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It perhaps wasn't so shocking that the side able to slow Arsenal's title charge would be led by Granit Xhaka, an ex-Gunner. The substitute Brian Brobbey netted an stoppage-time equaliser after second-half goals from Bukayo Saka and Leandro Trossard had put the visitors in the lead following a early goal from the home side captain Ballard.

Turbulent Night for the Top Flight Leaders

Proved to be a rocky match for the English top division pace-setters, but the Gunners have a seven-point advantage over City, who host Liverpool on Sunday, and Sunderland, though the Blues could cut the lead to six points in Saturday's evening fixture.

Xhaka's Impact on His New Team

The Swiss international – who departed the Arsenal's home in 2023 looking for what he called a new challenge – has been exceptional in the promoted side's engine room this season after signing from Bayer Leverkusen, but the 33-year-old's performances on Sunderland's home turf will not have shocked Gunners fans. The Switzerland international revived his Gunners stint under Mikel Arteta, who was reluctant to lose him.

The Home Side's Strong Start

Sunderland entered the match with nothing to lose after making the strongest opening to a top-flight season by a promoted side over ten matches since Hull City in the 2008/09 season. A redirected effort from Xhaka against the Toffees on earlier in the week had boosted Sunderland up to fourth, a position not many local fans would have envisaged before a match began given that their team had been almost a decade outside the Premier League.

His Know-How and Leadership

Xhaka's experience, much of it earned during his seven years at the Emirates, and captaincy have helped the team rapidly adapt to Premier League football. He seemed to revel in the physicality of the encounter.

First-Half Incidents and Knocks

The Arsenal manager, once more without Gabriel Jesus, Martin Ødegaard, Havertz, Noni Madueke, Viktor Gyökeres and Gabriel Martinelli, had an initial worry when Mikel Merino, leading the line after netting a brace in midweek's three-nil Champions League win at Slavia Prague, was struck by an arm from the defender as he attacked a ball into the home box. Merino was fit to continue.

Eberechi Eze almost took advantage of an mistake from Le Fée, who lost the ball on the border of the penalty area, but the shot soared over the crossbar.

Wilson Isidor fired wide at the opposite side before another lengthy break after a clash of heads between Le Fée and Timber, who had to continue with a bandaged head.

The Hosts Go Ahead

A tougher blow was to come next for stunned the visitors. Sunderland launched a set-piece into the Arsenal box and Ballard resisted Declan Rice to lash the ball past Raya after it was cleared. It was the opening strike Arsenal had conceded since their previous trip to the north-east in September's end, when they had underlined their championship potential with a last-gasp win over the Magpies.

Arsenal had maintained a club-record 8 successive shutouts in every match since Woltemade's goal against them at Newcastle's ground.

Arsenal Respond

The Black Cats ensured that it was a further uncomfortable visit to the region for the London side, who were pegged back for periods after the interval.

They required a instance of class, and it came in the 54th minute. Rice took the ball off his opponent and a flowing move involving the winger and the striker culminated in Saka beating Roefs at his near post.

The visitors pushed for a next score and Le Bris introduced a triple substitution to his attack – he sent on the substitute, Chemsdine Talbi and Simon Adingra – midway through the second half.

The Winger Extends the Lead

Another example of quality was not far away. Arsenal moved the ball from one flank to the other, and the Belgian, just outside the box, found enough space to lash a right-foot shot into the top left corner.

Late Leveler from The Sub

Raya had to be alert in the final stages as Sunderland pushed for a second goal, but was unable to prevent an spectacular shot from Brobbey after the ball was nodded into the penalty area. The goal was greeted by a huge roar.

Appropriately Ballard – similar to his teammate a former Arsenal player, this one developed in the youth system – had the final say with a flying challenge at the feet of Merino in the game's last action.