Other than the obvious takeaway that David Raya can concede, what did we actually learn from Arsenal’s 2-2 draw with Sunderland at the Stadium of Light?
There was plenty to unpack, but here are a few key observations.
Gyökeres a big miss
Viktor Gyökeres may not have hit the ground running on Premier League goals thus far, but his role in this Arsenal side has been quietly pivotal.
The Swede offers far more than goals. Defenders hate facing him. His tireless runs in behind, relentless pressing, strong hold-up play and sharp link-up with teammates were all sorely missed against Sunderland.
Yes, Arsenal managed two goals from open play without him, but Gyökeres has been central to their success against low-block teams this season, stretching the game vertically and creating space for others to exploit. Hopefully, he will be back after the international break, just in time for the North London Derby.
Arsenal remind critics they can score from open play
Arsenal have often been accused of relying too heavily on set pieces to break down stubborn defences. However, against Sunderland, in a game where they had to chase it, it was individual brilliance that got them back into contention.
Bukayo Saka’s finish from a tight angle and Leandro Trossard’s thunderbolt were both created from open play, proving that set-piece goals are not a crutch but simply one of many tools in Mikel Arteta’s arsenal.
Draw not the worst outcome
Yes, it is two points dropped, but in context, Gooners should see this as a point gained. Arsenal are in the midst of an injury crisis that has hit harder than it may appear. The fact they have remained competitive despite those absences is a testament to their depth and resilience.
After the international break, the expected returns of Martin Ødegaard, Gyökeres, Gabriel Martinelli, Noni Madueke, Kai Havertz and Gabriel Jesus will give this side a much-needed boost. With a stronger squad, Arsenal will be well placed to bounce back.
Let’s discuss in the comments.
Daniel O
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Dont be happy with a one goal lead!!!!!
I agree, I don’t know why Arteta didn’t change his habit for this. They can add more goals
I learnt that Arteta is still making rookie mistakes, we have great squad depth now so there is no excuses for only using one substitute in such a physical exhausting game. There was no reason to change what was a winning formula the previous 10 games. Bring on players so fresh legs can see out the game.
Why revert back to the mistakes he made in previous seasons?
Arsenal with a much bigger squad must learned to adopt more quickly.
Sunderland employed a physical and disruptive strategy, including moving the advertising boards closer to the pitch to limit space for Arsenal effective long throw,s, yes Arsenal long throws, never believe I would be saying this.
Another feature of their game is by creating chaos just about everywhere to break up Arsenal rhythm, neither did we handled their high press well.
And there is no other player leading the charge than the player the Spaniard single handedly built.
Surely the Spuds will be looking on and taking note, but Arsenal must adopt quickly as the gaffer come up with a Trump card.
Gianni Infantino seems to have the Trump card.
But yeah, jokes aside, we can be sure Thomas Frank was taking down some notes…
We learned Arteta does not trust Nwaneri enough to bring him on when we needed fresh legs.
The way Sunderland played, he wouldn’t have any legs left at the end of the game! 😂
Arsenal was the better side, we were just unfortunate not to grab maximum point. You can’t always rely on safeguarding a one goal lead, sometimes it comes back to bite you.
We have to dust ourselves and move on. 4 points above City now. We need to be in our best to stay ahead of this new City.
Removing Eze in the second half is what cost us the game. Arsenal was in control of game until Eze was subbed, immediately after Eze’s substitution Uunderland dominated the midfield and mount pressure on our defense which resulted to the late minute goal. Throughout the second half, Sunderland was defending our relentless attack, until Eze was subbed, immediately after that, the table turned against us. Aterta should stop making such mistakes if he really wants to win the league
The substitution of Eze in the second half is what cost us two points
Eze is still not serious
Opponents hereafter will come with a physical aggressive approach to stop Arsenal. Causing 1 or 2 mild injuries at the beginning of the match (as happened with Merino and Timber) will frighten Arsenal players and disrupt their focus. “Finishers” are vital components in Arsenal play and Arteta’s failure to insert “finishers” to protect or extend the lead cost us the win. Even without Gyokeres Arsenal scored 3 neat goals v Slavia so I don’t associate it with his absence. Before the match the mainstream media and pundits echoed Arsenal will not pass the Sunderland litmus test so they were correct that Arsenal still have a mental setback as they’re yet to win a top 6 team. Relying always on set pieces may desert you in a certain crucial moment. For me the return from injuries of most forward players give us HOPE.
Nwaneri.
Rice.
Hincapie. Skelly. Mosquera. White.
Calafiori. Gabriel. Saliba. Timber.
