Arsenal beat Sunderland 3-0 at the Emirates this afternoon to continue their march towards the Premier League title. The Gunners approached the fixture aware that Sunderland had proven throughout the season they were not a side to be underestimated, particularly after a competitive showing against Arsenal in the reverse fixture.
From the opening exchanges, Arsenal played with confidence and authority, clearly believing they could and should win the match. Sunderland are known for their ability to absorb pressure before punishing opponents on the counterattack, and Arsenal were mindful of that threat as they looked to control proceedings.
Arsenal Patience Pays Off
Arsenal’s recent win against Leeds United had demonstrated their strength, but Sunderland arrived at the Emirates well prepared and determined to avoid embarrassment. The Black Cats defended resolutely for much of the first half, frustrating the hosts as Arsenal worked tirelessly to break them down.
Their persistence was finally rewarded just before half-time, when Martin Zubimendi, who has been in impressive form, found the breakthrough. The goal ensured Arsenal went into the interval with a deserved lead, although the narrow scoreline meant there was still work to do.
Clinical Second Half Display
Knowing that a 1-0 advantage offered little margin for error, Arsenal began the second half with the clear intention of extending their lead. Sunderland were without Granit Xhaka, but they still possessed enough quality to pose problems, forcing the Gunners to remain fully focused.
The decisive moment arrived when Viktor Gyokeres came off the bench and made an immediate impact, doubling Arsenal’s lead just five minutes after his introduction. That goal shifted the momentum firmly in Arsenal’s favour. Sunderland struggled to recover, and Gyokeres struck again soon after to put the result beyond doubt.
The convincing nature of the victory underlined Arsenal’s growing authority and composure at a crucial stage of the season. With another controlled and ruthless performance, this Arsenal side once again showed that they possess the consistency, mentality, and quality required to finish the campaign as champions.
Havertz needs to improve his heading and shooting skills, but at least he produced an assist
Gyokeres capitalized on Sunderland’s lack of bodies in the final third and his positioning skills seem to have improved
Trossard is a very intelligent attacker and Martinelli’s technical skills were great
I hope we can recall Nwaneri since Merino is injured and Trossard seemed to have got a hamstring injury
GAI
great win and cranks up the pressure on city.
No need to recall EN cause Merino is injured. We have in the locker as not to hinder EN football education.
13 to go. They need 3 of them just to catch us.
Pool to dig out a win or at least a draw.
Onwards and upwards
We’ve also lost Saka, so Nwaneri could help on the right wing. We just have Madueke and Martinelli on the wings now
I believe Max was scheduled to rerturn this month, so we’ll probably have him anytime soon..
9 point lead, but we don’t play again up until Thursday and by that time the gap could be 3 points because City play 2 times. It’s very important Liverpool take some points off City tomorrow 🕯🕯
@Gai Saka will be back in weeks time his injury is said not to be complicated.
Havertz is still trying to get good form. His headers and shooting will definitely improve if he gains more minutes on the filed. But he competed fairly in midfield aerial duells today.
GAI, Gyokeres scores a brace and now it is the Sunderland’s “lack of bodies in the final third”.
Gyokeres’ first goal came in traffic and off balance and his second goal came in backing up a brealaway by Martinelli, when Sunderland were chasing a goal. When I you going to give Gyokeres some credit in his first season, instead of constant negativity regardless of his performance?
As a point of interest Gyokeres has a goal to game ratio as good as John Radford, the CF when Arsenal won the league and FA Cup double in 1970/71.
@Ozziegunnar:
I think the post by GAI was probably meant for Michael Owen, Gary Neville, and some others to make as comment on their show . . .
Thrill, which Arsenal supporter would provide Owen, Neville et al with reinforcement for negative comments about Arsenal players following a 3-0 win?
If you follow the trend in GAI’s comments regarding Gyokeres’ performances since his transfer to Arsenal, they are generally negative.
The interesting fact is that Gyokeres, at this early stage in his Arsenal career, has a goal to game ratio equal to the career average of John Radford, the CF for Arsenal’s FA Cup/League champion 1970/71 team. Yet GAI and others discount his goal tally.
