Arsenal vs Sunderland: Five memorable meetings ahead of Emirates clash | OneFootball

Late equalisers, cup shocks and a rare away win under one of the club’s worst managers, Arsenal against Sunderland has seldom been dull.

Sunderland Echo highlights five standout meetings as Regis Le Bris’ side head to the Emirates on Saturday.

Arsenal 1-2 Sunderland, 5 November 1983: Colin West struck early at Highbury, then Ian Atkins’ deflected effort made it two. Tony Woodcock replied within three minutes, and Alan Durban’s men held on for Sunderland’s last league win away at Arsenal, with Alan Sunderland on the losing side.

Arsenal 2-3 Sunderland, 6 November 2002: In the Worthington Cup, Robert Pires and Francis Jeffers put Arsenal in charge. Kevin Kyle began the fightback, before Marcus Stewart and Darren Williams netted in two minutes, the high point of Howard Wilkinson’s five-month tenure.

Sunderland 1-0 Arsenal, 21 November 2009: A month after Darren Bent’s beach-ball goal against Liverpool, Steve Bruce’s side edged the title chasers. Bent followed his own deflected header to beat Manuel Almunia, and Sunderland did not win another league game until March.

Sunderland 2-0 Arsenal, 18 February 2012: In the FA Cup fifth round, Kieran Richardson drilled into the bottom right before Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain turned in Seb Larsson’s cross for an own goal. With Robin van Persie up front and current boss Mikel Arteta in midfield, Arsenal were stunned.

Sunderland 2-2 Arsenal, 8 November 2025: Dan Ballard thrashed in against his former club, but Bukayo Saka and Leandro Trossard turned it around. In the 94th minute Brian Brobbey outmuscled Gabriel and lifted over David Raya, then Ballard blocked on the line to deny Mikel Merino.

Source: Sunderland Echo