Sunderland Set-Piece Streak Puts an End to Arsenal Clean Sheet Streak

Sunderland Set-Piece Streak Puts an End to Arsenal Clean Sheet Streak

A first half Dan Ballard goal put an end to Arsenal’s incredible eight-game clean sheet run as the Black Cats held the leaders to a 2-2 draw at the Stadium of Light.

Ironically, the Gunners have their clean sheet streak broken via one of their favourite plays – a set-piece.

A free kick taken by goalkeeper Robin Roefs was delivered brilliantly into the box, bouncing deep towards Nordi Mukiele, who headed it centre to Ballard to thump the ball home to give the hosts a lead heading into the interval.

Arsenal concede for the first time in 811 minutes in all competitions...

Dan Ballard ends the run 🛑 pic.twitter.com/JY1spYk52x

— Premier League (@premierleague) November 8, 2025

Ten minutes into the second period and it was the visitors who got back on level terms courtesy of Bukayo Saka to net his third goal of the campaign.

Arsenal then took the lead with 15 mintues to go when Leandro Trossard drove an absolute firecracker into the top left corner to send the away end into raptures.

Finally, with just seconds left on the clock, some calamitous defending by the visitors proved costly when Trai Hume delicately lifted a ball into the box for Ballard to head backwards into the path of Brian Brobbey who beat David Raya to the ball as his acrobatic effort found the back of the empty net to rescue a late point.

Nonetheless, Arsenal’s point means they extend their lead at the top to six, although one of Liverpool or Manchester City and Bournemouth all have the chance to close the gap on Super Sunday.

As for Regis Le Bris side, they continue their very impressive return to the topflight, jumping back ahead of Tottenham Hotspur, earning their fourth draw of the campaign and remain in the Champions League places in fourth.

811 Minutes, 0 Goals Conceded

It was the 28th of September when David Raya was last beaten in net – a 34th minute effort from Nick Woltemade – during a 2-1 win over Newcastle United at St. James’ Park.

The Gunners then went eight matches in all competitions – four in the Premier League, three in the UEFA Champions League, and one in the EFL Cup – without conceding a goal, including wins over Atletico Madrid, Crystal Palace and Brighton in the process.

Fans of Chelsea Football Club can also sigh in relief as Sunderland’s two goals mean Arsenal have now conceded five goals this season – just ten below Chelsea’s record of 15 set in 2004/05.

Having conceded just three goals in their opening ten, Mikel Arteta’s side were on course to pip Chelsea’s record by a single goal, however, now find themselves with a much steeper task in order to break it, needing to concede ten or less over the course of their remaining 27 games – including matches home and away to Chelsea and Tottenham, as well as home to Manchester United, home to Liverpool and a trip to the Etihad.

The Gunners also headed into Saturday evening’s fixture looking to extend their winning run to 11 games but – after scoring four goals in that time during the final ten minutes – were forced to suffer a taste of their own medicine by conceding a late goal of their own.

Following a poor performance at the back by their standards, Arsenal must reset over the final international break of 2025, as they face three stiff tests back-to-back in two London derbies against both Spurs and Chelsea, sandwiching a crunch European clash with titans Bayern Munich.