I wonder if Sunderland attackers have left you in awe with their hold up play against our backline? They were really troublesome but we managed well.
Great win, in context of tomorrow. Lets hope Trossard isn’t badly injured. He makes this team tick.
Not the most comfortable display, but coming up with three unresponded goals regardles, shows how great this team are. Let’s celebrate the win and hope for more wins, starting from our trip to GTech stadium where we take on Brentford. COYG!
Gyokeres is improving
4 goals in the last 5 matches
Let’s hope this continues
Great win today
COYG
6 goals 2 assists in the last 8 matches, he is in great form.
the sub´s were spot on today !! Noni was´nt doing anything and Calafiori like a headless chicken. no arsenal game is easy to watch .. we desperately need a
spark in midfield. Kobie and Amad give utd. the spark
that has turned their season around and Bruno seems to be enjoying football again..
Regardless of tomorrow’s result which 🤞will be favourable to us. Looking at our fixtures remaining, we can have no excuses, for winning the league this season. We are in a massively dominant position, best squad, big points gap and pretty decent fixtures. Its still not easy but we have so many advantages now, it would be a disaster not too. Come on!!!!
Great result if an iffy performance and good to see Gyokeres score two, but we move on again. Just watching the Newcastle game, anyone else think perhaps Elanga and Madueke were separated at birth?🤔😂
For Sure, if the players sustain this level of performance, avoiding Red card, I can see they are all taking it personally now.
We all saw how good the recruitment was last summer, and many if us perceived the overall strength of this squad to be able to compete well and breast the tape this May, and with performance today, I see it done.
Happy to see the team trusting G14 being trusted by his team mates
More assists from them and he will be a goal machine going onward
What a great win, pressure now on city to respond. Our attack is coming to life at the right moment and long may it continue. And now on to Liverpool whatever the result as long as it’s not a city win🤞
Good win today. Hopefully City drop points tomorrow and we increase our lead at the top.
Gyokeres seems to be picking form at the right time. Long may it continue because we will need his goals for the rest of the season.
Now unto Brentford. They are in good form and it will be a difficult match but I hope and pray that we get the win and continue our winning run to try and win the title.
Could it possibly be that Brentford’s success has been down to their business model, and not, as has been assumed, the tactical nous of Thomas Frank, who is now in charge of a more disfunctional set-up at Spurs, and doesn’t seem to have any answers.
You can say that. They have lost good players like Toney, Raya, Wissa, Mbuemo, Norgaard and the coach Thomas Frank and they are currently in the top half of the EPL table.
That shows their board and sporting crew are good.
SJ, we can’t “increase our lead at the top”, but City can reduce it.
Oh, yes. I get what you mean.
City have a game in hand though, so it’s just still like 6 points clear to me because it is possible for them to win today at Anfield.
So until they play, draw or lose, we are still 6 points clear to me.
The so called pundits are very are very quick to call Gyokeres a ‘dud’ when we know, were he playing for another top team, he would have been given a pass. I have always maintained that, because he has been missing the chances he was gobbling up last season, it wasn’t a question of ability but a lack of confidence, as he himself has admitted. Hopefully, the brace he scored today will set him off.
And our own fans. He has struggled thats for sure and he isn’t a perfect fit how we play. But he has 8 goal involvements in his last 8 games and no striker has scored more goals in 2026 in the prem. He may always look out of place in this team but to call him a did, is plain stupid.
Not did but dud.
Nice win today,13 games to go.Let’s do it Gunners!
13 games to go and the only games I can excuse them dropping points are against Tottenham, Chelsea and Man City.
We should be able to win the rest of we seriously want to win this league and hope that Man City drop more points along the way too.
Brentford away next on Thursday. A very difficult ground but I believe, hope and pray that we can get the 3 points there.
Tottenham are not the Tottenham of a few seasons ago either. Long term injuries have weakened the squad a lot. No excuse not to win that one.
I almost feel sorry for them. Almost.
Yes, they have lots of injuries. Hopefully that will help us win at their home.
It is a derby match so it is still going to be difficult for us to beat them, but I just hope we do.
