Sunderland vs Arsenal LIVE
Bryan Brobbey hit a stunning acrobatic equaliser as Sunderland held Arsenal to a 2-2 draw at the Stadium of Light. Sunderland started brightly as they looked to defend their unbeaten home record, and Dan Ballard put them ahead with a well-taken close-range strike shortly before half-time. The Black Cats then weathered nine minutes of injury time to preserve their lead at the break.
But Arsenal were rejuvenated in the second half and piled on the pressure. Moments after missing a presentable chance, Bukayo Saka scored from a tight angle to equalise. Not long after, Leandro Trossard smashed a piledriving effort into the top left corner beyond a helpless Robin Roefs.
Many thought it would be the winner, but the substitute Brobbey caused Arsenal problems. He got the better of Gabriel with an acrobatic scissor kick to confound David Raya and nick a point in injury time. It was a fully deserved point, and one which will live long in the memory on Wearside. Catch up with the action as it happened below with our dedicated match blog, featuring expert insight and analysis from Simon Collings.
Sunderland vs Arsenal latest news
- GOAL! Trossard slams home a second
- GOAL! Saka with the equaliser
- GOAL! Ballard opens the scoring
- Kick-off: 5.30pm, Stadium of Light
FULL TIME: Sunderland 2-2 Arsenal
19:36 , Arthur FerridgeWhat an ending!
Sunderland 2-2 Arsenal
19:34 , Arthur Ferridge90+7mins: And that should have been a winner for Arsenal! Calafiori and Merino are both denied from close range.
Simon Collings reports
19:34 , Arthur FerridgeHeartbreak for Arsenal, but wow, that is some strike.
GOAL! Sunderland 2-2 Arsenal | Brobbey '90+4
19:31 , Arthur FerridgeBrobbey equalises with a stunner! How did he do that!
Sunderland 1-2 Arsenal
19:30 , Arthur Ferridge90+3mins: Sunderland are throwing the kitchen sink at this, but haven’t really tested the back line.
Sunderland 1-2 Arsenal
19:28 , Arthur Ferridge90+1mins: Seven minutes added on. Can Sunderland nick something here?
Sunderland 1-2 Arsenal
19:27 , Arthur Ferridge90mins: Rice shoots from halfway, misses badly, and is loudly booed.
Sunderland 1-2 Arsenal
19:27 , Arthur Ferridge89mins: Expecting a considerable chunk of stoppage time here.
Sunderland 1-2 Arsenal
19:25 , Arthur Ferridge88mins: Quite remarkable given how intense this game has been that that is Arsenal’s first change.
Sunderland 1-2 Arsenal
19:25 , Arthur Ferridge87mins: Another change for Sunderland as Geertruida comes off for Mayenda. Eze is replaced by Mosquera for Arsenal.
Sunderland 1-2 Arsenal
19:24 , Arthur Ferridge86mins: Sunderland have a bit of a second wind here. They’re desperate to keep their unbeaten home record intact.
Sunderland 1-2 Arsenal
19:22 , Arthur Ferridge85mins: Brobbey races onto a loose ball in the box, but Raya is quick off his line to smother the chance.
Sunderland 1-2 Arsenal
19:21 , Arthur FerridgeSunderland come forward through Brobbey, who holds up play and finds Talbi to keep the attack alive. The Black Cats opt to recycle, though, as they push for an equaliser of their own.
Sunderland 1-2 Arsenal
19:19 , Arthur Ferridge81mins: A break in play, now, as the trainers attend to the stricken Mukiele, who took a hard fall.
Sunderland 1-2 Arsenal
19:17 , Arthur Ferridge79mins: How has that stayed out! Raya spills it on the goalline into the path of Brobbey, who can’t quite get a shot off!
Sunderland 1-2 Arsenal
19:15 , Arthur Ferridge78mins: Calafiori fouls Hume clumsily, and somehow gets away without a yellow.
Sunderland 1-2 Arsenal
19:13 , Arthur FerridgeThat is a gutting one for Sunderland, who have really battled here.
Simon Collings reports
19:13 , Arthur FerridgeMy word, what a hit that is.
