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It perhaps wasn't such a surprise that the side capable of halting Arsenal's title charge would be led by Granit Xhaka, an ex-Gunner. The substitute Brian Brobbey netted an injury-time leveling goal after late goals from Bukayo Saka and Leandro Trossard had given Arsenal in the lead following a early goal from the home side captain Dan Ballard.

A Rocky Evening for the Top Flight Front-Runners

Proved to be a difficult match for the English top division pace-setters, but the Gunners maintain a seven point lead over City, who are at home the Reds on Sunday, and the hosts, though the Blues could reduce the gap to six points in the weekend's later game.

Xhaka's Impact on His New Team

Xhaka – who left the Arsenal's home in last year looking for what he described as a new challenge – has been outstanding in the newly promoted team's engine room this campaign after signing from Bayer Leverkusen, but the veteran's performances on Sunderland's home turf will not have surprised Gunners fans. The Swiss international turned his Arsenal career around under Arteta, who did not want to see him leave.

The Home Side's Impressive Opening

The Black Cats entered the game with no pressure after making the best start to a Premier League season by a newly promoted club over ten matches since Hull City in the 2008-09 term. A redirected effort from the midfielder against Everton on earlier in the week had lifted them up to fourth, a position not many local fans would have envisaged before a match began given that their team had been eight years away from the Premier League.

His Know-How and Guidance

The player's experience, largely earned during his lengthy spell at the Emirates, and captaincy have helped the team quickly adjust to top-tier soccer. He appeared to thrive in the intensity of the encounter.

First-Half Incidents and Injuries

The Arsenal manager, again without Jesus, Ødegaard, Havertz, Madueke, Gyökeres and Martinelli, had an early concern when Mikel Merino, playing up front after scoring a brace in midweek's three-nil European win at Slavia Prague, was caught by an elbow from Ballard as he challenged for a ball into the Sunderland area. The forward was fit to continue.

Eberechi Eze almost cashed in of an error from Enzo Le Fée, who was dispossessed on the edge of the box, but the shot flew over the bar.

Wilson Isidor fired wide at the opposite side before another long break after a clash of heads between the midfielder and Jurriën Timber, who had to continue with a head bandage.

Sunderland Go Ahead

A more painful blow was to come next for bruised the visitors. Sunderland sent a free-kick into the visiting area and the captain held off Declan Rice to lash the ball past Raya after it was cleared. It was the opening strike Arsenal had conceded since their last visit to the north-east in late September, when they had demonstrated their title credentials with a last-gasp win over Newcastle.

The Gunners had kept a club-record eight successive clean sheets in every match since Nick Woltemade's scored against them at Newcastle's ground.

Arsenal Fight Back

Sunderland made sure that it was a further difficult outing to the area for Arsenal, who found themselves pegged back for periods after the interval.

They required a instance of class, and it came in the 54th minute. The midfielder took the ball off his opponent and a flowing move involving Eze and Merino ended with the forward beating Roefs at his near post.

Arsenal pushed for a next score and the coach introduced three changes to his attack – he brought on the substitute, Chemsdine Talbi and Simon Adingra – in the middle of the second half.

The Winger Extends the Lead

Another moment of skill was not long in coming. Arsenal moved the play from one flank to the other, and Trossard, on the edge of the area, created enough space to fire a right-footed strike into the top corner.

Dramatic Equaliser from The Sub

Raya had to be sharp in the last 10 minutes as the hosts pushed for a equalizer, but was unable to prevent an acrobatic shot from Brobbey after the delivery was headed into the penalty area. The strike was met by a deafening cheer.

Appropriately Ballard – like Xhaka a former Arsenal player, this one developed in the youth system – had the final say with a diving block at the feet of Merino in the game's final moment.