BRUNO GUIMARAES was the toast of North London AND Tyneside after his thunderbolt helped down Sunderland.
The ex-Newcastle captain came off the bench to fire home and cap off two minutes that could prove key to the Gunners retaining the title.
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Bukayo Saka’s additional-time penalty wrapped it up as Sunderland ended the game with ten men after Reinildo Mandava was sent-off for a second booking for fouling the winger.
But this night belonged to Guimaraes. He ignored a barrage of abuse to rifle home from 25 yards just 121 SECONDS after goalkeeper David Raya had saved Enzo Le Fee’s penalty.
It came right when the Gunners were rocking. But those two moments of brilliance continued Arsenal’s 100 per cent start to their Premier League defence.
The result piles the pressure on rivals Manchester City – who trail by three points ahead of the derby at United.
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One of the key reasons behind Arsenal’s rampant form has been their success at getting Marton Odegaard into more advanced positions.
Including the Community Shield, the Norwegian has scored four in six, after just one in their entire title-winning Prem campaign.
Sunderland had clearly done their homework. They were on him like wasps throughout the first half.
Ex-Arsenal captain Granit Xhaka sent the Gunners skipper sprawling to the floor first, causing a foot-stomping strop from Arteta.
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The Spaniard was fuming again when Odegaard went down clutching his foot after Nilson Angulo had trodden on him.
He was even more frustrated when he was booked by referee John Brooks for repeatedly leaving his technical area midway through the first half.
Frustration was the theme throughout. But it will have come as no surprise. Regis Le Bris’ side were one of only eight teams to stop Arsenal from winning on the road last term.
That came courtesy of a 94th-minute equaliser from Brian Brobbey. The Dutchman was up for it again here, battering and bettering Ezri Konsa all the time.
And when the overwhelmed England defender dragged ex-Arsenal academy ace Dan Ballard to the ground after a rapid Sunderland storm of attacks, they looked set to leave upset again.
The Gunners tried every trick in the book to delay the spot-kick, and it worked as Raya got down to his left to tip Le Fee’s effort onto the post.
And the Arsenal celebrations were in full gear just over two minutes later.
An attack down the left found Rice, and he capped his 150th appearance for the club by teeing up Guimaraes to unleash a glorious strike from outside the D into the top corner.
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The 28-year-old, who captained Sunderland’s bitter rivals Newcastle to Carabao Cup glory in 2025, enjoyed every second of it by cupping his ears in celebration in front of the irate Mackems.
You could hear the cheers from Tyneside. Guimaraes faced dog’s abuse getting off the team coach and warming up during the first half.
But after replacing Myles Lewis-Skelly, first English teenager to start in Arsenal’s opening four league games since both Tony Adams and David Rocastle did in 1986, he showed Arteta exactly what he got for the £75m they paid Toon.
It was a moment of magic just when his side were on the ropes. The Black Cats had stood toe-to-toe with the champs and flew out the traps following half time with both Thomas Meunier and Le Fee going close.
Bukayo Saka failed to connect properly after being slipped in behind the defence by Rice early on but from then on it was the hosts doing most of the swinging.
Xhaka’s inviting free-kick flew past everyone for Ballard at the back post, but the ex-Gunners academy ace failed to replicate his scoring heroics from this fixture last year by bundling wide.
Brobbey was bullying Konsa with tackles flying in everywhere, Reinildo Mandava receiving the first booking for a foul on Saka.
The best Arsenal could muster was a long-ranger from Gabriel until Kai Havertz held off Kevin Danso, chested it, spun and hit one on the volley but Robin Roefs tipped over.
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Then, out of nowhere, it was Xhaka that came to the rescue right on the whistle as he flicked it away from the German’s toe as he waited to pounce from Saka’s knockdown.
Sunderland began the second period like caged animals, forcing the Gunners defence to be camped inside their own box.
But it was Raya, who reproduced his heroics late on with a super save to keep out an attempt from Nordi Mukiele with one hand after another super Xhaka delivery, who knocked the wind out of their sails.
Arsenal right-back Jurrien Timber, on for Ben White at the break, almost capped his first outing since the Champions League defeat with a goal.
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However, his celebrations after heading home Odegaard’s cross were cut-short by an offside flag.
Not that it mattered. This night belonged to Guimaraes.