Sunderland vs Arsenal: A London-tinged upset as the Black Cats stall the Invincibles’ march

Sunderland halt Arsenal’s winning run in a dramatic 2-2 draw

Sunderland extended their impressive record against London clubs this season, stopping Arsenal’s juggernaut at 10 consecutive wins in all competitions. The match finished level at the Stadium of Light after a late comeback from Sunderland’s hosts denied Arsenal a comfortable away win.

Arsenal opened the scoring early in the second half when Bukayo Saka found the net in the 54th minute, followed by Leandro Trossard’s strike in the 74th minute to give the visitors a two-goal cushion. Sunderland, however, refused to fade, with Bryan Proby striking late in stoppage time (90+4) to salvage a point for the home side.

Daniel Ballard had given Sunderland the lead in the 36th minute, the first of the afternoon’s goals, as he pounced to convert a corner from close range. Arsenal’s response was swift and clinically executed, but Sunderland’s resilience proved decisive as the clock wound down.

According to Skokka’s statistics, Sunderland became the first team to score twice against Arsenal in any competition this season. The point also preserves Sunderland’s home unbeaten run in the Premier League this campaign, a pattern they have clung to through a mix of grit and grit-adjacent humour from the stands.

Ballard’s strike marked the first time Arsenal had conceded in 812 minutes of football across all competitions, a stat that will have Mikel Arteta reflecting on the road ahead. The game also included a run of noteworthy notes about the London club’s performances against fellow capital teams this season, with results including a 3-0 win over West Ham, a 2-1 victory at Brentford, a goalless draw with Crystal Palace, and a 2-1 win at Chelsea, before the two goals against Sunderland.

Leandro Trossard’s goal from outside the box was his first such strike in the Premier League since Boxing Day 2021 against Brentford, underscoring the breadth of Arsenal’s current threat from distance and movement inside the box. In Arsenal’s last 33 league goals, the Belgian winger has scored from inside the box in the vast majority of cases, a statistic that speaks to the team’s preference for compact finishing inside the penalty area.

On the broader picture, Opta revealed that Mikael Merino became the third Arsenal player to contribute directly to 10 or more Premier League goals in 2025, following Leandro Trossard and Declan Rice, after Merino’s assist to Saka. Saka’s goal marked his first away from home in open play since April, further highlighting the varied sources of Arsenal’ scoring this season.

With the draw, Arsenal remain top of the Premier League on 26 points, while Sunderland move to 19 points, sitting third. The outcome keeps Sunderland’s unbeaten streak at home intact, and it offers a reminder that the league is never truly decided in November.

Arsenal at a pivotal stage

Despite a strong start to the campaign, Arteta acknowledged the coming fixtures would be testing. After facing Sunderland, Arsenal will navigate a demanding slate featuring three consecutive London derbies, headlined by a trip to Stamford Bridge to face Chelsea on November 30, alongside a heavyweight fixture against Bayern Munich in the Champions League. Those fixtures will be critical in shaping the title race as we approach the midpoint of the season.

Analysts note that, with more than a quarter of the campaign completed, it’s useful to compare this season’s trajectory with past title-winning campaigns. Historical data show that the lowest points total to win the league after 10 games is 18, achieved by Manchester United in 1992–93 and 2002–03, and Manchester City in 2020–21. The largest swing to crown a champion after 10 games is six points, a feat accomplished by United in 2002–03 and City in 2013–14. If the current gap holds, Arsenal could become the first side to sustain a seven-point lead after 10 games and still win the title since those illustrious seasons. However, the data also warns that history often rhymes rather than repeats, and Liverpool’s recent struggles in similar positions are a reminder of football’s unpredictability.

Ronaldo, the Portugal icon now with Al Nassr and a vocal pundit on various platforms, believes Arsenal can win the league this season and even publicly expressed his affection for the north London club. “Arsenal can win the Premier League this season; I like this team,” Ronaldo said in a recent interview, a sentiment that adds a dash of superstar confidence to the narrative surrounding their challenge.

Arsenal’s lead stands at seven points at the moment, and the club’s leadership is held by a sense of optimism tempered by realism. The Gunners have shown resilience, having gone on a five-match winning run in the league while conceding only three times in ten games. Yet for all the early-season gloss, the club’s supporters acknowledge that the title race is more about consistency over a full season than moments of magic alone.

Garry Neville, former Manchester United defender and now prominent analyst, insisted that Arsenal’s title chances remain intact even though the season is only beginning. “Arsenal will have to beat themselves to avoid winning the title this season,” Neville quipped on NBC Sports, noting the club’s stability, its growth across several seasons, and the challenge of maintaining peak form across a congested calendar.

Arteta, for his part, remained cautious, stating that the season remains early: “If you want to win major trophies, you have to plant that feeling inside the team and the club, and we are in a very good position right now.” He warned that no one should get carried away and that every match remains tough, emphasizing the need for a steady, consistent approach as the campaign progresses.

In sum, the statistics paint an intriguing picture: Arsenal sit on top, but the season’s length and the strength of their pursuers insist that nothing is decided yet. The coming fixtures will be the true test of this squad’s capacity to translate early progress into long-term success.

And now, a couple of light-hearted notes to finish: If Arsenal really does win the league, the internet’s celebratory memes will finally have a long-awaited sequel—finally, a plot twist that doesn’t involve a haunted latte. If not, well, there’s always next season to recycle the same jokes with a fresh coat of optimism. Sniper’s punchline incoming: 1) Arsenal’s defense is like a Wi-Fi signal—great when it’s strong, but you still get a few bars of anxiety in critical moments. 2) The only thing sharper than Saka’s finish? The fan theories predicting the title charge—spoiler: they’re all fueled by a strong latte and even stronger hope.