Arsenal maintained their perfect start to the Premier League season with a hard-fought 2-0 win away at Sunderland on Saturday evening.
The champions were given a serious test of their credentials by the Black Cats, who could have taken the lead. Sunderland were awarded a penalty after a foul in the box, but David Raya saved Enzo Le Fee’s effort.
Two minutes later, Arsenal cashed in on Raya’s heroics. Half-time substitute — and ex-Newcastle United captain — Bruno Guimaraes dispatching a wonderful effort off the underside of the crossbar against his former derby rivals.
Sunderland continued to push but kept running against an arsenal defence that has become nigh on impossible to break down. They were then hit on the break at the death, with Reinildo Mandava conceding a penalty. He was sent off for his second yellow card, and Bukayo Saka converted the spot-kick to seal the win.
Sunderland vs Arsenal analysis
Two minutes of champions
It feels a little cliché, especially this early into a season, but Arsenal really did show why they’re defending Premier League champions during two second-half minutes at the Stadium of Light.
The Gunners’ backline was given a serious examination here, which we’ll get to momentarily. But their single moment of glaring failure came when Ezri Konsa dragged Dan Ballard down inside the box from a long throw-in.
Le Fee scored three penalties last season and stepped up with confidence once again here. To his credit, he put the ball very close to Raya’s bottom-left corner.
However, Le Fee came up against the best goalkeeper in the Premier League right now. And Raya pulled off one of the best penalty saves you’re likely to see, preventing 0.92 goals on that effort alone.
Moments later, it was Arsenal celebrating going ahead thanks to Guimaraes’ powerful effort from 25 yards out. The Brazilian is the last Gunners player Sunderland would want to see score the winner against them. And he relished it by celebrating with his ears cupped to the Mackems in the stands.
But those two moments showed what Arsenal are all about. A gritty determination not to be beaten, an elite goalkeeper and a difference-maker at the other end, squeezing the absolute maximum out of a mere glimpse at goal.
Wins like these are what champions do, and Arsenal look all set to defend that status to the last.
Arsenal defence survives intense physical examination
As mentioned, Arsenal’s defence was put under the microscope in a physical sense at the Stadium of Light. And they passed the test with flying colours.
Although he didn’t get a shot on goal, Black Cats striker Brian Brobbey was a physical menace once again. He contested eight ground duels and two aerial duels, putting his back into the Arsenal centre-backs, doing everything in his power to blast open a path for his teammates.
However, Gabriel and Konsa stood up to the challenge brilliantly. Brobbey won just two of his 10 duels, while Gabriel won 10 of 12 and Konsa seven of nine.
The former made one tackle, one goal-line clearance, two blocks, five clearances, two interceptions and two recoveries. Impressive numbers, but not overshadowing his partner, who made two tackles, a last-man tackle, a block, four clearances, two interceptions and one recovery.
It was the same story at set-pieces, with the formidable Ballard coming up to cause havoc in the box but largely being snuffed out by yellow shirts. And in that one moment where Sunderland did find joy from Konsa, they were met by a goalkeeper in the form of his life.
Arteta has faced much criticism from neutrals for how his side wins games and its defensive nature. But it’s that ruthless, airtight backline that has earned them champion status.
Arsenal are four for four at the start of this season and have conceded just one goal so far. Don’t expect Arteta to change any time soon. Why would he?