Arsenal maintained their perfect Premier League start with a 2-0 victory over Sunderland on Saturday. The reigning champions claimed all three points at the Stadium of Light to move to 12 points from four matches.
Sunderland created the first major chance after the interval. Referee John Brooks awarded a penalty when Ezri Konsa fouled Dan Ballard. Enzo Le Fée stepped up but David Raya dived to push the spot-kick against the post.
Two minutes later Arsenal broke the deadlock. Half-time substitute Bruno Guimarães collected the ball on the edge of the area and curled a precise shot past Robin Roefs. The former Newcastle midfielder marked his first goal for the club with a finish that silenced the home crowd.
Arsenal then controlled much of the remaining play. Sunderland pushed forward in search of an equaliser and forced Raya into further saves. Nordi Mukiele went close on several occasions yet the visitors held firm.
Deep into stoppage time Bukayo Saka broke clear on the counter-attack. Reinildo Mandava brought him down inside the box. Brooks pointed to the spot and showed Mandava a second yellow card followed by a red. Saka converted the penalty in the seventh additional minute to seal the result.
Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta later described the earlier penalty decision as unacceptable. He said: “It’s unacceptable at this level, this can change the course of a season and the championship. It’s not acceptable. I’ve seen it 10 times to make sure and it’s not possible at this level that it can be a penalty. It cannot happen. It’s not a penalty in any context, in any league.”
Arteta also praised his goalkeeper. He noted that Raya was unbelievable and decided matches when needed. Guimarães meanwhile called his goal unbelievable and expressed relief at contributing after an injury-affected start.
Sunderland slipped to their second league defeat of the campaign. Arsenal meanwhile extended their winning run and kept a clean sheet for the fourth consecutive Premier League match.