Bergkamphwagon, I cant feel any sympathy for Spurs, when they keep churning through managers, particularly one of whom finished fifth (including leading until injuries and suspensions put a spanner in the works) and the European Cup, qualifying for Champions League in his second season.
A well earned 3 points today against a very tricky opponent. To be fair to Sunderland, they are the best side to have been promoted in recent years. They are more than holding their own, and the important thing for them is that their home form has been good. Away not so much, but for any promoted side to have a chance in the PL, they must be good at home.
Back to Arsenal and the game, I thought once we got the first goal, a good strike from Zubimendi, the game would become more open. We had a couple of issues early in the second half, but once Gyokeres scored his first that settled it.
Nice to see him score a second as well. That’s 6 goals in 8 games now, and 13 in total. Not bad for someone who’s supposed to be struggling.
Let’s hope he’s got at least another 12 goals in him this season. If so, that should push us to winning some sort of trophy, surely. 🤞
Well done boys on another good win. Today, I’m going to be an adopted Scouser. I wonder 🤔 why. 😂👍
And here I was thinking Viktor was slow !! he kept up
with martinelli for the third goal !! Brentford is tough
but we can do it with intensity and creativity..
But Victor was not running with the ball which is why he managed to keep up with the speedster Martinelli who is a terrific asset to bring on when the opposition is tired or where they are obliged to chase the game.I thought Trossard, Rice and Zubemendi were excellent yesterday but i’m afraid neither Madueke nor Eze are justifying their huge transfer fees.
Szobosalai repeating his Arsenal heroics
Doesn’t matter, City to win it
You knew it was going to be a penalty just what the fa wanted and demanded from man city refs
It was 100% a penalty, stop with the BS please
Stupid from the keeper
👍
Please stop insulting people with your bs slur. It’s my opinion so keep your mouth shut with your insults. No wonder fans don’t post on here when straight away people like you get personal. Be nice and I know it’s probably hard for you but please don’t insult our own fans
Telling people to shut their mouths and then saying be nice, bit of a hypocrite son.
Having an opinion is 1 thing, blatantly lying about the penalty being given because it’s what the FA and their refs wanted is another thing completely…especially considering it’s a stonewall penalty
If you are going to make up stories like that, don’t be upset when you get called out for it! Nothing personal about calling out a lie
Don’t call me a liar it’s my opinion, is it possible for someone like you to have a educated debate without the need to start name calling. We are all arsenal fans so please start behaving like one and stop calling people liars just because they don’t agree with the agenda you must have
You might want to scroll
Up Perry ,only one Person getting personal- you buddy .
As for your VAR originally comment 🤔
The irony is City got the harshest decision against them yet you don’t mention that
How did the FA get involved inn this?
He’s saying the FA wants City to win the Prem so that’s why decisions happen to go their way
Even though there are examples where City also get decisions against them
He’s in the wrong place then. Should be on Untold Arsenal where they believe and make up all kinds of conspiracies against Arsenal.
Pity the rest of the team didn’t. Comical display from those scousers. VAR on their side still couldn’t help them
As I predicted, this is a bigger result for Liverpool, Arsenal have the title in their hands 6 points up with an easy run in now, but Liverpool need to pick themselves up and muscle past either Manchester Utd or Chelsea. Or no Champions League football. Tough season for Liverpool from here on now.
There is nothing about Man City title charge that frightens Arsenal. They won at Anfield applying no pressure, Liverpool self imploded. City just arn’t a title side this season.
How you can watch that and not see why that changes allot shocks me
City win on Wednesday we go to Brentford with a 3 points lead
That’s a massive difference to when they were loesing 1-0
We might yet regret not standing on their throat when we had the chance
👍Dan
Moon Girl,
You’re quote, 6 points up with an easy run in now. Surely you’ve seen enough in the premier league not to come out with statements like that.
That’s what makes this league so difficult to win, because on any given day any team can be turned over.
I admire you’re confidence, but be careful that it doesn’t comeback to bite you. All opponents deserve respect, and if the players treat the opposition with the contempt you have, then they could be in for a rude awakening.🤦♂️
It’s not contempt, it’s confidence. From cool headed analysis.
