Arsenal 3–0 Sunderland — Premier League
Arsenal tightened their grip on top spot with a 3-0 win over Sunderland, the leaders moving to 61 points and restoring a five-point buffer over Manchester City.
Match Summary
Martín Zubimendi broke the deadlock on 42 minutes, timing his surge beyond Declan Rice to convert Leandro Trossard’s low pass. Viktor Gyökeres then decided the contest from the bench, arriving on the hour and scoring twice; first on 66 minutes after Kai Havertz and Gabriel Martinelli combined to unpick Sunderland’s right side, then again in stoppage time with Martinelli supplying the cut-back. Sunderland held 51% of the ball but managed only 0.19 xG and five attempts in total.
Tactical Snapshot
Arsenal stayed in their 4-3-3 structure with Rice screening and Zubimendi stepping higher to pin Sunderland’s midfield trio. That positioning unbalanced the visitors, who kept a narrow 4-2-3-1 without the ball; Trossard’s inverted runs drew Nordi Mukiele inside, freeing Riccardo Calafiori to overlap and create the angle for the opener.
Sunderland’s plan revolved around Enzo Le Fée recycling possession and Brian Brobbey acting as a target, yet Mikel Arteta’s side cut off the direct supply. William Saliba and Gabriel Magalhães dominated the aerial lane (17 duels combined, 10 won), while Declan Rice intercepted four passes to halt transitions. When Arteta turned to Gyökeres and Martinelli, Arsenal’s tempo shifted: Martinelli’s four successful dribbles forced Sunderland’s back line backward, creating the space Gyökeres exploited.
Key Performers
- Viktor Gyökeres: Two goals from two shots in 30 minutes, illustrating the difference a more vertical striker made against a tiring defense.
- Leandro Trossard: Four key passes, including the assist for Zubimendi, consistently finding pockets between Sunderland’s full-backs and centre-halves.
- David Raya: Only two saves required, but his distribution (15 accurate passes, one key ball) helped Arsenal bypass Sunderland’s first line.
For Sunderland, Habib Diarra was the standout in an otherwise stalled attack — four fouls drawn and their only shot on target from open play.
Stats
- Shots (On Target): Arsenal 16 (5) | Sunderland 5 (3)
- Expected Goals (xG): Arsenal 1.49 | Sunderland 0.19
- Possession: Arsenal 49% | Sunderland 51%
- Pass Accuracy: Arsenal 84% (325/389) | Sunderland 80% (327/408)
- Corners: Arsenal 5 | Sunderland 2
What Comes Next
Arsenal have now taken 10 wins from 13 home league matches, keeping eight goals against at the Emirates. With Gyökeres settling quickly into the rotation and Zubimendi offering a consistent third-man runner, Arteta can approach the run-in with a refreshed attacking structure. Sunderland remain 12th, but their away return — six goals in 13 trips — underscores the need for a more aggressive plan on the road before mid-table security slips away.
