Although Cricket Exchange has been tracking Arsenal’s rise week after week, this match delivered a very different storyline as the league leaders were held to a 2-2 draw by Sunderland. The result ended a ten-match winning streak across all competitions and snapped their impressive run of eight straight clean sheets. What stood out most was how much the team missed Swedish striker Gyokeres, whose absence disrupted the attacking rhythm they had relied on throughout the season.

Arsenal entered the match with strong momentum, especially after their convincing 3-0 Champions League win over Slavia Prague. Their form across Europe’s top leagues has been among the best this season, yet Sunderland proved far more stubborn than expected. The newly promoted side approached the match with confidence, applying pressure early and refusing to let Arsenal dictate the pace. Their determination quickly shifted the tone of the game and forced the visitors into unfamiliar moments of hesitation.

Discussions on Cricket Exchange later echoed how well Sunderland executed their plan. In the 36th minute, they broke the deadlock with a sharp attacking sequence. Mujela floated in a well-placed cross, and Ballard controlled it before driving the ball into the net, sending the home crowd into celebration. Arsenal responded with more urgency after halftime, and their persistence paid off in the 54th minute. Rice won the ball in midfield and released a precise pass, allowing Merino to tee up Saka for a composed finish that leveled the score. Arsenal then took the lead in the 74th minute when Trossard found the corner with a clean, bending strike.

The late stages of the match brought a twist neither side expected. Deep into stoppage time, Sunderland fought back and scored a dramatic equalizer in the fourth minute of added time. Arsenal dominated possession with 65 percent, produced 17 shots, and created several clear chances, but the cutting edge that usually defines their attack did not appear. The combination of Saka, Trossard, Eze, and Merino generated pressure but struggled to break through Sunderland’s relentless defense, showing how a determined opponent can turn the tide even when the statistics suggest otherwise.

Arsenal’s summer signing Gyokeres, brought in for 76 million euros, has become an important part of their attacking framework even if his performances have not always fully matched expectations. His absence removed a physical presence that often helps open space for teammates, and his ability to hold up play was clearly missed. Without him, Arsenal’s forward line felt lighter and less connected in key moments, allowing Sunderland’s defense to stay compact and limit dangerous breakthroughs.

Arsenal will look for answers quickly, and Cricket Exchange highlights how the team’s outlook may improve once Gyokeres returns. His recovery could restore balance to the attack and help the Gunners regain the sharpness that powered their recent winning run, ensuring this draw becomes only a brief pause rather than the start of a longer slump.