Raya.
Maybe if Arteta had ended the game like this as he chose to go defensive we wouldn’t have conceded in the dying minutes.
8 defenders 😲
The defending was so poor how would you let a ball bounce in your defence even in open play players don’t do that. The second goal two Sunderland players where free. How would two defenders
go for a header at the flank leaving the middle of the defense with less bodies. Our defenders should grow some muscles the where out muscled today. We missed Gykores Sunderland where not even interested in playing defensive because they didn’t see merino as a threat. We lost donnaruma for to cheap a fee to mancity. Donnaruma is another haaland in the goal post. Donnaruma would have made himself so big for those two goals conceded.
OR if he had ended the match like this –
Nwaneri.
Skelly. Rice. Downman.
Hincapie. Mosquera.
Calafiori. Gabriel. Saliba. Timber.
Raya.
It’s under most for arsenal to win big matches and to score many gools in simple matches, this will made them champions
I don’t want to sound like I’m moaning, but surely there’s a law in terms of the space allowed for throw ins and corners? In terms of the advertising boards being moved closer.
The thing I learnt that Arteta just doesn’t seem to learn from some of his previous mistakes in seasons gone by.
Why have a big squad and then just stand by and not use it when some players were clearly showing signs of fatigue.
Fresh legs were clearly needed, but he and his staff had other idea’s. But it appears, as usual that with some of the fans flagging this up. You get some poster’s castigating them for it, because they dare to question Arteta.
Just wait and see, the response I get from this post. Or will they remain quite?. 😂
@Derek,
I agree with you. A lot of people are arguing that fatigue had nothing to do with the last goal and it was a defensive error. That is not the point, the point is we lost control of the game towards the end due to fatigue, which lead to situations such as the one where we conceded that late goal.
Kia,
Fresh legs was needed that much was clear. 👍
I get your point but I can also see where Arteta didn’t make more changes.
Firstly,I’d rule out the three teenage forwards we had on the bench. They simply don’t have the physicality yet which was needed in this game. The likelihood of them being bullied and making mistakes was high.
Our back four was doing fine and in such a game,you want your best back four intact. So no need for White,Hincapie,MLS.Norgaard played 90 minutes midweek and Zubi was rested so that sub wouldn’t make sense.
Rice was knackered but we needed him on the pitch for set pieces.
Gyokeres/Havertz/Jesus could have replaced the tired Merino. Odegaard/Havertz for Rice. Madueke for Saka.Odegaard for Eze and Martinelli for Trossard. I’m sure Arteta would have made these changes if these players were
I struggle to see how Arteta is responsible for the blunders Saliba,Gabriel and Raya made. We’ve managed to see out plenty of 1 goal leads under Arteta without making plenty of changes. We also created many chances but our forwards couldn’t convert-could have been different if those injured forwards were available.Arteta ain’t perfect but against Sunderland,we dropped points to player errors imo rather than coaching errors.
Finally,Sunderland are no mugs and you have to give them credit. They made it difficult for us as they have for every team that has played there. Disappointing but not the end of the world.
Onyango, well written post and correct imho.
on point. with does injured players fit the result would have been different. also remember they won Chelsea at Stamford bridge.
Removing Eze in the second half is what cost us the game. Arsenal was in control of game until Eze was subbed, immediately after Eze’s substitution Uunderland dominated the midfield and mount pressure on our defense which resulted to the late minute goal. Throughout the second half, Sunderland was defending our relentless attack, until Eze was subbed, immediately after that, the table turned against us. Aterta should stop making such mistakes if he really wants to win the league
We have been setting up so defensively but I think we have to pull that handbrake and allow for free flowing football like we did in the second half.
Our defenders have proved they can do it &it’s time the attacking unit showed their worth because we have players capable of tormenting the opposition. In any case attacking is the best form of defending.
These may mean a change of formation in some matches to a 4141 or 442 system. Play only one of Zubi or Rice and create one more space for a second striker.
Merino.
Skelly. Nwaneri. Downman.
Rice. Mosquera.
Hincapie. Gabriel. Saliba. Timber.
Raya.
I learned that defensively we are not as robust we think. Sunderland got in a position to score several goals. With better execution, or less good saves from Raya, could have been a different result.
We are defensively robust. I’m not sure you can use ONE game to negate what we’ve done in over ten matches this season.
Fair.
I was just a bit surprised how many good chances Sunderland got.
I want to ask everyone a simple question: Is it realistic to expect Arsenal to win every game? Obviously the answer is an emphatic no. So, let us accept this draw as a fair result on the day.