Brian Brobbey scored a last-gasp equaliser as high-flying Sunderland held Premier League leaders Arsenal to a 2-2 draw on the Stadium of Gentle.
A stop-start first-half all of a sudden sparked into life when former Arsenal academy product Dan Ballard despatched the hosts forward with a thumping end, ending the Gunners’ run of eight consecutive clear sheets in all competitions.
Bukayo Saka levelled with a low effort after the break and, with Arsenal having managed many of the recreation for the second half, Leandro Trossard despatched the guests forward with a shocking effort from outdoors the world.
Late drama adopted as Brobbey stabbed house from Ballard’s header to earn a degree for the hosts towards the division’s prime aspect.
Sunderland named the identical line-up for the third successive recreation and Arsenal made three modifications from their midweek Champions League win as Eberechi Eze, Martín Zubimendi and Riccardo Calafiori began.
Early within the recreation, a cross for Mikel Merino noticed him conflict with Ballard, resulting in a quick stoppage and Declan Rice’s curling free-kick was clawed away by Robin Roefs.
Rice had a tame strike blocked, however the Gunners then missed a fantastic alternative when Eze pounced on Enzo Le Charge’s misplaced cross and will solely loft his shot over the crossbar.
There was one other stoppage following a conflict of heads between Le Charge and Jurriën Timber earlier than Saka had a gentle effort held by Roefs.
Sunderland went forward within the thirty sixth minute when Nordi Mukiele nodded the ball down within the field for Ballard, who burst previous Rice and fired a robust strike previous David Raya.
The guests got here shut in first-half stoppage-time as Saka performed into William Saliba, who might solely blast over the bar earlier than Mukiele smashed an effort simply vast.
Eze had a shot blocked from an extended throw early within the second half and Noah Sadiki broke ahead earlier than enjoying a neat ball into Wilson Isidor, who fired into the Arsenal defence.
Roefs held Zubimendi’s low effort and Saka dragged a shot vast earlier than Arsenal equalised within the 54th minute when Le Charge was caught out by Rice and a fast surge into the field noticed Merino thread a cross into Saka, who beat Roefs at his close to put up.
The aim spurred Arsenal on when Zubimendi’s effort flashed vast of the put up earlier than Roefs made the save from Eze’s strike and Sunderland then made a triple substitution as Brobbey, Simon Adingra and Chemsdine Talbi got here on.
The Gunners threatened once more when Roefs’ punch fell to Zubimendi on the sting of the world, the place the midfielder smashed the crossbar.
Arsenal’s dominance paid off within the 74th minute as Trossard despatched them forward for the primary time within the match, twisting on the sting of the field earlier than dispatching a shocking strike that nestled within the roof of the web.
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Ballard’s flick-on from an extended throw compelled Raya into a superb save and the Arsenal goalkeeper made one other essential cease to disclaim Brobbey, who was flagged for offside.
Moments later, Brobbey compelled Raya into one other courageous cease, however the striker finally discovered the web within the fourth minute of stoppage time, awkwardly poking house from Ballard’s header.
Roefs then denied Calafiori on the loss of life, with Ballard blocking Merino’s follow-up after the save, because the Black Cats held on for the purpose.
