Bruno Guimarães and Bukayo Saka helped maintain Arsenal‘s perfect start in the Premier League with a 2-0 win over Sunderland.
Following a controlled first half, the Gunners were handed a scare 11 minutes after the restart when the hosts were awarded a penalty, but David Raya made a brilliant save to palm Enzo Le Fee’s spot-kick against the left post.
A dramatic twist saw Arsenal lead just two minutes later through a fantastic top-corner finish from Guimarães, his first goal since joining in the summer from Sunderland’s bitter rivals Newcastle.
More drama followed in stoppage time when Reinildo Mandava was sent off and Saka scored from the penalty spot to cement Arsenal’s fourth Premier League win from as many games, while the Wearsiders slipped to their second league defeat.
Sunderland named an unchanged team from their draw at Brentford, while Arsenal made four switches from their midweek Champions League victory over Napoli as Riccardo Calafiori, Myles Lewis-Skelly, Christos Tzolis and Kai Havertz all started.
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Arsenal offered an early glimpse of danger when Declan Rice picked out Saka, who got in behind before flicking a tame effort into the arms of Robin Roefs.
Former Arsenal man Granit Xhaka then threatened for the hosts when his whipped free-kick found Dan Ballard, who headed wide.
The Gunners controlled the tempo but struggled to break through the Black Cats’ defence and Gabriel Magalhães saw his low strike from outside of the box fizz wide.
Martin Odegaard moved unmarked behind Sunderland’s defence before cutting the ball back for Havertz and the forward blasted over, before coming close again moments later with a hooked effort which Roefs tipped over.
Arsenal’s frustrations continued as Mikel Arteta was shown a yellow card and Sunderland began to sniff around the visitors’ box when Thomas Meunier’s strike was deflected behind before Le Fee fired wide.
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The Gunners looked to strike on the stroke of half-time when Saka’s cross was flicked away by Xhaka.
Sunderland looked bright after the restart as Meunier’s effort was blocked and the hosts had an opportunity to take the lead from the penalty spot in the 56th minute.
Referee John Brooks pointed to the spot when Ballard was brought down by Ezri Konsa in the area and Le Fee’s penalty was denied by Raya.
The champions suddenly took the lead in the 58th minute when Guimaraes fired a superb strike from outside of the area, which crashed off the underside of the crossbar and into the net.
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The visitors nearly caught Sunderland on the break when Odegaard played in Saka, who was denied by Roefs and Ballard made a goal-line clearance from the resultant corner.
Guimaraes curled an effort jsut wide and the Black Cats then had a promising opportunity when Nordi Mukiele’s backheeled effort was blocked.
Jurrien Timber’s header from a free-kick was ruled out for offside and Mukiele came close again for Sunderland, hooking a strike over before having another effort saved by Raya.
Late drama followed when Reinildo was shown a second yellow card at the death and Saka slotted home from the penalty spot in the seventh additional minute to seal three points.
