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ARTETA LASHES OUT AT SUNDERLAND RESULT AS XHAKA LOSES COOL

Dive into the moments you missed from Sunderland's 2-2 draw with Arsenal: Arteta's angry reaction to the opening goal, Sunderland's tactical switch, and Granit Xhaka's fierce midfield reunion against his former club.

Arteta lashes out at Sunderland result as Xhaka loses cool
Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta during the draw with Sunderland - COURTESY/PHOTO

Following an outstanding tenacious performance against Arsenal, Sunderland's winning streak at the Stadium of Light continues.

Dan Ballard gave the Gunners the lead in the first half, but Mikel Arteta's team rallied in the second half thanks to goals from Bukayo Saka and Leandro Trossard.

Brian Brobbey scored his first goal in a red and white shirt after coming off the bench, after Regis Le Bris made three changes shortly after the hour mark.

We have examined a few of the game's moments that you might have missed.

Arteta's outrage over Sunderland's first game


The manager of Arsenal has no problem portraying the villain in a pantomime, and he did a fantastic job tonight.

The decision to give the home team a free kick in the first half, even though Enzo Le Fee's foot was clearly trodden on, infuriated the 43-year-old. Disappointed by the choice, Arteta threw his hands in the air as he walked back to the dugout.

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Can you imagine his reaction if the officials penalised him for a good challenge? His wait would not be long.

Thus, the head coach of Arsenal was furious when Martin Zubimendi and Wilson Isidor won the ball in a tackle, which, from the press box at least, appeared to be a good challenge. It was a crucial point in the match.

Less than a minute later, Sunderland took the lead, and the Gunners manager returned to the bench to mockingly cheer the decision.

Dan Ballard wheeled away to the corner flag to celebrate against his old team, but the red and white supporters paid little heed.

Although the Black Cats were unable to achieve the same fluidity at Everton, we saw against Chelsea just how successful Sunderland can be when switching to a 4-3-3 in possession.

When Sunderland got control, both Reinildo and Trai Hume moved into midfield areas, but the Toffees had crowded the middle of the field, making it difficult for the Wearsiders to get on the ball.

Hume warmed up with Sunderland's offensive trio and midfield pair before kickoff tonight. During their play, the Northern Ireland international played on the right in a midfield three.

Although there was little sign that Sunderland would go as boldly as they did with the press, going man for man, it would hint at the strategy. Their centre-halves occasionally followed Arsenal's forwards far into their own half.

Le Bris took a courageous stance, and Arsenal's equaliser demonstrated how simple it is for elite clubs to discipline you at this level. Bukayo Saka made no mistakes when given the chance after Le Fee was caught in possession.

Granit Xhaka's thoughts on the reunion with Arsenal are apparent.


Before kickoff, the travelling Arsenal supporters gave the former Gunners midfielder a hearty round of applause as he talked positively about his time at the Emirates Stadium.

However, that all changed when the game began with the blow of the whistle. He helped the Black Cats gain traction in the game and was his typical polished, professional self.

There was a lot of discussion about how Xhaka had changed in the years after Arteta was appointed, but he still possesses the tenacity and determination that made him so well-liked and powerful at the Emirates.

When the Spaniard lost to the Swiss international's challenge, the Sunderland skipper made it apparent how he felt about Mikel Merino.

The Sunderland talisman yelled his disapproval at Merino as he lay in a heap on the ground after the referee gave a foul.

THE NEXT STAR: WHY ARSENAL BELIEVE ANTONIO NUSA IS THEIR ULTIMATE ATTACKING SPARK

Arsenal lead the race for Antonio Nusa! Read about the €60m valuation and why Liverpool and Man Utd are also tracking the winger.

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Arsenal Step Up Scouting For €60m Rated Leipzig Star Antonio Nusa

Arsenal have had their eye on Antonio Nusa for a while now, gearing up for a big summer as they look to beef up the squad. Nusa, the Norwegian forward lighting up the Bundesliga, has turned into one of the league’s most exciting attackers lately. Rumours are flying that he’s ready for a new challenge once the season wraps up.

Playing for RB Leipzig, Nusa keeps delivering quick, creative, and always a threat up front. He’s become a huge part of Leipzig’s attack, and clubs all over Europe are taking notice. Arsenal’s scouts haven’t missed a beat, tracking his progress and weighing up whether he’s the spark their attack needs.

