Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta voiced his frustration after his side were denied victory by a stoppage-time Sunderland equaliser at the Stadium of Light. The Premier League leaders looked set to extend their winning run before substitute Brian Brobbey struck in the 94th minute to claim a dramatic 2-2 draw for the hosts.
The game began poorly for Arsenal, who fell behind in the first half through a goal from former academy defender Dan Ballard. The early setback ended Arsenal’s run of eight consecutive clean sheets, something Arteta admitted caused him “pain in the tummy,” reflecting his frustration at conceding. Despite the shaky start, Arsenal grew into the game after the break, turning things around with goals from Bukayo Saka and Leandro Trossard.
Arteta praised his players’ resilience but was left disappointed by their inability to close out the match. “We reacted really well after conceding. The team showed a lot of personality and courage, took control, and scored twice,” he said. “But when you face a team that commits six or seven players into the box late on, you have to defend those moments better. Today, we didn’t, and that cost us.”
Even after Brobbey’s late equaliser, Arsenal nearly snatched all three points when Mikel Merino’s shot was blocked by Ballard in the dying seconds. “We had a massive chance to win at the end,” Arteta added. “I think we deserved to win, but we have to learn from these moments.”
On the other hand, Sunderland head coach Régis Le Bris hailed his side’s fighting spirit, describing the draw as a reflection of their strong character. “You have to do a masterclass against a team like Arsenal,” he said. “We stayed compact, aggressive, and showed belief until the end. It’s a good lesson for our young players and a big step forward in building confidence.”
The result keeps Arsenal top of the Premier League but highlights areas for improvement as they continue their title pursuit. Sunderland’s resilience, meanwhile, strengthens their growing reputation as one of the season’s surprise packages.
