LATE SHOCK: SUNDERLAND’S STOPPAGE-TIME GOAL STUNS ARSENAL IN 2-2 CLASH
Arsenal were robbed of a win as Brian Brobbey's late equaliser secured a 2-2 draw for Sunderland. Read how the Gunners' 811-minute defensive run ended, and how Saka & Trossard's goals were cancelled out.
Sunderland goalkeeper Robin Roefs (left) makes a save during the Premier League match at the Stadium of Light, Sunderland. Picture date: Saturday, November 8, 2025. PA Photo. Photo credit should read: Owen Humphreys/PA Wire.
In a thrilling contest at the Stadium of Light, Sunderland struck a thrilling equaliser far into the second half, extra time to keep Arsenal from taking a nine-point lead at the top of the Premier League table.
Although the Gunners were behind 1-0 at halftime due to a goal from Dan Ballard, goals from Bukayo Saka and Leandro Trossard in the second half appeared to have given them all three points. But, in front of their own supporters, Sunderland earned a well-earned point when Brian Brobbey slipped in ahead of David Raya to tie it 2-2 in the fourth minute of extra time.
After some unusually subpar defending by the Gunners, a calm first half was finally brought to life in the 36th minute when former Arsenal youngster Ballard scored the scoring.
After Arsenal's defence failed to handle the high ball during a long punt downfield, Nordi Mukiele's header landed at Ballard's feet, where it smashed past Raya. Surprisingly, it was the Northern Irishman's first goal for Sunderland that did not come from a header, although it was his eighth overall.
Above all, it demonstrated that Arsenal's defence was not unbeatable. They had gone an incredible 811 minutes without a team scoring, and it was the first goal they had given up in a competitive game since their meeting against Newcastle on September 28. Additionally, it was only the fourth time in 11 Premier League games in 2025–2026 that Mikel Arteta's team had given up.
It was only the third occasion this season that Arsenal had fallen behind at the half of a Premier League game, with Sunderland leading 1-0. They have bounced back to win four points in the last two games (beating Newcastle and drawing with Man City). Today, they repeated the action.
Arsenal regained the lead less than nine minutes into the second half. Before Declan Rice robbed him, Enzo Le Fée sat on the ball within his own half. Saka scored his third goal in his last four competitive games, a few seconds later after putting the ball in the Sunderland net and shooting past Robin Roefs at his near post.
As the table-toppers kept applying pressure, Martín Zubimendi had a chance to give Arsenal the lead in the 65th minute, but his volley struck the crossbar before his teammates could recover.
The more dependable Trossard sealed a comeback in the 74th minute with a fantastic goal from the edge of the area. After circling about, the Belgian finally found a moment to shoot, and his forceful shot soared past Roefs. Trossard rarely scores goals from a distance, and this was his first outside-the-box Premier League goal in nearly four years. It also put an end to a run of 33 league goals from within the area.
In the closing moments of the match, Brian Brobbey twice had chances to tie the score, but Raya's two excellent close-range saves kept the Gunners ahead. However, Brobbey made no mistakes with his third opportunity of the game, just as it appeared that Arsenal would go nine points clear at the top of the Premier League standings.
The Dutch substitute snuck in ahead of Raya to acrobatically turn the ball into the Gunners' net and score his first goal for Sunderland after Arsenal's defence once again failed to stop a ball that fell in their box.
Ballard's outstanding defending stopped Mikel Merino from scoring the game-winning goal in the seventh minute of extra time, as the defender threw his body in front of the Spanish forward's strong strike.
Although the Gunners will be sad that they lost the match, a draw was perhaps the right outcome and demonstrated how fiercely contested the Premier League is this year, with a newly promoted team facing the league's top contenders.
MANCHESTER UNITED ACE TIPPED BY SCOTT MCTOMINAY FOR NAPOLI MOVE
Scott McTominay urges Napoli boss Antonio Conte to sign Kobbie Mainoo from Manchester United. The Scottish midfielder, thriving in Serie A, believes his former teammate would be a perfect fit for the Italian champions.
McTominay says Man Utd's Kobbie Mainoo ‘fits straight in’ Napoli - Photo Credit: Getty Images
Antonio Conte, the manager of Napoli, has been asked by Scott McTominay to follow up on reports of interest in Kobbie Mainoo next month. Rasmus Hojlund and Romelu Lukaku are also making an impression for the reigning Serie A champions, and McTominay is one of several former Manchester United exiles who are currently thriving in Naples. Since joining the Italian team last summer, the Scottish midfielder has been crucial.
Since departing United, McTominay has prospered.
