{"id":1489224,"date":"2026-09-12T22:08:44","date_gmt":"2026-09-12T21:08:44","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.squawka.com\/en\/?post_type=features&p=1489224"},"modified":"2026-09-12T22:08:46","modified_gmt":"2026-09-12T21:08:46","slug":"post-match-analysis-sunderland-vs-arsenal-12-09-26","status":"publish","type":"features","link":"https:\/\/www.squawka.com\/en\/features\/post-match-analysis-sunderland-vs-arsenal-12-09-26\/","title":{"rendered":"Sunderland vs Arsenal stats and analysis: Two minutes of magic underline Gunners’ champions status"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Arsenal<\/a> maintained their perfect start to the Premier League<\/a> season with a hard-fought 2-0 win away at Sunderland<\/a> on Saturday evening.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The champions were given a serious test of their credentials by the Black Cats, who, after a tight first half, were given a golden opportunity to take the lead from the penalty spot in the 56th minute. However, David Raya pulled off a stunning save low to his left to deny Enzo Le Fee. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

And just two minutes later, Arsenal cashed in on Raya’s heroics, with 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. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Sunderland continued to push, but kept running up against an Arsenal defence that has become nigh on impossible to break down under Mikel Arteta. They were then hit on the break at the death, with Reinildo Mandava sent off for dragging down Bukayo Saka in the box — the England star converting the resulting spot-kick.<\/a> <\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

Two minutes of champions<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

It feels a little clich\u00e9, 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. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

However, Le Fee came up against the best goalkeeper in the Premier League right now, and the Spaniard pulled off one of the best penalty saves you’re likely to see, to the tune of 0.92 goals prevented on that effort alone.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Anton Stach (5) is the only player to score more goals from outside the box in the Premier League since the start of last season than Bruno Guimaraes (4).

What a way to score your first Arsenal goal. \ud83d\ude0d pic.twitter.com\/CvbKfvP6AU<\/a><\/p>— Squawka (@Squawka) September 12, 2026<\/a><\/blockquote>