Bruno Guimaraes scored a stunning strike moments after David Raya had saved a penalty, and Bukayo Saka converted a stoppage-time penalty of his own, as Arsenal beat Sunderland 2-0 in the Premier League.
Guimaraes, sent on as a half-time substitute, curled a shot from just outside the penalty area that clipped the underside of the crossbar and went in, then cupped his ears to the jeering home crowd. The goal came barely two minutes after Sunderland's Enzo Le Fee had a penalty saved by Raya, who tipped the ball onto the left-hand post at full stretch.
Referee John Brooks pointed to the spot in the 54th minute after Sunderland's Dan Ballard and Arsenal's Ezri Konsa were both found to be holding each other's shirts inside the box as the ball arrived. Le Fee stepped up to take it, but Raya guessed the right way and produced a stunning save, using all of his elasticity to keep the scores level.
Guimaraes made Sunderland pay for missing their chance, drilling his effort past goalkeeper Robin Roefs after the home side's defender had stepped off him. The 27-year-old is a former Newcastle United captain, and he was jeered by home supporters throughout, reflecting the fierce rivalry between Sunderland and Newcastle.
Talk in September of Arsenal running away with the title again looked premature, but performances like this explain why so many pundits already fancy Mikel Arteta's side for major honours once more. Liverpool were similarly tipped to dominate last season after a summer spending spree of around £450 million, only for Arsenal to win their first Premier League title in 22 years instead.
Arsenal Learn From Last Season's Draw
Arsenal were far from their best, and the win was built on grit rather than fluency. Sunderland could easily have taken something from the game had Raya not kept out Le Fee's penalty.
That mattered because Arsenal had been undone by this exact approach before. Almost a year ago, at the same ground, Sunderland's Brian Brobbey scored a stoppage-time equaliser to salvage a 2-2 draw, ending a run of five straight league wins for Arteta's side and proving they were not unbeatable.
Sunderland manager Regis Le Bris set his team up the same way this time, pressing physically and forcing Arsenal to work hard for every chance in open play. Brobbey repeatedly held off Konsa near the halfway line using his strength, while Martin Odegaard was pushed to the ground by Granit Xhaka, and Saka and Kai Havertz were both felled by heavy challenges that drew loud roars of approval from the home crowd.
Odegaard and Havertz in Fine Form
Arsenal went into the game on a five-match unbeaten run across all competitions and left having stretched it further at a ground where Sunderland had lost only four top-flight home matches all season. Odegaard has rediscovered his best form, scoring four goals in his last five matches, while Havertz had covered more distance than any other Premier League striker this season, 32.9 kilometres, before kick-off.
Mikel Arteta named the same starting line-up that beat Chelsea the previous weekend, though Jurrien Timber was included in the squad for the first time since May's Champions League final. Timber, regarded by many as the league's most complete right back last season, came on at half-time alongside Guimaraes.
Declan Rice caused early problems with a series of chipped passes into the Sunderland box. Christos Tzolis failed to control one, and Saka did the same when sent clean through on goal, wasting a good chance against the run of play. Xhaka's curling free-kick found Ballard unmarked in the 16th minute, but his header went wide, and Havertz nearly opened the scoring before the break, chesting the ball down and swivelling to strike a half-volley that Roefs saved.
Saka's Late Penalty Seals the Win
Timber had a late header ruled out for offside, and Raya was called into action again to deal with a goalmouth scramble as Sunderland pushed for an equaliser. Arsenal held firm, and further gloss was added in stoppage time when Saka won and converted a penalty after Sunderland's Reinildo Mandava pulled him back. Mandava was shown a second yellow card for the foul and was sent off.
Raya was rated the standout performer with a mark of 8 for his penalty save, matched only by Guimaraes for his impact off the bench. Arteta was booked during the game as his side moved further clear at the top of the table with a win built as much on resilience as on quality.
