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Arsenal Weather Sunderland Storm, Stay Unbeaten With 2-0 Win
(MENAFN) Defending Premier League champions Arsenal held off a determined Sunderland side on Saturday, grinding out a 2-0 win on the road to keep their unbeaten start to the season intact.
Arriving with three wins from as many matches, the Gunners dominated the early exchanges but couldn't turn control into goals. Bukayo Saka forced an early save out of Robin Roefs, and Kai Havertz squandered a golden chance in the 31st minute after being picked out by Martin Odegaard's cutback.
Havertz went close again two minutes later, forcing another sharp stop from Roefs with an acrobatic half-volley, while Granit Xhaka cleared danger off the line deep into first-half stoppage time. The teams went in level at the break.
Sunderland nearly broke the deadlock in the 54th minute when referee John Brooks pointed to the spot after Ezri Konsa felled Dan Ballard as he challenged for a long throw. But David Raya kept Arsenal level, diving low to his left to palm Enzo Le Fee's penalty against the post in the 56th minute.
The reprieve proved costly for the hosts. Just two minutes later, Bruno Guimaraes collected a pass from Declan Rice roughly 25 yards out and curled a dipping shot in off the underside of the crossbar — his first goal for Arsenal.
Chances for Havertz and Saka to add a second went unconverted, keeping Sunderland within touching distance, and the hosts pushed hard late on. Nordi Mukiele flashed an acrobatic attempt narrowly wide before drawing another crucial save from Raya at close range in the 85th minute.
Arsenal held their nerve until the very end of stoppage time, when Saka broke through and was hauled down inside the box by Reinildo Mandava, who was shown a second yellow and sent off. Saka stepped up himself and slotted home the penalty in the 97th minute — the last kick of the match — to complete the win.
The result puts Arsenal at four wins from four to open the Premier League season, while Sunderland stay on four points.
Arriving with three wins from as many matches, the Gunners dominated the early exchanges but couldn't turn control into goals. Bukayo Saka forced an early save out of Robin Roefs, and Kai Havertz squandered a golden chance in the 31st minute after being picked out by Martin Odegaard's cutback.
Havertz went close again two minutes later, forcing another sharp stop from Roefs with an acrobatic half-volley, while Granit Xhaka cleared danger off the line deep into first-half stoppage time. The teams went in level at the break.
Sunderland nearly broke the deadlock in the 54th minute when referee John Brooks pointed to the spot after Ezri Konsa felled Dan Ballard as he challenged for a long throw. But David Raya kept Arsenal level, diving low to his left to palm Enzo Le Fee's penalty against the post in the 56th minute.
The reprieve proved costly for the hosts. Just two minutes later, Bruno Guimaraes collected a pass from Declan Rice roughly 25 yards out and curled a dipping shot in off the underside of the crossbar — his first goal for Arsenal.
Chances for Havertz and Saka to add a second went unconverted, keeping Sunderland within touching distance, and the hosts pushed hard late on. Nordi Mukiele flashed an acrobatic attempt narrowly wide before drawing another crucial save from Raya at close range in the 85th minute.
Arsenal held their nerve until the very end of stoppage time, when Saka broke through and was hauled down inside the box by Reinildo Mandava, who was shown a second yellow and sent off. Saka stepped up himself and slotted home the penalty in the 97th minute — the last kick of the match — to complete the win.
The result puts Arsenal at four wins from four to open the Premier League season, while Sunderland stay on four points.
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