GOAL! Sunderland 1-2 Arsenal | Trossard '74
19:11 , Arthur FerridgeThe free-kick comes to nothing, but Trossard drills one home moments later to put the Gunners back in front!
Sunderland 1-1 Arsenal
19:10 , Arthur Ferridge73mins: Reinildo is booked for a foul on Saka, and Arsenal have another chance at a set-piece.
Sunderland 1-1 Arsenal
19:09 , Arthur Ferridge72mins: Eze gets after a lofted ball into the box, but can’t quite beat Roefs to it.
Sunderland 1-1 Arsenal
19:06 , Arthur Ferridge69mins: Mukiele heaves a long throw into the box, but Arsenal clear. The refreshed front three have brought some energy back to the Sunderland press, though, and Arsenal are struggling a bit once again.
Sunderland 1-1 Arsenal
19:05 , Arthur Ferridge68mins: Merino gets up for the free-kick but clatters Roefs in the process. Handbags in the six-yard box, and it will be a free-kick for Sunderland now.
Sunderland 1-1 Arsenal
19:03 , Arthur Ferridge66mins: Saka goes down at the corner of the box, and Arsenal have a chance to score their customary set-piece goal.
Sunderland 1-1 Arsenal
19:02 , Arthur Ferridge65mins: Zubimendi rattles the post!
Sunderland 1-1 Arsenal
19:01 , Arthur Ferridge64mins: Triple change for Sunderland as Traore, Isidor, and Le Fee make way for Brobbey, Adingra, and Talbi.
Sunderland 1-1 Arsenal
18:59 , Arthur Ferridge62mins: A nice bit of build-up from Sunderland there as they escape their half for the first time in a little while. They can’t get a shot off, though, as Le Bris lines up changes.
Sunderland 1-1 Arsenal
18:58 , Arthur Ferridge61mins: Sunderland are totally at sea, but just about managing to keep this match on level terms. Eze gets a shot off from the centre of the box, but Roefs denies him.
Simon Collings reports
18:56 , Arthur FerridgeWhat's the Spanish for 'Hairdryer Treatment'? Think that is what Arteta must have done.
Sunderland 1-1 Arsenal
18:55 , Arthur Ferridge58mins: It could have been two! Trossard finds Zubimnendi with a gorgeous diagonal pass and he shoots very narrowly wide. Sunderland are totally at sea now.
Simon Collings reports
18:54 , Arthur FerridgeThat all came from Sunderland playing themselves into trouble. 50 minutes of good work undone by their own sloppiness.
GOAL! Sunderland 1-1 Arsenal | Saka '54
18:52 , Arthur FerridgeLe Fee is the latest Sunderland player to lose the ball in the defensive half, and this time Arsenal capitalise. They attack in a flash - Saka doesn’t miss those twice.
Sunderland 1-0 Arsenal
18:51 , Arthur Ferridge54mins: A misguided cross from Timber is easily claimed by Roefs.
Sunderland 1-0 Arsenal
18:49 , Arthur Ferridge52mins: Massive chance for Arsenal goes begging as Saka drags a shot wide from inside the box.
Simon Collings reports
18:48 , Arthur FerridgeA decent opening five minutes to the half from Arsenal. They're trying to play at a higher tempo.
Sunderland 1-0 Arsenal
18:48 , Arthur Ferridge50mins: Sunderland get away with one. Geertruida has his pocket picked in his own half, with hardly any support around him. Arsenal pour forward but Roefs is only called into action for a fairly routine save.
Sunderland 1-0 Arsenal
18:46 , Arthur Ferridge49mins: Dreadful delivery on the corner from Le Fee. Wasteful.
Sunderland 1-0 Arsenal
18:46 , Arthur Ferridge49mins: Sadiki races forward and squares to Isidor, but he can’t quite get his shot away. Sunderland keep the pressure up and win a corner.
Sunderland 1-0 Arsenal
18:44 , Arthur Ferridge47mins: Sunderland are immediately under the cosh here. How long can they weather this storm...
Sunderland 1-0 Arsenal
18:43 , Arthur Ferridge46mins: And, of course, we start the half with an Arsenal long throw. Sunderland deal with it.
