Arsenal came through a potentially tricky game at the Stadium of Light to maintain their 100 per cent start to their Premier League title defence.
Mikel Arteta’s side scored two second half goals – a belter from ex-Newcastle United man Bruno Guimaraes and a stoppage time penalty from Bukayo Saka – after an even first half. The opener from Guimaraes came just two minutes after David Raya’s excellent penalty save to deny the hosts’ Enzo le Fee from the spot as the Black Cats ended the match with ten men after Reinildo Mandava was shown a second yellow for his foul on Saka for the penalty.
It represented a fourth win in as many games domestically for Arsenal this term, as they look to go back-to-back following their long-awaited title triumph last term.
The first half saw the visitors dominate the ball but fail to carve out any real goalscoring chances. Former Arsenal man Dan Ballard couldn’t get the proper connection to a free-kick that was whipped into the Gunners’ box whilst at the other end Kai Havertz fired well over after an intricate move stitched together by Arteta’s men.
The German came even closer not long after, when his acrobatic attempt inside the area was tipped over his bar by alert home stopper Robin Roefs.
That save seemed vital when the hosts were presented with a golden chance to open the scoring just before the hour mark.
A long throw into the Arsenal box caused havoc and after a tussle involving Ezri Konsa and Ballard, referee John Brooks pointed to the spot.
Up stepped le Fee only to be denied by a quite brilliant save from Raya, low down to his left as he tipped the effort onto a post.
The significance of that was felt just two minutes later when the breakthrough finally came, and it was almost scripted that Guimaraes – a target for the boo boys all night given his Newcastle connections – would get it.
The Brazilian was one of two half-time introductions, along with the returning Jurrien Timber, and it didn’t take him long to make an impact. He let rip with a thunderous shot that went in off the underside of the crossbar, giving Roefs little to no chance.
Safe to say Guimaraes enjoyed the subsequent celebrations as he lapped up silencing the home fans.
Fellow sub Timber thought he had doubled the lead towards the end when he headed in from a free-kick only for the offside flag to quickly be raised.
Sunderland had only half-chances in search of an equaliser before the game’s final act saw Reinido clumsily foul Saka in the box with the England man stepping up and putting away the spot-kick to give gloss to the scoreline.
Post-match, Arteta was pleased with the win but seemed more keen to stress his anger over the penalty awarded to Sunderland.
“It’s a judo roll from the opponent. Ezri [Konsa] does nothing. Just watch it,” he said.
“We have a lot of cameras and VAR, we have to take responsibility to protect the game. Today the game was unprotected and it could have cost us the game and the momentum which is a really, really serious thing.
“This should never happen, it’s not fair, and I am sad, very sad, in that sense. I’m making it very clear publicly because it’s for the game, it’s not only for Arsenal, this cannot happen at this level. It’s not acceptable, I’ve watched it 20 times and can’t think of why it was given.”
