Arsenal’s remarkable 10-game winning streak came to an end on Saturday after a dramatic 2-2 draw with Sunderland, courtesy of Brian Brobbey’s stoppage-time equaliser.
Meanwhile, Manchester United salvaged a late draw against Tottenham in another pulsating Premier League encounter.
At the Stadium of Light, former Arsenal defender Dan Ballard gave Sunderland a surprising lead in the 36th minute with a thunderous strike, ending the Gunners’ impressive run of eight straight clean sheets across all competitions. Arsenal responded after the break when Bukayo Saka calmly slotted home in the 54th minute to restore parity.
Leandro Trossard then fired Arsenal ahead in the 76th minute with a well-placed shot from the edge of the box, putting them on course for an 11th consecutive win. However, in the dying moments, Brobbey pounced on Ballard’s header to level the score in the fourth minute of stoppage time, stunning the league leaders.
The result marked Arsenal’s first draw in any competition since their 1-1 stalemate with Manchester City on September 21. Despite the setback, Mikel Arteta’s side remains seven points clear at the top of the table. However, Manchester City can cut that gap to four points if they defeat Liverpool at the Etihad Stadium on Sunday. Liverpool, on the other hand, could move within five points of Arsenal if they win.
Arsenal, chasing their first Premier League title since 2004, have finished runners-up for three consecutive seasons and are still searching for their first major trophy since lifting the FA Cup in 2020.
At the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, Manchester United and Tottenham played out another thrilling 2-2 draw. Bryan Mbeumo opened the scoring for United in the 32nd minute, capitalising on Tottenham’s sluggish start and frustrated home fans. Spurs were booed off at half-time but fought back strongly in the closing stages.
Mathys Tel equalised for Tottenham in the 84th minute, and Richarlison seemed to have sealed the comeback victory when he deflected Wilson Odobert’s effort into the net in the 91st minute. Yet, Matthijs de Ligt rescued a point for United with a powerful header in the 96th minute, extending their unbeaten run to five games.
Tottenham’s inability to hold onto their late lead deepened their struggles at home, where they have now managed just one win in six league games this season. United manager Ruben Amorim reflected on the missed opportunity, saying, “We have so much to grow as a team because today was our day to win. If we have a little bit more bravery, we can kill this game.” Tottenham’s boss Thomas Frank echoed the sentiment, stating, “A lot of things we could have done a bit better. The last goal is all about the urgency; maybe don’t give the cross away and defend better.”
United, now seventh in the table, have failed to defeat fourth-placed Tottenham in their last eight encounters, including a 1-0 loss in the Europa League final in May.
Wins for West Ham and Everton
In other matches, West Ham secured a crucial 3-2 victory over Burnley at the London Stadium to boost their survival hopes. Burnley’s Zian Flemming opened the scoring in the 35th minute, but Callum Wilson equalised just before half-time, pouncing on a rebound from Crysencio Summerville’s shot.
Tomas Soucek gave West Ham the lead in the 77th minute, converting from close range after Martin Dubravka spilled Lucas Paqueta’s cross. Kyle Walker-Peters added a third after another Dubravka error in the 87th minute before Josh Cullen grabbed a late consolation for Burnley.
The win moved West Ham level on points with Burnley, who remain just above the relegation zone.
Meanwhile, Everton ended their three-game winless streak with a 2-0 victory over Fulham at the Hill Dickinson Stadium. Idrissa Gueye broke the deadlock in first-half stoppage time after James Tarkowski’s header hit the crossbar. Michael Keane sealed the result in the 81st minute, turning in Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall’s corner.
What you should know
Arsenal’s 10-game winning run ended dramatically against Sunderland, but they remain top of the Premier League.
Manchester United and Tottenham’s 2-2 draw highlighted both teams’ resilience but also their defensive weaknesses. West Ham climbed out of danger with a vital 3-2 win, while Everton’s solid performance reignited their push for mid-table security.