2ND HALF: Sunderland 1-0 Arsenal
18:42 , Arthur FerridgeBack underway!
The squads are coming back out... the second half is imminent.
Where do the Gunners go from here?
18:40 , Arthur FerridgeOne wonders what Mikel Arteta has said to settle his squad at half-time - this is a huge test for the Spaniard.
What a moment for Dan Ballard
18:37 , Arthur FerridgeThe former Arsenal youngster puts the Black Cats ahead against the Premier League leaders!
HALF-TIME: Sunderland 1-0 Arsenal
18:26 , Arthur FerridgeSunderland lead at the break! What you wouldn’t give to be a fly on the wall in Mikel Arteta’s dressing room now....
Sunderland 1-0 Arsenal
18:25 , Arthur Ferridge45+9mins: CLOSE! The corner comes to nothing but Sunderland come back immediately. Le Fee tees up Mukiele for a shot, and he fizzes it just wide of the right post.
Sunderland 1-0 Arsenal
18:24 , Arthur Ferridge45+7mins: Sunderland are actually having the better of the play now. This latest attack ends with Calafiori heading Xhaka’s cross behind for a corner under very little pressure.
Sunderland 1-0 Arsenal
18:22 , Arthur Ferridge45+5mins: Arsenal are pushing hard for an equaliser. They’ll be gutted to go into half-time behind.
Sunderland 1-0 Arsenal
18:20 , Arthur Ferridge45+3mins: Saka knocks it down for Saliba in the box, but the Frenchman volleys over. Reinildo went over in the box in the build-up, so it might not have stood anyway.
Sunderland 1-0 Arsenal
18:19 , Arthur Ferridge45+2mins: Xhaka is booked for a foul on Eze. Rice lifts the ball into the box from the following free-kick, but it is well defended by Sunderland.
Sunderland 1-0 Arsenal
18:17 , Arthur Ferridge45mins: What’s the damage on the added time, you ask? Just the nine minutes.
Sunderland 1-0 Arsenal
18:14 , Arthur Ferridge42mins: Arsenal have completely lost their heads here. The body language is very worrying.
Sunderland 1-0 Arsenal
18:13 , Arthur Ferridge41mins: Arsenal have just conceded for the first time in 812 minutes. Remarkable.
Sunderland 1-0 Arsenal
18:12 , Arthur Ferridge40mins: Arsenal now find themselves in the distinctly unfamiliar position of trailing in a match. It will be fascinating to see how they respond...
Simon Collings reports
18:10 , Arthur FerridgeOf course, it is Dan Ballard - once of Arsenal - who breaks the deadlock. Real test for Arsenal now.
GOAL! Sunderland 1-0 Arsenal | Ballard '37
18:08 , Arthur FerridgeYour eyes do not deceive you - Arsenal have conceded!
Sunderland 0-0 Arsenal
18:07 , Arthur Ferridge36mins: Zubimendi is booked for a bit of a cynical tackle on Isidor. A tad harsh, you’d think.
Sunderland 0-0 Arsenal
18:06 , Arthur Ferridge35mins: Dread to think how much injury time will be added at the end of this first half. The ball has been in play for a remarkable 13 minutes of this match.
Sunderland 0-0 Arsenal
18:05 , Arthur Ferridge34mins: Zubimendi crashes to the ground after a tackle from Xhaka, and the latter gives the former a piece of his mind.
Simon Collings reports
18:04 , Arthur FerridgeAt this rate, think a few people will be flicking over to Strictly Come Dancing, soon. Not a classic.
Sunderland 0-0 Arsenal
18:03 , Arthur Ferridge32mins: Timber has been strapped up and will play on.
Sunderland 0-0 Arsenal
18:02 , Arthur Ferridge31mins: Seems to be a fair bit of concern around Timber’s condition. He is being treated by two physios as concerned team-mates and the referee watch on.
Sunderland 0-0 Arsenal
18:01 , Arthur Ferridge29mins: Another stoppage as Le Fee and Timber are both examined for head injuries. Both managers take the opportunity to dispense wisdom.
Sunderland 0-0 Arsenal
18:00 , Arthur Ferridge28mins: Isidor drags a shot wide as Enzo Le Fee is down injured.
