🔗 Share this article The Black Cats Stage Comeback with Injury-Time Brobbey Equaliser to Draw With Leaders Arsenal It perhaps wasn't so shocking that the side able to slow Arsenal's title charge would be led by Granit Xhaka, their former captain. The substitute Brian Brobbey scored an injury-time leveling goal after second-half strikes from Saka and Leandro Trossard had given Arsenal ahead following a early goal from the home side captain Ballard. A Rocky Evening for the Premier League Leaders Proved to be a difficult match for the Premier League pace-setters, but Arsenal have a seven point lead over City, who host Liverpool on Sunday, and Sunderland, though the Blues could reduce the gap to six in Saturday's later game. Xhaka's Impact on His New Team Xhaka – who left the Emirates Stadium in 2023 seeking what he called a new challenge – has been outstanding in the promoted side's midfield this season after joining from the German club, but the veteran's performances on Wearside will not have shocked Gunners supporters. The Switzerland international turned his Arsenal career around under Arteta, who was reluctant to see him leave. Sunderland's Strong Start The Black Cats went into the game with nothing to lose after making the strongest opening to a Premier League campaign by a newly promoted club over 10 games since Hull City in the 2008/09 season. A deflected strike from Xhaka against Everton on earlier in the week had boosted Sunderland up to fourth place, a standing few local fans would have envisaged before a match began given that their side had spent eight years away from the Premier League. His Experience and Leadership Xhaka's experience, largely gained during his seven years at the Emirates, and leadership have assisted the team quickly adjust to Premier League football. He seemed to revel in the intensity of the contest. Early Incidents and Injuries The Arsenal manager, once more without Jesus, Ødegaard, Havertz, Noni Madueke, Viktor Gyökeres and Martinelli, had an initial worry when Merino, playing up front after scoring two goals in midweek's 3-0 Champions League win at Prague, was struck by an elbow from Ballard as he challenged for a ball into the Sunderland area. Merino was fit to continue. Eze almost took advantage of an error from Le Fée, who lost the ball on the edge of the penalty area, but the attempt soared over the crossbar. Wilson Isidor fired off target at the other end before another lengthy stoppage after a clash of heads between the midfielder and Jurriën Timber, who had to carry on with a bandaged head. The Hosts Take the Lead A tougher blow was to follow for bruised Arsenal. The home team sent a free-kick into the visiting box and Ballard held off Declan Rice to lash the shot past David Raya after it was cleared. It was the first goal they had conceded since their previous trip to the North East in September's end, when they had underlined their title credentials with a last-gasp win over the Magpies. Arsenal had maintained a team best eight consecutive shutouts in every match since Woltemade's goal against them at St James' Park. Arsenal Respond Sunderland made sure that it was another difficult visit to the region for the London side, who found themselves pegged back for spells after the break. They required a instance of class, and it came in the 54th minute. Rice won possession off his opponent and a flowing move featuring Eze and Merino culminated in the forward beating Roefs at his near post. The visitors pushed for a second goal and Le Bris introduced a triple substitution to his offense – he brought on the substitute, Talbi and Adingra – midway through the second half. The Winger Extends the Lead A further moment of quality was not long in coming. They worked the ball from one flank to the other, and Trossard, on the edge of the box, found enough space to lash a right-footed strike into the top corner. Late Equaliser from The Sub Raya had to be alert in the final stages as the hosts pushed for a equalizer, but could not stop an spectacular finish from Brobbey after the delivery was nodded into the penalty area. The strike was greeted by a deafening cheer. Fittingly the defender – like Xhaka a former Arsenal player, this one coming through Arsenal's academy – had the final say with a diving block at the toes of Merino in the match's final moment.