Sunderland Stun Arsenal with Late Equaliser in Dramatic 2-2 Draw
It was a night full of surprises at the Stadium of Light, where Sunderland pulled off an incredible late fightback to hold Premier League leaders Arsenal to a 2–2 draw. The game had everything—former teammates clashing, emotional storylines, and a dramatic equaliser in injury time that left fans on both sides catching their breath.
Sunderland’s resilience was led by none other than Granit Xhaka, the former Arsenal captain who’s become a talisman for the newly promoted side. And it was substitute Brian Brobbey who stole the spotlight, scoring a stunning equaliser deep into stoppage time to deny Arsenal another three points in their title charge.
The match began with high intensity. Sunderland’s captain, Dan Ballard—himself a former Arsenal academy graduate—opened the scoring in the first half, ending Arsenal’s remarkable streak of eight consecutive clean sheets. His powerful strike came after a free-kick caused chaos in the Arsenal box, and the roar from the home crowd set the tone for a gripping evening.
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Arsenal, missing several key players including Gabriel Jesus, Ødegaard, Havertz, and Martinelli, struggled early but found their rhythm after the break. Bukayo Saka brought them level in the 54th minute after a fluid passing move that sliced through Sunderland’s defence. Just minutes later, Leandro Trossard added a second with a curling strike into the top corner, putting Arsenal back in control and silencing the home fans—for a while.
But Sunderland, inspired by Xhaka’s leadership and fighting spirit, refused to give in. Their manager, Régis Le Bris, threw on attacking substitutions midway through the second half, including Brobbey, Chemsdine Talbi, and Simon Adingra. The changes paid off spectacularly. In the dying moments of stoppage time, a looping ball into the box was met by Brobbey with an acrobatic finish, sending the Stadium of Light into pandemonium.
Arsenal’s goalkeeper David Raya could only watch as the ball flew past him. The final whistle was met with jubilation from the home fans—this was a result that felt as good as a victory. And fittingly, Ballard, who had haunted his former club earlier, made a crucial last-ditch block to stop Mikel Merino’s late effort in what proved to be the final act of the match.
After the draw, Mikel Arteta admitted his side “did not finish the game the way we wanted.” Still, Arsenal remain top of the table with a seven-point lead over Manchester City, who host Liverpool next. Sunderland, meanwhile, continue their dream run, sitting fourth in the league—the best start by a promoted side since Hull City in 2008–09.
For Sunderland fans, it was more than just a point—it was a night that reminded everyone why football’s magic lies in moments like these: belief, drama, and the roar of a crowd that simply refuses to stop dreaming.
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