Sunderland 0-0 Arsenal
17:58 , Arthur Ferridge27mins: Merino dispossesses Mukiele at the back and tries to play in Saka, but Sunderland do very well to recover as Le Fee wins a foul from Timber.
Sunderland 0-0 Arsenal
17:57 , Arthur Ferridge26mins: Reinildo catches Timber in an aerial 50/50, and the referee decides in favour of the visitor. Raya launches the free-kick long, and it ends up with Roefs.
Sunderland 0-0 Arsenal
17:55 , Arthur Ferridge23mins: Rice’s cross is beaten away, but Le Fee’s pocket is picked as he tries to play out. The ball falls to Eze in the D, but his curled effort is over the bar.
Simon Collings reports
17:54 , Arthur FerridgeNearly 70 per cent possession for Arsenal in the opening 20 minutes, that's the best way to take the heat out of this atmosphere.
Sunderland 0-0 Arsenal
17:54 , Arthur Ferridge22mins: Very patient stuff from Arsenal now. They’re knocking it around at a pedestrian pace in the final third. Sunderland halt their progress when Saka tries to make inroads down the wing, though.
Sunderland 0-0 Arsenal
17:52 , Arthur Ferridge20mins: Sunderland are enjoying a spell on the ball now. They come forward through Traore, but the attack ends as he slips over in the penalty box. He won’t want to watch that one back.
Sunderland 0-0 Arsenal
17:49 , Arthur Ferridge18mins: It is played short and Rice has a go from the edge of the box, but his effort is blocked. Arsenal come again, though.
Sunderland 0-0 Arsenal
17:49 , Arthur Ferridge17mins: Sadiki commits the cardinal sin of conceding a corner.
Sunderland 0-0 Arsenal
17:48 , Arthur Ferridge16mins: Rice has been stripped of long-throw duties. You hate to see that in the modern game.
Sunderland 0-0 Arsenal
17:47 , Arthur Ferridge15mins: Rice shoots, but it was a little too far out for him to bother. Roefs saves pretty easily, but does give away a throw to the Gunners.
Sunderland 0-0 Arsenal
17:46 , Arthur Ferridge14mins: Isidor leaps into a tackle with Gabriel, and the latter wins a free-kick for the Gunners about 25 yards out. Big, big chance to open the scoring.
Sunderland 0-0 Arsenal
17:45 , Arthur Ferridge13mins: Sunderland are really struggling to deal with the Arsenal press. Can’t get out of their own half. Sadiki is dispossessed in his defensive third but the Gunners are yet to capitalise.
Sunderland 0-0 Arsenal
17:42 , Arthur Ferridge10mins: After all that, Merino is back on his feet, and the ball is back in play.
Sunderland 0-0 Arsenal
17:42 , Arthur FerridgeIf Merino is forced to go off this would be the ultimate proof that Arsenal have an injury curse in attack.
Sunderland 0-0 Arsenal
17:41 , Arthur Ferridge9mins: This injury stoppage has taken a lot of the sting out of what was a genuinely lively start to the match. The break in play is going on four minutes now.
Ethan Nwaneri and Max Dowman have both been sent to warm up.
Sunderland 0-0 Arsenal
17:40 , Arthur Ferridge8mins: Merino is sat up now but is still being treated. Unclear if he can continue.
Sunderland 0-0 Arsenal
17:39 , Arthur Ferridge7mins: Doesn’t look good for Merino at all, here. Where does Arteta go from here?
Sunderland 0-0 Arsenal
17:38 , Arthur Ferridge7mins: Merino challenges Ballard for a header in the box and comes off worse. He is down clutching his head.
Sunderland 0-0 Arsenal
17:37 , Arthur Ferridge5mins: Long throw klaxon. Five minutes played, here’s the third long throw and a first for Arsenal. Rice launches it into the box but it doesn’t quite reach the front post and Sunderland escape.
Sunderland 0-0 Arsenal
17:36 , Arthur Ferridge4mins: Mukiele’s long throw is cleared and Arsenal look to counter, but Rice runs out of road and recycles back to the Gunners’ defence. They come again down the opposite flank, but Sunderland recover and put the ball out for a throw.