The 28-year-old's crucial contribution to Napoli's championship victory under Conte last season earned him the title of Serie A MVP. Other former Manchester United players have drawn attention to Conte's team, and McTominay has adapted to Italian football like a duck to water.
Lukaku, who played for United for two years, was also a vital member of the Partenopei last season, helping Napoli defeat Inter with 14 goals and 10 assists. Since the Dane returned to Serie A on a season-long loan, Hojlund has had the opportunity to thrive in Italy, but the Belgian has not yet played for Napoli this season.
And as Conte's team tries to win the title again, McTominay thinks Napoli should make a move for Kobbie Mainoo in the New Year. This season, Mainoo has only played 138 minutes in the league, and his only start occurred during the EFL Cup loss to Grimsby in August.
"He would fit right in." Mainoo, who was injured and missed United's 2-2 draw with Tottenham on Saturday, had planned to transfer away from Old Trafford in the summer to get regular playing time during a World Cup year. The 20-year-old has not played for England since joining as a substitute against Ireland in the UEFA Nations League last September, but United rejected the player's request to leave earlier this year due to the club's inability to acquire a midfield player, even though there were rumours that they were interested in Carlos Baleba.
With players like Elliot Anderson, Adam Wharton, and Baleba on the club's radar, United is anticipated to add a new midfield player in January. Mainoo would probably go to make room for a new player in the middle of the park. Additionally, a source close to McTominay has instructed Conte to sign Mainoo in the upcoming year, according to SunSport.
"Scott told Conte to grab Kobbie after seeing him. He has informed him all about his greatness as a player and his strengths. Whether on loan or a permanent basis, he believes he would be a fantastic addition to the team because he knows everything about him from his time at United.
"Having been in the academy since he was a young lad, Bobbie has been raised properly at United. He would contribute immediately and help Napoli.
Over the summer, Napoli acquired a central midfield player from the Premier League when Kevin De Bruyne left Manchester City for Italy. Despite having an instant influence on Conte's team, the seasoned Belgian is not expected to play again this season.
The reason for this is that following his penalty kick in Napoli's 3-1 victory over championship rivals Inter last month, De Bruyne sustained a thigh injury. Since joining Napoli in the summer, the 34-year-old has scored four goals in the league.
Given that Mainoo is already a known target for the Serie A powerhouses, De Bruyne's injury is probably going to compel Napoli to enter the market in January.
On Sunday afternoon, Napoli will play Bologna at the Renato Dall'Ara in an attempt to retake the top spot in Serie A. On Saturday night, AC Milan blew a two-goal lead to draw 2-2 with Parma, dropping Conte's team to second place in Italy's top division.
In another extremely close Serie A title race, Roma hosts Udinese and Inter hosts Lazio at San Siro on Sunday. Before the year's last international break, the top four are, in fact, only one point apart.
ANTOINE GRIEZMANN’S DOUBLE INSPIRES COMEBACK AS ATLETICO DEFEAT LEVANTE 3-1
Atlético Madrid legend Antoine Griezmann came off the bench to score two quick goals (202 & 203) in a 3-1 win over Levante. See how the super-sub's vintage scoring form put Diego Simeone's side back in the title race!
Antoine Griezmann of Atletico de Madrid scored a brace during the LaLiga EA Sports match between Atletico de Madrid and Levante - Photo by Denis Doyle/Getty Images
Atletico Madrid defeated Levante 3-1 in the Spanish League on Saturday thanks to two goals from Antoine Griezmann, who displayed his classic scoring form.
In the 61st minute, Atletico's all-time top scorer entered the game and took just a few seconds to score the game-winning goal. With ten minutes left, he added another to complete the victory.
Griezmann, who is 34 years old and plays a smaller part for Diego Simeone's team but still contributes with his playmaking and goals, scored goals Nos. 202 and 203 at Atletico.
Griezmann's 174th club goal in January 2024 made him Atletico's best scorer. This season, he has scored five goals, including in a historic 5-2 thumping of Real Madrid.
Adrián de la Fuente's own goal in the 12th minute gave Atletico the lead over Levante, and Manu Sánchez's header in the 21st minute tied the score for the visitors.
When Simeone sent Griezmann on, he made an immediate impression. He was in a position to scramble in a rebound to seal the victory after first racing forward to drive in a low cross from Marcos Lorrente.
He stated, "We all have to be ready to go because the teams that go far have a good reserve." "All players want to play, so I would like to play more, but I accept it and try my best to support my teammates."
With the victory, Atletico moved even with Barcelona on the standings, five points behind leader Real Madrid.