Sunderland Snatches Late Equalizer Against Arsenal in Thrilling Encounter

Dan Ballard surprised fans by giving Sunderland an unexpected lead midway through the first half, heading the ball home from close range following Arsenal’s failure to clear a corner. The hosts thoroughly deserved to take the advantage after a period of intense pressure that unsettled Mikel Arteta’s squad.

After halftime, Arsenal regrouped and gradually found their rhythm, pushing Sunderland back. Bukayo Saka leveled the score with a poacher’s finish in the 54th minute, and just 20 minutes later, Leandro Trossard delivered a moment of brilliance by curling a stunning strike into the top corner, giving Arsenal a 2-1 lead. It seemed as though the league leaders were on course for yet another comeback victory. However, Sunderland had other plans. In the fourth minute of stoppage time, Ballard flicked on a long throw into the Arsenal box. The ball fortuitously fell to Brian Brobbey, who executed a bicycle kick to score past the advancing David Raya, igniting wild celebrations as Sunderland snatched a point from the match.

Post-match, Sunderland’s coach Le Bris disclosed that they had moved the advertising boards closer to the touchline before kickoff, significantly reducing the run-up space for Arsenal’s players during throw-ins. This tactic effectively neutralized Arsenal’s aerial threats, which had been a growing part of their set-piece strategy. Le Bris expressed satisfaction with the subtle act of gamesmanship, stating, “We tried to find the details to win the game. They are very strong on set-pieces, and we were too. It was clear that this threat was vital in the match, and in the end, it was evenly matched.”

For Le Bris, the result validated his team’s belief in their potential. “The lads worked hard until the end. They believed it was possible to change the dynamic. This was a tough game, as we anticipated. Arsenal are one of the best teams in Europe. Despite our struggles, we maintained the belief that we could score again. Our fans played a pivotal role in this. We’ve shown that late goals are possible, and now we carry that confidence—that anything can happen until the final whistle. We felt the pressure and intensity from them, but we are a new, young squad, and we managed to hold our ground during the second half.”

Arsenal’s Arteta exhibited visible frustration after the final whistle, reflecting on how his team had dominated large portions of the match and appeared ready to secure another victory until Brobbey’s late equalizer. “It was a really tough test, as we expected. Credit to Sunderland for making it difficult. They consistently took the game where they wanted, and unfortunately, we conceded at the end. The added time reflects the nature of the game. It’s normal for teams to exert their utmost, and we did the same. We lost the flicks on two direct balls, which resulted in the same action. Credit to the opposition; they have executed this before. They sent many players forward at the end with Ballard, creating chaos—at any moment, they could score. That’s why they are where they are.”

Despite the disappointment of the result, Arteta praised his players for their efforts, stating, “Overall, we’re disappointed, but I am immensely proud of the team for what they’ve achieved in the last 10 matches, winning them all and maintaining a commendable number of clean sheets, despite seven players being injured.”

Interestingly, this was not the first time Sunderland employed the advertising-board tactic, having used it successfully during the previous season’s Championship play-off against Coventry City, which they won to secure promotion to the Premier League. Looking ahead, Sunderland faces a challenging away match against Fulham, while Arsenal prepares for a significant north London derby against Tottenham after the international break.