Three things we learned from Arsenal win as Martin Zubimendi hits new high | OneFootball

Viktor Gyokeres completes a perfect week with impact off the bench as Gunners overcome difficult challenge

Three more points and a perfect week for Arsenal, banishing that talk of a wobble to the distant past.

The past seven days, though, have brought two Premier League wins and progression through to the Carabao Cup final.

Martin Zubimendi opened the scoring and Viktor Gyokeres came off the bench to score twice to cap an ideal afternoon.

Arsenal pile pressure on their rivals

The stage was set for Arsenal to further strengthen their control of this title race and they did just that.

Sunderland were difficult opponents for much of the first half but once Arsenal hit the front, they did not look likely to slip up.

It is a result that could have increasing significance at this weekend goes on.

It is now three clean sheets in a row for Gabriel and the Arsenal defence

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For now it leaves them nine points clear at the top of the Premier League, putting further ground between them and Aston Villa, who drew to Bournemouth.

Manchester City have the chance to close that gap back to six but face a trip to Anfield on Sunday, where they have won just once since 2003.

That is a tough test at any point of the season, but Arsenal's win here has further added to the pressure on Pep Guardiola's side.

Zubimendi reaching new heights

The assumption when Zubimendi arrived in north London was that he would be the No6 to further unleash Declan Rice's attacking instincts.

However, with his superb first-half strike here, Zubimendi now has more goals in the Premier League this season than Rice.

The Spaniard is up to five goals in the league and six in all competitions. Before joining Arsenal, Zubimendi's best tally came in the 2023-24 campaign when he scored four times.

Nice touch: Martin Zubimendi paid tribute to injured Arsenal team-mate Mikel Merino

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There have been smart finishes in the box, clinical headers and now a lovely effort from distance, the technique superb to drill the shot in off the inside of the post.

Arteta has unlocked a side to his game that few would have seen coming in the summer.

Zubimendi celebrated by spinning around the corner flag, as Mikel Merino does when he scores. It was a nice touch towards his Spanish team-mate, who was watching from the stands as he faces a long spell out with a foot injury.

Gyokeres feasting on promoted sides

It is fair to say Gyokeres has not found life at Arsenal particularly easy since arriving at the start of the summer.

He has struggled to cement the starting spot as his own up front and he was dropped to the bench here despite a better run of goalscoring form recently.

However, Gyokeres came off the bench and made a real statement here.

Within six minutes he himself on the scoresheet, providing an emphatic finish at the near post as he fell to the ground.

He got his second in stoppage time, keeping up with Martinelli and finishing into the empty net when the Brazilian squared.

Viktor Gyokeres celebrates his second goal of the afternoon following unselfish play from Gabriel Martinelli

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Gyokeres has six goals in his last eight appearances and his Premier League tally makes for interesting reading.

That is now eight goals in the league for Gyokeres and six of those have come against the promoted sides.

Arsenal have not always found it easy to score against those kind of stubborn defences, but Gyokeres has made a key difference in that regard.