SUNDERLAND. UK: Arsenal’s 10-game winning run in all competitions was ended by Brian Brobbey’s stoppage-time equalizer that salvaged a 2-2 draw for Sunderland on Saturday.
The Gunners had not conceded for eight games before Saturday but could only extend their lead at the top of the Premier League over Manchester City, who host Liverpool on Sunday, to seven points.
Dan Ballard ended the Gunners’ run of clean sheets since September 28 to fire the Black Cats in front.
Victory would have lifted newly-promoted Sunderland into second, but thunderous finishes from Bukayo Saka and Leandro Trossard turned the game around for Mikel Arteta’s men in the second half.
They could not close out a vital three points, however, as Brobbey outmuscled the normally imperious Gabriel Magalhaes to hook in Ballard’s flick on.
Arsenal dropping points is a welcome boost for their title rivals ahead of their showdown at the Etihad on Sunday.
City and Liverpool have dominated the English top flight over the past decade and both sides would have been heartened by rare signs of cracks in Arsenal’s facade.
Liverpool sit fourth, now eight points off the top.
Sunderland went into the match unbeaten at the Stadium of Light on their return to the top flight and their physical approach unsettled the visitors.
Former Arsenal captain Granit Xhaka relished the challenge of facing his former side to knock the visitors off their stride.
The league leaders have relied on their strength from set pieces to catapult themselves into pole position for a first league title in 22 years.
Yet, this time they were the ones to concede from a free-kick.
Ballard blasted into the roof of the net beyond David Raya to open the scoring on 36 minutes after bursting onto Nordi Mukiele’s header.
A Declan Rice free-kick from long range was the sum total of Arsenal’s efforts on target in the first half.
After the break, they emerged a more purposeful attacking threat in the second period.
Rice robbed Enzo Le Fe in midfield to begin the move for the equalizer before Mikel Merino teed up Saka, who fired low and hard past Robin Roefs on his weaker right foot.
Martin Zubimendi hit the bar as the Arsenal pressure mounted and eventually told in spectacular fashion on 74 minutes.
Trossard used the decoy run of Riccardo Calafiori to open up space on the edge of the box before unleashing a drive into the top corner.
Sunderland showed the spirit that has seen them get off to a flying start to their first Premier League campaign in eight years.
Ballard beat Zubimendi to a cross into the box and Brobbey showed a combination of strength and skill to hold off Gabriel and hook the ball beyond Raya.
There was still time for more heroics from Ballard as he blocked Merino’s goalbound effort after Roefs parried Calafiori’s header.
A point takes Sunderland level with Liverpool and Tottenham in fifth.
Sunderland snap Arsenal’s winning run in Premier League title twist
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Sunderland snap Arsenal’s winning run in Premier League title twist
- Dan Ballard ended the Gunners’ run of clean sheets since September 28 to fire the Black Cats in front
- Victory would have lifted newly-promoted Sunderland into second
Desert Vipers hold nerve to edge Abu Dhabi Knight Riders in ILT20 thriller
- Key contributions from Shimron Hetmyer and Khuzaima Tanveer prove decisive as the Vipers weather tense finish to overhaul target of 171
- Knight Riders start well, reaching 87 in 10 overs, but momentum shifts in second half of their inning as the Vipers’ spinners struck back
SHARJAH: Desert Vipers made it two wins out of two in the DP World International League T20, as they held their nerve to secure a dramatic two-wicket victory over Abu Dhabi Knight Riders at the Sharjah Cricket Stadium on Friday.
Shimron Hetmyer’s counterattacking 48 off 25 balls, and a late-order cameo from Khuzaima Tanveer, who hit 31 off just 12 deliveries, proved decisive as the Vipers weathered a tense finish to overhaul a target of 171.
Sent in to bat, the Knight Riders made a confident start through Phil Salt and Alex Hales, with the latter anchoring the inning to top-score with 53 off 37 balls.
Despite reaching 87 in 10 overs, however, the momentum shifted in the second half of the inning as the Vipers’ spinners began to strike regularly. Qais Ahmad and Noor Ahmad led the middle-overs fightback, dismissing Hales and triggering a collapse as the Knight Riders lost five wickets.
Andre Russell’s unbeaten 36, and useful contributions from Alishan Sharafu and Unmukt Chand, at least helped Abu Dhabi reach a competitive total, but they were unable to fully capitalize on the side’s strong opening.
The Vipers began explosively in reply, smashing a tournament-record 19 runs from the first over. However, early wickets then left them wobbling on 44/3. Sam Curran and Dan Lawrence rebuilt the attack before the latter combined with Hetmyer for a crucial 68-run stand that swung the contest back in the their favor.
Late strikes from Ajay Kumar and Russell, the latter dismissing Hetmyer for his 500th T20 wicket, set up a tense finish, but Tanveer delivered under pressure. Needing eight runs off the final over, he sealed victory with a six and a boundary.
“It was, in many ways, a fortunate escape but an outstanding result for us,” said Curran, the Vipers’ stand-in captain.
“ADKR possess a very powerful batting lineup, and I believe our bowlers performed exceptionally well throughout the innings. The dismissals of Hetmyer and Dan introduced an unexpected twist but the team showed commendable composure in the crucial moments.”
Knight Riders’ stand-in skipper Sunil Narine felt his side had been lacking with the bat: “We were 15-20 runs short. We began well in the powerplay and that phase was crucial for us.
“The conditions eventually worked in their favor and the dew made it challenging for our spinners. But at the end of the day that’s part of the game.”
The result leaves the Vipers well placed at this early stage of the tournament, while the Knight Riders were left to reflect on missed opportunities after such a strong start.
