Matchday 11 in England’s Premier League Championship Sunderland Strike Against the Run of Play Ballard’s goal and Arsenal cards set the tone
Matchday 11 in England’s Premier League Championship Arsenal started like a big side away from home, strangling the game with 65% possession and keeping Sunderland penned back. Yet it was the Black Cats who landed the first blow. In the 36th minute, centre-back Daniel Ballard surged into the box and finished after a smart assist from Nordi Mukiele, making it 1–0 to Sunderland.
Arsenal’s frustration began to show. Martín Zubimendi picked up a yellow card in that same 36th minute, and Granit Xhaka was booked in first-half stoppage time (45+2’) as the visitors struggled to turn control into chances. Sunderland, with just 35% possession and only 6 total shots, were happy to soak up pressure and strike when the opportunity appeared.
Arsenal’s Response: Saka and Trossard Turn It Around Dominant Gunners finally cash in their chances
After the break, Arsenal’s pressure finally told. In the 54th minute, Bukayo Saka levelled the match, finishing coolly after a precise assist from Mikel Merino. The visitors were now creating regularly, racking up 17 shots in total, including 7 on target, compared to Sunderland’s 2 shots on target. The turnaround was complete in the 74th minute. Leandro Trossard struck Arsenal’s second, putting the Gunners 2–1 up, with Zubimendi redeeming his earlier booking by supplying the assist. Sunderland’s defence fought hard, but Arsenal’s constant waves of attacks—6 shots off target and 4 blocked shots in addition to those on goal—made the lead feel inevitable.
Late Twist: Brobbey Saves Sunderland at the Death Substitute hero punishes Arsenal’s missed chances
Arsenal continued to dominate the ball and territory, but couldn’t land the knockout punch. Sunderland’s defenders, including the booked Reinildo Mandava (yellow card on 72’), threw themselves in front of shots, while corners and offsides were evenly split at 2–2 each. Deep into stoppage time, the Stadium of Light exploded. Substitute striker Brian Brobbey, on to change the game, made it 2–2 in the 90+4th minute, finishing from close range after a crucial assist from first-half scorer Daniel Ballard. Both sides finished with 13 fouls apiece, a number that underlined just how fiercely contested this draw was.
Lineups and Substitutions
Sunderland Premier League Starting XI Roefs anchors a flexible, hard-working side
GK: 22 Robin Roefs
DEF: 5 Daniel Ballard, Lutsharel Geertruida (off 87’), 20 Nordi Mukiele, 17 Reinildo Mandava, 32 Trai Hume
MID: 28 Enzo Le Fée (off 64’), 34 Granit Xhaka (booked 45+2’), 27 Noah Sadiki
ATT: Bertrand Traoré (off 64’), 18 Wilson Isidor (off 63’)
Sunderland substitutions (from the data provided and timing/position):
63’ – Wilson Isidor off, Brian Brobbey on (scores 90+4’, assisted by Ballard)
64’ – Bertrand Traoré off, Simon Adingra on
64’ – Enzo Le Fée off, Chemsdine Talbi on
87’ – Lutsharel Geertruida off, Eliezer Mayenda on
Unused Sunderland subs:
26 Arthur Masuaku, 1 Anthony Patterson, 13 Luke O’Nien, 4 Dan Neil, 11 Chris Rigg
Arsenal Premier League Starting XI Control in midfield, but a win that slipped away
GK: 1 David Raya
DEF: 6 Gabriel Magalhães, 12 Jurrien Timber, 33 Riccardo Calafiori, 2 William Saliba
MID: 41 Declan Rice, 36 Martín Zubimendi (booked 36’), 23 Mikel Merino
ATT: 7 Bukayo Saka (goal 54’), 10 Eberechi Eze (off 88’), 19 Leandro Trossard (goal 74’)
Arsenal also saw Reinildo Mandava booked for Sunderland on 72’, as tempers flared in duels. Eze was substituted in the 88th minute, with fresh legs brought on from Arsenal’s bench, but the specific replacement is not visible in the provided data.
Arsenal substitutes (bench):
13 Kepa Arrizabalaga, 4 Ben White, 16 Christian Nörgaard, Piero Hincapié, 22 Ethan Nwaneri, 49 Myles Lewis-Skelly, 56 Max Dowman, 71 Andre Harriman-Annous, 3 Cristhian Mosquera
Player statistics
| Daniel Ballard
(Assistant: Nordi Mukiele)
|
 |
36′ | ||
| 36′ |  |
Martín Zubimendi | ||
| Granit Xhaka | |
45+2′ | ||
| 54′ | |
Bukayo Saka
(Assistant: Mikel Merino)
|
||
| Reinildo Mandava | |
72′ | ||
| 74′ | |
Leandro Trossard
(Assistant: Martín Zubimendi)
|
||
| Brian Brobbey
(Assistant: Daniel Ballard)
|
|
90+4′ |
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