If there was a two horse race at racetrack today, woukd you call it a two horse race?
But it’s not though is it? Because there is nothing equal between the two of them.
The stronger team and squad are settled side, have a six points advantage and easier run in from March – the chasing team are in transition, not remotely settled as a unit, and their inconsistent form and results reflect this. They may have mugged Liverpool, but were far from impressive and fortunate to do so.
You make Man City slight favourites? That is very silly talk. They ain’t like us right now, that’s the point proving your silliness. You can pretend it’s a two horse race, but there is nothing equal about the race. One is clearly better than the other. It has a tidy headstart. The other horse is the one making the most mistakes and the weaker form.
Moon Girl,
I’ve questioned you on the fact you just dismiss who we’ve got left to play, not whether it’s a two horse race or not.
Now our run in may look easy on paper, but football is not played on paper is it. So I stand by my stance regarding you’re contempt for our upcoming opponents.
Yes you can drop points anywhere, but some fixtures and opponents crammed with danger men are just more dangerous.
I’ll give you an example. You know bookies are constantly pricing the competition and each match? They arn’t doing it in gut feel. Likewise, we should be in the same headspace as the bookies.
Do you see the fact the chasing team City have us visiting them in run in. an advantage? It’s not an advantage, it’s a disadvantage. We are a tough opponent. If they had played both prem games against us, and have Wolves home on that day instead, bookies would price City up to finish with more points, than their chances with playing us in the fixtures.
Ditto price up every fixture.
You’re the one who said you make Man City slight favourites today. That’s not pricing it properly, is it?
It’s about totals. Man City are closer to finishing in seventies. We now have to drop lots of points to also finish in seventies. We have a huge advantage in many ways, we should rightly feel confident in our momentum. We really do need to strut around like we are champions elect to achieve our stronger performances.
😳 Such arrogance!!!
I can see quite a few tricky games mate
Hate to say it but I would make City slight favourites after that
That’s huge for them
Makes Thursday night huge for us. Can’t see City losing to Fulham on Wednesday
We’ll see, they still haven’t had a convincing win in a bit. But no doubt this is a huge momentum shift for them. Our away game to an in form Brentford is much more difficult
Yes and that’s what worries me! Oh well it was never going to be easy winning the league and you know we love doing things the hard way 😄 COYG
I’d say a win at Anfield after being a goal down is pretty convincing
Don’t worry Sue,
I’ve had a word with Smith Row and Iwobi. 😂😉👍
🤣 It’s Leno I’m worried about Derek – needs a kick up the backside!
Sue,
I forgot about Leno. 🤦♂️
😂🤣
Fcking hell sue ,remember them Iwobi debates all those years ago 😂?
I remember getting told to hang my self cause I said he was sh1t (good times )
The Karen’s on here today don’t know how good they’ve got it….
😂🤣 Only too well, Dan 😂🤣 The lengths some would go to hey? 🙄 Damn right they don’t, those were the days 👍
PS He (Iwobi) isn’t any better! 😄
I feel sick
Gutted
Scared
You never know things may be different this season, Dan 🙏 But I know what you mean
@ Dan
I felt the same mate and went for a walk in the rain after hearing that score line.
My worry is not City. It is ourselves and MA. He has made good decisions in the last 2 games due to the non-availability of BS (out of form) and MO (who slows the game down but good on the press). We look a little more direct and aggressive in our play with LT and NM.
I hope MA does not go back to type and bring them back as favourites and let them earn their starts off the bench.
Still 6 points clear is the narrative. Arsenal had multiple opportunities to close this out in January let’s remember so can’t fault Liverpool especially when we literally faced them at home a couple weeks ago. 50/50 for the title. Arsenal will now either crack or won’t, simple. It’ll be about mentality just as much as tactics at this stage
RSH,
We can all have regrets on what we could have done, but the cold hard facts is we didn’t. But we’re still in a good position and have it in our hands.
And I for one won’t get to concerned while it’s in our hands. That said if it should go out of our hands, then squeaky bum time will commence.😂👍
Very true, we still have to play City away mid April which I have a feeling will be the deciding game
@ PJ-SA
My own feeling is the Carabao cup final being a decisive moment in our season.
