Sunderland 2 Arsenal 2 – How was defence breached? Saka and Trossard step up (again) – The Athletic
Arsenal conceded twice for the first time this season as Brian Brobbey’s added-time equaliser snatched battling Sunderland a point at the Stadium of Light.
Former Arsenal academy defender Dan Ballard’s fine finish gave the home team a half-time lead but a goal from Bukayo Saka and Leandro Trossard’s rocket turned the game on its head before Brobbey hooked in his 94th-minute leveller.
After an opening 35 minutes where the ball was barely in play, Arsenal’s proud record of not conceding was ended by Ballard. A long punt forward caused chaos in the box and he thundered in a half-volley — the first time David Raya had been beaten in 812 minutes. In a match where Arsenal were looking toothless in attack without injured striker Viktor Gyokeres, William Saliba wasted a great chance to equalise just before the break when he blazed over the bar.
The Londoners were straight on the front foot at the start of the second half, though, with Saka firing wide before he made it 1-1 in the 54th minute after Declan Rice’s superb press dispossessed Enzo Le Fee. The Arsenal pressure was incessant from that moment, with Martin Zubimendi rattling the crossbar in the 65th minute. Nine minutes later, Trossard gave them the lead when he cut in from the left and hammered a stunning shot into the top corner.
Brobbey’s leveller rocked Arsenal but they still had a chance to win when Ballard brilliantly kept out Mikel Merino’s close-range shot.
The Athletic’s Art de Roche breaks down a frantic match at the Stadium of Light.
How was Arsenal’s defence finally breached?
While all the pre-match focus was on their former captain and now Sunderland skipper Granit Xhaka, maybe it should have been on another former Arsenal man in the home ranks.
Ballard left the London club for Sunderland, then newly promoted from third-tier League One, three years ago at age 22 without having made a first-team appearance, and has had a knack for scoring important goals since. This one was the first Arsenal had conceded in all competitions for over 13 hours and meant their clean-sheet record stopped at eight in a row.
The defender’s powerful strike was Sunderland’s first shot on target in the game, but Arsenal were given a warning beforehand.
Sunderland had a free kick in midfield in the 12th minute which the English-born Northern Ireland international centre-back went forward for only to be flagged offside after goalkeeper Robin Roefs’ long ball. Ballard was the target again on their second go at that routine, and while he didn’t win the first ball, he gave Arsenal a different challenge than any they have faced this season.
DAN BALLARD!
Sunderland break Arsenal’s clean sheet run! 🔥 pic.twitter.com/lVQ3ACpp41
— Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) November 8, 2025
And for readers in the U.S.
DAN BALLARD RAISES THE ROOF AT THE STADIUM OF LIGHT. SUNDERLAND LEAD ARSENAL. pic.twitter.com/Y2rrR4Uvs9
— NBC Sports Soccer (@NBCSportsSoccer) November 8, 2025
His awareness and technique to stay alive, control with his left foot and finish were lethal. There was nothing Raya could do, but Arsenal could have protected him better after Sunderland showed their hand with that first attempt at the same move in the 12th minute.
Zubimendi can feel hard done by for the yellow card he received for conceding the foul that led to the goal, but at that point, play was becoming too frantic for Arsenal’s liking.
How important are Saka and Trossard?
As is often the case, when Arsenal need goals, Saka and Trossard were the two to step up on Saturday.
Trossard has the highest share of game-state-changing Premier League goals (66.6 per cent) among Arsenal players who have scored over 20 league goals since his debut in January 2023, while Saka ranks third for that metric with 54.5 per cent.
Declan Rice, Eberechi Eze and Mikel Merino all did exceptionally well to get the ball to Saka for Arsenal’s equaliser, and their captain for the day was ruthless off his right foot.
When in those positions over the years, Saka has often used his right foot to rifle the ball into the roof of the net.
