gunnersayit.com

We now embark upon our final obstacle, before the international break. The last push… the “One more rep” when your arms are dead, and you feel like you’ll collapse from exhaustion. That thirty second sprint, after a long run… That’s where we are now.

We HAVE TO dig deep, and take all three points… because Liverpool play Manchester City this weekend, and one of those teams, are dropping points. Personally, I hope BOTH teams lose.

An away game up north, in the Winter… is the type of game where we USED TO become unstuck. We have no such problems now, and welcome the geographical location, the elements, and the fight.

Arsenal cannot allow The Black Cats to be “Bad luck”… in fact, I’m confident that we’ll play so well, that they’ll be forced into a… paw performance. (HAHAHA!)

I’ve mentioned many times that I loathe the international break… but this one, THIS ONE… I don’t mind, as it gives our injured players more time to recover. It’s truly amazing what we’ve done so far, with our injury ravaged squad.

Just imagine the boost it’ll give to the squad, if Noni Madueke, Kai Havertz, and Gabriel Martinelli, all return from injury together.

Obviously, I’d LOVE Martin Odegaard, Gabriel Jesus, and Viktor Gyokeres back too… but their injuries, are longer term.

It’s written in the stars that Granit Xhaka, will have a superb performance against us. He’s played exceptionally well so far this season, and I can only see it continuing. (I hope I’m wrong)

Xhaka was a great player for us… during the OK times, the GOOD times, AND… the BAD times.

What’s most incredible however, is how he navigated his way through the, TOXIC TIMES.

He LOVES Arsenal, and The Arsenal love him back… but once that whistle goes, he’s just another Sunderland player.

We have a job to do, and we cannot allow sentiment, to trespass in our workplace.

On to the team news…

David Raya in goal, Calafiori  left-back, Gabriel, and Saliba, central… and Timber at right-back.

Zubimendi returned in midfield, alongside Rice, and Eze.

The front three was… Trossard on the left, the miracle working marksman, Merino… through the middle, and Saka on the right.

Sunderland started the game incredibly well. They were first to every ball, and the second balls… they also won almost every duel. Their organisation was superb, and we struggled to disturb their disciplined defensive shape.

We earned a free-kick in the 16^th minute, on the left side of the pitch, perfect for a right-footer, and about the same sort of distance out, as Declan Rice’s free-kicks, against Real Madrid last season. So naturally, up stepped Declan Rice… but unfortunately, his shot was parried aside comfortably, by the keeper.

Wilson Isidor dragged a shot wide, after some nice play… the Sunderland striker was surprised by the space he found himself in, and his shot quite possibly reflected that.

Sunderland were the better team, and Arsenal were not doing the basics. There seemed to be an overcomplication on simple passes, and we were not pressing from the front.

A clash of heads between Jurrien Timber, and Enzo Le Fee, caused a lengthy stoppage to the game, and promised a considerable amount of added time, onto the first half.

Thankfully, both players were able to continue.

After a foul deep in the Sunderland half, by Zubimendi (I don’t think it was a foul, by the way) but the resulting free-kick was taken by Robin Roefs, the Sunderland goalkeeper… who launched the ball toward the Arsenal box. Uncharacteristically, Arsenal allowed the ball to bounce, and what’s usually a “Food and Drink” clearance for our defence… looked more like famished flummoxing. The loose ball broke to ex-Arsenal, academy graduate… Daniel Ballard… and the centre-back blasted the ball home emphatically, giving David Raya absolutely no chance. It was shocking defending, but credit to Sunderland, for capitalising on it. 1-0 to Sunderland… and their lead, was well deserved.

The Arsenal conceded a goal, for the first time in 8 games. That’s 881 minutes of football. Of course it had to end, and of course it’s an incredible record… but that doesn’t mean it didn’t hurt more than stubbing my little toe on the corner of some furniture, while simultaneously, stepping on Lego, barefoot. Oh, I’m in absolute… AGONY!

The additional time at the end of the first half, didn’t help our cause… it just stood idly by, as Sunderland deservedly went in 1-0 up, at the interval.

We needed a HUUUUUUGE response from the Arsenal players, as the first half simply wasn’t good enough.

I’m sure Mikel Arteta told the players the same thing, because we started the second half at a much quicker pace, we were making more incisive passes, pressing from the front, and were much more competitive in our duels.

We were rewarded in the 54^th minute, when Declan Rice won the ball back in the Sunderland half, passed it to Eze, who passed it quickly to Merino… and Merino played a lovely little pass to Saka, on the right of the Sunderland box… and Saka kept his right-foot shot low, and slid the ball home… to the keepers near post. It was a deserved equaliser. 1-1 and with more than enough time on the clock, to get a winner. Our Starboy, just doing Starboy things.

When Saka’s goal went in, the camera panned to the Arsenal bench, and Gabriel Heinze, was holding Arteta, like it was his prom date. (HAHAHA!) I get it though, because THAT’S how much it means… and I felt it was symbolic, because we needed to get a tight grip on this game.

Trossard put Zubimendi through on goal, with a cheeky nutmegged pass, through the Sunderland defender’s legs, but Zubimendi put his effort wide, from close range. Should’ve been 2-1 up there.

Eze had a shot saved that was straight at the keeper… so we were getting closer, and closer, to that elusive second goal, but it still started to feel like…”One of those days” and I couldn’t shake the feeling.

Zubimendi rattled the crossbar from the edge of the box, with a thunderous volley, but again… Sunderland survived. Frustration began to bully me, and I couldn’t defend myself.

In the 74^th minute, Trossard… who’d had yet another excellent game, on the left… picked up the ball, and with Sunderland defenders marshalling him closely, Trossard twisted, and turned, created a smidgeon of space, looked up, and hit a powerful… ferocious shot, into the top right-hand corner. A phenomenal strike from Trossard. WHAT A GOAL!! A BEAUTIFUL GOAL!! A goal worthy of winning ANY match! 2-1 to The Arsenal!!

We had taken the lead, but the 3 points still seemed reluctant, to take up residence in the Arsenal bag.

The players sensed this too, as we started to defend A LOT deeper, which invited more pressure from Sunderland, and it was an invitation, they gladly accepted.

Arteta withdrew Eze in the 88^th minute, and brought on Mosquera, for more defensive reinforcements… which was a wise decision.

David Raya kept Sunderland out, with a great double save. Incredible reflexes, and agility shown, from the Arsenal No.1.

Sunderland continued to search for an equaliser, and in the 94^th minute, their search party, found what they were looking for.

They put the ball into the Arsenal box, Ballard won the flick-on, and under pressure from Gabriel… Brian Brobbey somehow managed to steer the ball home, acrobatically. A great finish from the Sunderland striker, on for Wilson Isidor.

David Raya didn’t cover himself in glory, by rushing off his line. If he stays on his line, he would’ve kept out Brobbey’s goal quite easily.

The 2-2 scoreline at the full-time whistle, wounded me fatally, like a dagger to the heart… but upon reflection, a draw was a fair result. Credit to Sunderland, as they didn’t deserve to lose the game, and we didn’t quite do enough, to win the game.

Though we were unable to flick the dimmer switch, at the Stadium of Light… we still put another point on the board, and have stretched our unbeaten run in all competitions, to 14 games.

We’re now 6 points clear at the top of the league, so it’s time for perspective, and NOT time for kneejerk reaction, and negative narratives.

We move on, and will be ready to do battle again, after the international break… against Tottenham. The battleground… The Emirates. 3 points to take, bragging rights to shout, and a chance to remind our noisy neighbours, that they’re FOREVER in our shadow.

COYG!!