DAN BALLARD is the former Arsenal academy player who flexed his muscles after finally scoring a goal past Mikel Arteta’s team.
And it was the Sunderland defender who may have punched a hole, maybe, in the title race.
After becoming the first man to score a goal past Arsenal in nine games, he then set up Brian Brobbey’s sensational injury-time equaliser.
And even then, the Sunderland superhero delivered a goal-saving, matching-saving block to stop Mikel Merino from grabbing a late winner.
After Ballard scored, Arsenal looked set to nick a win with goals from Bukayo Saka and Leandro Trossard.
Yet titles are won and lost on nights like this and Sunderland even delivered some dark darts.
Because of Arsenal’s danger at set-pieces, Sunderland moved the advertising hoardings seven feet towards the touchline making it more difficult for Declan Rice to launch missiles into the visiting area.
Yet fair play to Sunderland’s players. This was another game where they proved without doubt that they will stay in the Premier League without any problems.
What a welcome addition they have been to English football;s top-flight and once again, former Arsenal captain Granit Xhaka – who has to be one of the signings of the season – was at the centre of everything.
The best moment was when he screamed at Arsenal’s makeshift forward Mikel Merino for rolling around too much after a tackle and he certainly had a point.
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And you can bet at half-time, it was Arteta doing the shouting in the away dressing room as his team were properly battered and bruised.
Merino had received an early elbow to the head courtesy of Ballard and needed extended treatment.
And then Jurrien Timber, the team’s most consistent player this season, needed a bandage to the head after a clash with Enzo Lee Fee who also needed attention.
Even though Merino struggled up front and Arsenal lacked ideas, they still created a few chances.
In their first free-kick of the game, Declan Rice forced a save from Robin Roefs, Eberechi Eze curled a shot over the bar after Le Fee lost possession in a dangerous area and the subdued Saka managed only a weak shot at the home keeper.
Sunderland had managed just one shot, when Wilson Isidor stuck a shot across the goal, until they managed to do what Olympiacos, West Ham, Fulham, Atletico Madrid, Crystal Palace, Brighton, Burnley and Slavia Prague had failed to do before.
Rice will be disappointed at failing to get his head to Roefs’ punt upfield and the Arsenal midfielder also failed to pick up Ballard who seized on to a header from Nordi Mukiele.
He controlled the ball with his left foot and then hammered the ball past Raya with his right foot to cause absolute carnage in the stands.
During the nine minutes of stoppage time in the first half, Mukiele dragged a shot wide and another goal could have knocked the stuffing out of Arteta’s team.
Arteta needed a reaction from his team and at least he got it. Saka screwed a shot wide when normally, he would have at least made the keeper work.
Yet soon after, his finishing was a lot better. Rice made up for his part in the Sunderland goal by robbing Le Fee, and Eze and Merino combined for Saka to beat Roefs at his near post.
Zubimendi sent a half volley crashing against the bar but as Arsenal started to take control, the Spanish midfielder – who is also proving to be a terrific capture – rolled a pass to Trossard.
He seemed to have a lot of work to do and was helped by the fact that Noah Sadiki stood off the Belgian.
But after dancing around a bit, Trossard unleashed a venomous shot from 20 yards which would have taken Roefs’ hand off had he made contact.
At the other Raya made a crucial double save to deny Brian Brobbey although it would probably have been ruled out for offside.
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Yet in the fourth minute of injury time, Raya was beaten again just as Arsenal looked comfortable. Brobbey flicked a header back and Brobbe stuck his leg out to lift the ball over Raya.
There was a VAR check but a disallowed goal would have sparked outrage. Sunderland deserved this and for Ballard, although he did not make it at Arsenal, he will never forget this.