On this occasion, the low finish was perfect, and may have been exactly what he needed. The 24-year-old had dragged a left-footed shot wide minutes before, but after equalising, his driving runs were key to changing the rhythm of the game.
Bukayo Saka equalises for Arsenal! 🔴 pic.twitter.com/ZV0AzdNwmc
— Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) November 8, 2025
And for readers in the U.S.
BUKAYO SAKA GRABS THE ARSENAL EQUALIZER. 💥 pic.twitter.com/OccRFPgL9k
— NBC Sports Soccer (@NBCSportsSoccer) November 8, 2025
By the 68th minute, Arsenal had taken eight second-half shots and were firmly on top.
Riccardo Calafiori’s overlap was critical to give Trossard the space for his goal, but the Belgian’s finish showed why he is so important to this squad. As well as being an unexpected voice in tough moments, his willingness to shoot on sight has kept title races alive in previous seasons.
The goal should have helped create more separation between Arsenal and their rivals at the top of the table this weekend, but they just couldn’t hold on.
Two points dropped but a good weekend to do that?
It may surprise some, but this was always going to be a tough evening for Arsenal, as Regis Le Bris’ Sunderland defence is almost as stingy this season as counterpart Mikel Arteta’s.
Before kick-off this evening, they ranked second-best in the Premier League for goals conceded (eight) and set-piece goals conceded (two), third-best for clean sheets (four) and fourth-best for expected goals against (11.4), despite this being their first top-flight season since 2016-17.
The hosts were smart with their free-kick routine to go ahead, and Arsenal responded well in the second half to go ahead, but Ballard proved pivotal in both boxes again in added time.
What a strike from Leandro Trossard! 🚀 pic.twitter.com/CQNJZ01oQn
— Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) November 8, 2025
And for readers in the U.S.
LEANDRO TROSSARD, THAT IS MAJESTIC. A SPECTACULAR HIT TO GIVE ARSENAL THE LEAD. pic.twitter.com/ROZ9DRuBEK
— NBC Sports Soccer (@NBCSportsSoccer) November 8, 2025
Once again, Arsenal’s defenders struggled with him in their box as he flicked the ball on for Brobbey’s late equaliser. Then at the death, the 26-year-old showed the defensive qualities that have brought him to the Premier League by hurling his body forward to block Merino’s goalbound shot.
There will be frustration that they have not left the north-east with three points, but with Manchester City hosting Liverpool tomorrow (Sunday), this may not be the worst weekend for Arsenal to drop points.
Importantly, they have made it to the November international break, after which they are hopeful of having more attacking options available to face Tottenham Hotspur in the north London derby at the Emirates Stadium.
What did Arteta say?
Arteta spoke to Sky Sports after the match.
Is there a sense of frustration at the goals conceded?
“Yeah, because they are two direct balls and two flicks. Basically, it’s the same action. But credit to the opposition, it’s not the first time they’ve done it. They have committed at the end, with Ballard as well, a lot of players to create that chaos in any moment. It can be a long throw, in any moment they can score a goal. That’s the reason they are where they are.”
Does today show how hard it is to win this league?
“It shows every week. Against any opponent, you know the margins to win football matches. We really understand and recognise that, so we understand the difficulty of what we’ve done: winning ten games in a row and not conceding any goals. Now we have the international break. We are very disappointed because we wanted three points but we have to go again.”
Is the break coming at a good time with all the injuries?
“Yeah, we have seven injured players, especially in the frontline so we were very limited with the options we had. But this is the season. You’re going to go through these periods. Those players haven’t been with us for the last two months and we’ve still done really well, so big credit to the team.”
Do battles like this make you stronger? Make you potential champions?
“For sure. I love the way the team reacted and scored two goals to go ahead. It’s just a shame that in the last minute we conceded a goal in the manner that we have, but that’s the league.”
What next for Arsenal?
Sunday, November 23: Tottenham (Home), Premier League, 4.30pm UK, 11.30am ET
