Arsenal conceded their first goal in 881 minutes and then another in stoppage time to draw 2-2 with Sunderland on Saturday in the Premier League, a result that potentially breathes new life into the title race.
Brian Brobbey’s goal in the 4th minute of added time ended Arsenal’s five-game winning streak in the league – and 10 in all competitions – which had been built on one of the strongest defenses English football has seen in a generation.
Arsenal had not conceded a goal since September 28 – eight games ago – before their former academy player, Dan Ballard, scored the opening goal for Sunderland in the 36th minute at the Stadium of Light.
Back in the Premier League for the first time in eight years, Sunderland gave the leaders their toughest game in some time, but second-half goals from Bukayo Saka and Leandro Trossard looked to give Arsenal the win.
Reduced advantage
Brobbey’s late equalizer means Arsenal’s lead is now six points over second-place Chelsea, who beat managerless Wolverhampton 3-0.
All of Chelsea’s goals came in the second half against Wolves.
Malo Gusto and Pedro Neto converted crosses from Alejandro Garnacho, one on either side of Joao Pedro’s shot after a cross from dynamic substitute Estevao.
Wolves remained in last place with just two points from 11 games and are yet to win a game so far.
Tottenham and Manchester United both scored injury-time goals in a wild finish to their 2-2 draw, while there were also wins for West Ham and Everton.
Just when it looked like Richarlison’s header in the first minute of stoppage time had secured victory for Tottenham, United equalized with Matthijs de Ligt’s own header five minutes later to complete a dramatic finish to the game between teams that contested the Europa League final last season.
United extended their unbeaten run in the league to five games – three wins followed by two draws away from home –, achieving their best run in Ruben Amorim’s year in charge.
However, the coach insisted his team still had “a lot of problems” after blowing a lead, falling behind and then drawing for the second week in a row.
“We’re just getting started,” Amorim said. “I know sometimes the results show people that we are improving. We are improving, but we have a lot to do.”
Tottenham have only won one of their six home games so far but showed commendable resilience in bouncing back after conceding a 32nd-minute goal to Bryan Mbeumo, his fifth of the campaign.
The hosts dominated the second half and equalized in the 84th minute thanks to a shot by substitute Mathys Tel that deflected off De Ligt.
Tel had only been on the pitch for five minutes, after coming on for Xavi Simons in a substitution that was booed by some sections of the home crowd at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.
When Richarlison deflected Wilson Odobert’s shot from the edge of the area, Tottenham appeared to be the heavy favorites to take the three points, especially considering United were down to 10 men at the time due to an injury to substitute Benjamin Sesko. United had used all five substitutes and were unable to replace the striker.
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West Ham beat Burnley 3-2 to secure back-to-back wins under Nuno Espirito Santo, after last weekend’s victory over Newcastle moved closer to avoiding the relegation zone.
Jiménez, nullified
Goals from Idrissa Gana Gueye and Michael Keane gave Everton a 2-0 victory over Raúl Jiménez’s Fulham, who played 59 minutes at rival Hill Dickinson’s new stadium.
The Mexican had very few scoring options, almost none, and he had no influence on the London team’s offense. After last week’s victory against Wolves at home, Fulham returned to defeat and are in 15th place in the table.