Run over but Eze urges Arsenal not to wallow
AT THE DEATH: Brian Brobbey of Sunderland scores his team's second goal against Arsenal at the Stadium of Light. (Photo by George Wood/Getty Images)
EBERECHI Eze admitted the over-riding emotion was one of disappointment but this could be the point that finally ends Arsenal's 22-year title drought.
A draw might have felt more akin to a defeat, but at a hostile venue where they've taken to shifting the furniture to add to guests' discomfort, the outcome of this wonderfully chaotic contest shone a light on how both sides will continue to prosper this season.
For Sunderland, that will mean comfortably re-establishing themselves in the top flight less than four years on from having bumped along in the third tier of English football. As for Arsenal, titles aren't just won with flowing champagne football. They are more often hewn from obstinate, bloody-minded displays such as this, ones which reveal far more about a side's character than merely the result.
"It's a tough one to take," England winger Eze conceded after Sunderland's Dutch forward Brian Brobbey scored deep into stoppage-time with his first shot in the Premier League this season to maintain the hosts' unbeaten home record.
After Arsenal's winning run was halted at 10 games, Eze added: "We did so well for long periods of the game so a draw feels like a loss."
Perspective is key for Mikel Arteta's side. Whatever the circumstances, it's not two points dropped, it's one gained at an imposing venue from where many visiting teams will return empty handed this season as Sunderland's unexpected renaissance gathers pace.
Arsenal will be top of the Premier League when they host Tottenham on their return to action after the international break later this month, and Eze added: "We’ve got to keep it in perspective and keep going. We're top of the league. We've put in so many good performances so it's something to keep building on.
"We weren't surprised by Sunderland, we understood what we were coming into. We knew exactly how they would play and that it’s a difficult environment to play in. You have to deal with a lot of direct play and a threat in the box."
That even involved shifting the advertising hoardings to pave the way for a bombardment of long throws, not that Eze noticed: "We showed what we're about and we did what we needed to do," he added.
"To put in the performance that we did is serious because not many teams will get points here. We keep our heads on and know that we're going to come back from the international break top of the league. We'll keep pushing.
"I can’t say I noticed about the hoardings but these are some of the things that you have to deal with in the Premier League."
Arsenal looked to have restored the natural order in the second half as Bukayo Saka and Leandro Trossard both benefitted from the current trend of Premier League goalkeepers' seeming inability to protect their near post, Sunderland's Robin Roefs the culprit on this occasion.
Arsenal's Italian defender Riccardo Calafiori said: "We reacted well to going behind and deserved the win after getting in front because we dominated the game for long periods. It was just that one moment at the end when we conceded and we ended up drawing the game, but that's the level we're at.
“We're top of the league so we must be happy with that."
Maybe it is something to do with northeast air. The previous goal conceded by the Gunners had come at Newcastle at the end of September, and it was one of their own, former Arsenal trainee Dan Ballard who thrashed home the opener to finally end an eight-game shut out.
It was a fruitful night against his former employers for Ballard, even if it did cause something of a family split. After scoring with his feet for the first time in two years, the Northern Ireland defender provided the assist for Brobbey's equaliser, before producing a wonderful block to deny Mikel Merino a dramatic winner from point-blank range.
The 26-year-old insisted: "You saw again the fight in this team. We defended like our lives depend on it and we fought to the end. When you've scored a few late ones like we have, you always believe.
"My brother’s not going to be very happy. I’m sure he’s going to be delighted for me, but he’s a big Arsenal fan."
Roefs 5, Hume 8, Mukiele 7, Ballard 9, Geertruida 6 (Mayenda 87, 6), Reinildo 7, Xhaka 8, Sadiki 6, Traore 6 (Talbi 63, 6), Isidor 6 (Brobbey 63, 8), Le Fee 5 (Adingra 63, 6).
Raya 7; Timber 7, Saliba 8, Gabriel 7, Calafiori 7; Rice 7, Zubimendi 8; Saka 8, Eze 7 (Mosquera 87, 6), Trossard 8; Merino 6.
Craig Pawson
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