control of the ball on the edge of the box, jinked to the side and curled it into the top corner. Speaking on BBC Radio 5 Live, former Scotland star James McFadden said: “That is quite sensational from Trossard.
“He has been in that position a number of times this evening where he has cut inside and the space just opens up for him. He doesn’t need another invitation – he smashes it near post. It is a thing of beauty.”
Arteta decided to keep Trossard at the club in the summer, despite rumours he was on his way out at the Emirates, when the Belgian star was rewarded with a new contract on higher pay. He has since responded with seven goal contributions so far in league and cup.
Arsenal survived a scare when Raya saved twice in quick succession from Brian Brobbey, who may well have been offside anyway. Before the goalkeeper again prevented Brobbey by pouncing at his feet before he could shoot.
Brobbey didn’t miss the next time he got a chance, as Ballard again haunted his former side by heading on for his team-mate to hook the ball past Raya. Arsenal players claimed for a foul, but none was clear, with McFadden remarking: “I’m not sure what Arsenal are claiming [a foul] for.”
Despite the draw and conceding more than once in a match for the first time this season in all competitions, the Gunners remain seven points clear at the top of the table before rivals Manchester City and Liverpool clash at the Etihad Stadium on Sunday.