Sunderland 0-0 Arsenal
17:35 , Arthur Ferridge3mins: Le Fee and Timber could prove to be a fascinating battle today. They’re already at war in the first few minutes. Le Fee wins a throw this time.
Sunderland 0-0 Arsenal
17:34 , Arthur Ferridge2mins: We will wait for the throw to be taken as a new flag is delivered to the linesman. Great start, lads.
Sunderland 0-0 Arsenal
17:33 , Arthur Ferridge2mins: Raya is put under a bit of early pressure and ditches the ball into touch. Mukiele lines up a long throw.
Simon Collings reports
17:32 , Arthur FerridgeThis must be a surreal moment for Xhaka. Crazy to think he coached Nwaneri and Lewis-Skelly a few years back when getting his first coaching badges.
KICK-OFF! Sunderland 0-0 Arsenal
17:31 , Arthur Ferridge‘The Last Post’ is played in recognition of Remembrance Day, and we’re underway at the Stadium of Light!
The players are out...
17:25 , Arthur FerridgeKick-off is imminent!
Nearly time to go...
17:20 , Arthur FerridgeKick-off is now just ten minutes away. Here’s a reminder of today’s lineups.
Sunderland XI: Roefs; Hume, Mukiele, Ballard, Geertruida; Reinildo, Xhaka; Sadiki, Traore, Le Fee; Isidor
Arsenal XI: Raya; Timber, Saliba, Gabriel, Calafiori; Rice, Zubimendi; Saka, Eze, Trossard; Merino
Eze back in the fold
17:18 , Arthur FerridgeEze is back in the side today after being dropped for this week’s trip to Prague.
It hasn’t quite been the dream start to his Arsenal career he’d have hoped for. He has just one goal contribution in his last six matches.
Can he get back to form today?
Arteta previews the match.
17:16 , Arthur FerridgeArsenal could go nine points clear this evening. Here’s what Mikel Arteta has to say about the tie.
“There is excitement to come here and do what we have been doing and win the game. It is a tough place to come.”
How good is Mikel Merino? “Especially when you move a player from a deeper position to a front position, normally it is easier the other way around. That way I think is more complicated but he has done a brilliant job and hopefully today he will do it again.”
David Raya makes history
17:12 , Arthur FerridgeNo goalkeeper has reached 50 clean sheets for Arsenal quicker than David Raya. It took him just 110 starts, according to Opta Analyst.
He’ll be after a 51st today, no doubt.
The man of the hour
17:02 , Arthur FerridgeGranit Xhaka is out for his warm-ups.
What he wouldn’t give to get one over on some of his former team-mates today.
Back at the Emirates...
16:57 , Arthur FerridgeArsenal WFC were in WSL action earlier today.
They hosted Chelsea in a huge derby clash at the Emirates and rescued a 1-1 draw thanks to Alessia Russo’s late equaliser.
The Gunners saw two goals controversially ruled out earlier in the match, though - one for a narrow offside, and another for a dubious handball.
What might have been...
The Gunners arrive at the Stadium of Light
16:49 , Arthur FerridgeHere come The Arsenal.
— Arsenal (@Arsenal) November 8, 2025
🤝 @ComAve_Official pic.twitter.com/RlM9N3K43r
Home comforts?
16:40 , Arthur FerridgeThe away dressing room at the Stadium of Light is laughably Spartan - a far cry indeed from the luxury of the Emirates.
Arsenal's remarkable defensive record
16:33 , Arthur FerridgeArsenal could take their incredible defensive run to nine consecutive celan sheets should they fail to concede today.
They last conceded in September, to Newcastle’s Nick Woltemade.
Since then, they have scored 17 unanswered, holding firm against: Olympiacos, West Ham, Fulham, Atletico Madrid, Crystal Palace, Brighton, Burnley, and Slavia Prague.
No pressure, then, Sunderland.
Simon Collings reports
16:25 , Arthur FerridgeThat’s exactly the XI you’d expect from Arsenal, given the injuries. Another chance for Mikel Merino to lead the line - who I am sure will get a ‘good’ reception from the Sunderland fans…
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