The defending champions are doing what champions do: grinding out results even when the football isn't pretty. Arsenal made it four wins from four
The defending champions are doing what champions do: grinding out results even when the football isn’t pretty.
Arsenal made it four wins from four to open the new Premier League season, edging past a stubborn Sunderland 2-0 at the Stadium of Light, a venue where they could only draw 2-2 last term.
The victory takes Mikel Arteta’s side to 12 points from a possible 12, sitting pretty at the summit as the chasing pack struggles to keep pace.
For long stretches, this looked like it might be one of those nights. Sunderland, roared on by a bouncing home crowd, matched Arsenal blow for blow in a tight first half before nearly snatching the lead early in the second.
Referee John Brooks pointed to the spot after Ezri Konsa hauled down Dan Ballard in the box, a decision that left Arteta and his staff fuming.
Enzo Le Fée stepped up, but David Raya produced a superb save, palming the effort against the post to keep the score level.
It proved the turning point. Barely two minutes later, Arsenal struck through the most fitting of scorers. Bruno Guimarães, introduced from the bench at half-time in place of Myles Lewis-Skelly, picked the ball up on the edge of the box and drilled a thunderous finish into the top corner, his first goal since his summer mega move from bitter Sunderland perennial rivals Newcastle United.
It was a strike laced with poetic justice, delivered against the club most likely to see him as public enemy number one on Wearside.
Sunderland’s night went from bad to worse in stoppage time. Reinildo Mandava, already booked, was sent off for hauling down a rampaging Bukayo Saka, and the England winger made no mistake from the spot to wrap up the points deep into six added minutes of drama.
Arteta’s options off the bench once again underlined Arsenal’s strength in depth this season, with Kepa Arrizabalaga the only senior man not to feature at the 2026 World Cup over the summer, even as Jurriën Timber remained sidelined through injury.
It is that kind of squad depth, married to a growing habit of finding a way to win, that has fans daring to dream early.
Arsenal’s bench against Sunderland
Kepa Arrizabalaga, Pierro Hincapié, Bruno Guimarães, Eberechi Eze, Noni Madueke, Viktor Gyökeres, Jurien Timber, Mikel Merino, Martin Zubimendi
Four games in, Arsenal have already banked results at Sunderland and Aston Villa this season, which is a massive upgrade.
Arsenal will host Ipswich Town in the EFL in midweek before travelling to Brighton and Hove Albion in week 5, before the international break. The club will look forward to making it 5/5 to send a strong statement to their competitors.
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