If we win that (even on penalties) we go onto win the PL or CL (not both).
If we do not win the CC I do not know if we will end up empty handed.
That was a huge 3 points for city
Hate to say for 5 minutes we had it in our grasp. Game on now.
City will be buoyant after that win.
Can’t believe how bad pool were
Allisson should be shot. 1-0 up kicks a pointless up top. Gives a needless penalty.
Really painful watching salah at the moment. A world class player who has lost his touch
Bring it on and let’s hope the boys have the cojones to see it through
Ours to lose and not there’s to win
Onwards and upwards
So City are breathing heavily on our necks.
It seems the title might go to the last day or we drop points and City get to overtake us which the entire football world wants apart from us Arsenal fans.
We just have to be hardworking, ruthless and do our part well because it is still in our hands.
Thursday will be another huge game for us. Hopefully we get the win.
As I’m relying on reading your comments and the family WhatsApp group and got the impression that city aren’t great shakes any more than Liverpool are.
Following on from Derek’s post, we are 6 points ahead and until or if the wheel falls off then there is little to be gained from what ifs
The positive
Carabo Cup Final means Wolves game moved forward
Arsenal win next 2 games we will be at least 9 points clear
That’s what our manager and players need to be saying this week to each
I know we missed good chances to larger the gap, but what kind of penalty was that to hand city three points. This is a pure disgrace.
I can’t remember but we had at least one similar scenario, if not more compelling, but all pundits were like, nah, that was not a penalty. EPL’ s impartiality borders a joke now.
Stonewall penalty and Allison wants shooting for a diabolical decision to take out a player who was going nowhere.
If the pundits are saying it is not a penalty, they need to go to Specsavers.
That was a clear penalty. Give City credit for their game. That was a momentum change for them.
I feel we can arrest this momentum by defeating them in the Carrabao Cup final.
Lots of scared fans on here and some Man city supporting fans too like PJ-SA and the likes.If we win our games,we win the title,just forget Man city,it’s all about destiny.
Bergkamp- 11 off first 32 games
Henry – 12 off first 32 games
Gyokeres – 13 off first 32 games
Not saying Gyokeres will be as good as the two legends at all! Just saying, let’s give him some time.
Kia, great facts. I still remember Stuart Pearce writing in his newspaper column, stating that Denis Bergkamp was a waste of money and would be a failure for Arsenal. We all know how that turned out, particularly the partnership with first Ian Wright, then the converted Monaco winger Thiery Henri.
City losing is hardly disastrous for us is it! We’re just back where we were, 6 points up and celebrating winning the PL already.
Whoops again! City winning (not losing).
Very true Jax.
I am not being overly confident, but I am not panicking at the same time.
Although I will be worried if we meet City and we’re within 3 points.
13 games to go and I believe we can only afford 1 loss and 1 draw.
We can go to the Etihad and park the bus and get a draw.
We should beat one of Tottenham or Chelsea and maybe draw 1 of them.
The rest games are more than a must win.
@SJ
I think we need 10 wins + 1 draw with Manchester City and allowable 2 defeats to win the league.
Wouldn’t it be perfect if we win it on goal difference by 1 goal and then Man City can moan about the ref not giving the 3rd goal for Man City against Liverpool. It would have been common sense to give the goal but the rules are what they are and VAR had to intervene.
Haha @ IGL no that would not be nice, I don’t think my nerves would handle that!
That would be so nerve wracking.
I pray we just have one loss and one draw.
And win 11.
1 loss and 1 draw or 2 draws and goal difference.
Football doesn’t work like that
You would have said Forest away and Liverpool/ Man United at home .we would have got more then 2 points
It’s how we deal with pressure
That’s the question mark against this team.
For real, the Forest game is still hunting my head especially with the Martinelli miss.
If we had won that game and drew to ManU we would have been 9 points clear by now.
But that’s bygone now. We only have control of the future games and 11 wins has to be the mantra and purpose.
I still have a little faith that we will win the league.
The ManU defeat did something positive to the team’s psyche and I will find out if the mentality shift is still very much on track when we face an in form Brentford on Thursday night.