A game that swung in two instances
When Sunderland were awarded a penalty following Ezri Konsa’s impromptu wrestling match with Dan Ballard, it felt like a massive opportunity to break the deadlock against the notoriously watertight Gunners as Enzo Le Fée lined up his spot kick against David Raya.
There was little wrong with the Frenchman’s attempt — firmly struck and aimed towards the corner — but the Spaniard made a superb save to deny Le Fée his second success from twelve yards inside a week. And when everyone’s favourite villain
Bruno Guimaraẽs duly fired a venomous dipping shot past Robin Roefs barely minutes later, it felt like the classic one-two punch and it ultimately defined the game.
Sunderland more than held their own in this contest; we looked sharp, combative and were able to fashion a number of decent chances against the defending champions, but the finishing touch eluded the Lads on this occasion and that somehow made the loss even more frustrating.
We know we’re capable of giving the league’s big guns a run for their money on any given day, and occasionally emerging victorious, but during what could easily be a “difficult second season”, we need to find ways to bridge the gap and to continue to eke out points from tricky positions.
A disappointing outcome. The 0-2 scoreline might’ve felt slightly harsh and Reinildo’s late red card was a sickener, but the way the game panned out wasn’t entirely unexpected, given Arsenal’s current status and Sunderland’s ongoing attempts at evolution.
Onwards we go. Europe awaits.
Granit Xhaka reaffirms his commitment to Sunderland
Following the early summer rumours that the Lads skipper and inspirational figurehead would potentially be making a move to Chelsea (a transfer that didn’t materialise following an insultingly low offer from the West London club which was rightly dismissed out of hand by Sunderland), one of the points of interest at the start of 2026/2027 centred around whether the Swiss international remained as locked in and committed to the red and white cause as he undoubtedly was during 2025/2026.
Based on this evidence, we needn’t have worried.
Against the Gunners, Xhaka was his usual influential self, thundering into challenges, breaking up the play, showcasing some superb passing and attempting to keep his side on the front foot even as the game wound down and Arsenal stood firm.
Even at thirty four, he remains one of the most energetic and all-action players in the squad, and now that we know he’s eager to finish what he and his teammates started last season, would it be a surprise to anyone if he continues to set the standards in various areas?
Another impressive performance from a player that remains utterly indispensable at the Stadium of Light.
Nilson Angulo mixes it up a little more
I like the Ecuadorian winger.
He’s got plenty of skill and a decent turn of pace, but as we saw during our previous home league outing against Fulham, he can occasionally make the wrong decision, with promising Sunderland attacks breaking down as a result.
It’s common knowledge that Régis Le Bris likes his wingers to bring defensive doggedness to the fore, but there also needs to be some attacking spark and against Arsenal, Angulo did show some improvements in this regard — even if he’s still lacking in certain areas.
He seemed more willing to take on his opposing full back, driving forward promisingly on occasion and seeking to vary his attacking approach when necessary. He’s by no means the finished article but recent games have been fruitful for the January signing, and he seems to have unlocked something new in his game.
Let’s hope it continues!
Brian Brobbey plows a lone and hugely destructive furrow
The list of Sunderland strikers that’ve been highly effective with their back to goal in the Stadium of Light era is very short, with Brobbey and Niall Quinn the leading lights, and this was another gutsy, selfless display from the former Ajax forward.
Had the Dutch striker finished with a goal for his efforts, it would’ve been no less than he deserved as he gave Arsenal’s centre backs all kinds of problems and seemed to relish every battle, taking no backwards steps and showing — once again — why he’s so central to Sunderland’s style of play.
Occasionally a touch too isolated for my liking, getting runners in and around him as he carves an icebreaker-like path through opposing defences would surely be the way forward, but he can take tremendous pride in the way he tested the mettle of the visiting defence and refused to accept any cause as lost.
We do need more goals and the attack as a whole isn’t quite firing as it eventually will, but Brobbey brings such a unique set of skills that it’s hard to see him being withdrawn from the starting eleven any time soon.