Liverpool isn’t sitting this one out either. They already checked in on Nusa during the last transfer window, after missing out on Antoine Semenyo. So, Arsenal won’t be alone once the season ends; expect some serious competition from their Premier League rivals, which just makes the whole thing trickier.

Lately, Arsenal has stepped up its scouting. Fussball Daten says Nusa is now one of their main targets, and they’ve sent multiple scouts to keep tabs on him. This isn’t just a passing interest; they’re serious about landing a top attacking talent.

Leipzig, for their part, seems to know what’s coming. They’re bracing themselves for offers and are likely to set a firm asking price for Nusa. That should give Arsenal and Liverpool a better sense of what it’ll take to get a deal done.

Nusa won’t come cheap. He’s young, talented, and keeps getting better in Germany, so Leipzig will want a big fee. Still, both Arsenal and Liverpool have shown they’re willing to spend to get the right player. Money probably won’t be the thing that stops them.

If Nusa keeps playing the way he has been, Arsenal and Liverpool look ready to match Leipzig’s demands and go all-in for one of their top summer targets.

ARSENAL INJURY UPDATE: SALIBA FACES FITNESS TEST WHILE MIKEL MERINO UNDERGOES MAJOR SURGERY

Arsenal face an injury crisis! Read the latest on William Saliba’s illness, Kai Havertz’s muscle injury, and Mikel Merino’s surgery.

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Havertz, Saliba, And Merino Injury Updates Ahead Of Arsenal vs Wigan

Arsenal are heading into a packed stretch of games, and injuries are starting to pile up. Fans are on edge, waiting to hear what’s happening with William Saliba and Kai Havertz. There’s an FA Cup clash with Wigan coming up, plus some huge Premier League matches, so Mikel Arteta has his hands full trying to keep the squad sharp and the momentum going.

That 1-1 draw at Brentford helped settle things a bit, especially with Leandro Trossard, Bukayo Saka, and Martin Odegaard all back in the lineup. Their return lifted the mood, but there’s still a lot of uncertainty around a few players who could make or break Arsenal’s short-term hopes.

Let’s start with Saliba. He’s a rock in the back line, and his absence at Brentford was obvious, even though Cristhian Mosquera stepped up. Saliba trained earlier in the week, but illness kept him out of the game. Now, everyone’s hoping he’ll be fit for the FA Cup tie, especially with the north London derby against Spurs right after. Arteta knows that a steady defence is everything when the season gets tough, and Saliba’s calmness on the ball is now a big part of how Arsenal builds up play. If he’s back in time, it’s a big boost heading into a run of games that could shape the rest of their season.

Then there’s Havertz. He’d just started finding his rhythm again after dealing with a knee problem, only to pick up another setback – a muscle injury this time. He hasn’t played since the opening-day win over Manchester United, and now it looks like he’ll miss more games. Havertz brings a lot of flexibility up front, and he’s great at pulling defenders around. Losing him, especially when there’s a derby and a busy league schedule, means Arteta has to shuffle his attack. Right now, it looks like Havertz will sit out against Wigan, Wolves, and Spurs, with a possible return against Chelsea in early March. Getting him fit again is going to be key if Arsenal want to keep scoring goals.

Midfield depth has taken a hit, too, with Mikel Merino out after foot surgery. Arsenal confirmed he’s sidelined for a while, and Arteta opened up about just how tricky this injury is.

“There’s uncertainty because the recovery time isn’t well understood, as there’s no history of this type of injury. It’s a stress fracture, not the toes; it’s deeper than that. It’s not something that’s well documented, so there’s a lot of doubt about his recovery.”

Arteta added, “Doctors were really happy. But with bone healing, you need patience. We’re talking months three, four, maybe five. We just don’t know yet.”

Basically, Arsenal are bracing for a long wait with Merino.

There’s at least one bright spot: Max Dowman is almost ready to come back after his ankle injury. The 16-year-old has been out for two months, but he’s getting close. Arteta kept it simple before the Brentford match: “He’s doing really well, about a week away.” If Dowman makes it back in time for the Tottenham game, he could give the team a much-needed jolt during a tough stretch.

With Saliba’s fitness still up in the air and Havertz sidelined again, Arsenal’s depth is about to get a real test. The next few weeks will show just how well Arteta can keep things on track while juggling injuries and trying to stay in the hunt on all fronts.

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