Arsenal 3-0 Sunderland: Zubimendi and Gyokeres on target as Gunners go nine points clear

Arsenal beat Sunderland 3-0 in the Premier League at the Emirates Stadium on Saturday afternoon.

Five minutes in, Kai Havertz made a vital clearance to deny Brian Brobbey from giving Sunderland an early lead.

Arsenal’s first real opening came in the 23rd minute when Trai Hume nearly turned Noni Madueke’s cross into his own net.

Declan Rice came close to breaking the deadlock on the hour mark with a shot from outside the area, but it went wide.

Fresh off scoring against Leeds United, Martin Zubimendi put Arsenal ahead in the 42nd minute, fizzing a shot past Robin Roefs at the near post.

Zubimendi has now scored five league goals this term — surpassing his personal best of four goals in the 2023/24 season.

Shortly after, Gabriel Jesus thought he had won a penalty when he was brought down by Daniel Ballard, but the Brazilian was deemed offside in the build-up.

Havertz was inches from doubling the hosts’ lead with a left-footed strike in first-half stoppage time.

Just after the restart, David Raya made his first save, going down to parry Chemsdine Talbi’s strike as the visitors pushed for the equaliser.

Raya was almost punished for a poor clearance, but William Saliba was at the right place to clear the danger.

Substitute Viktor Gyokeres gave the leaders a two-goal cushion, firing into the bottom corner, netting for the second consecutive league game.

Gyokeres sealed the victory in stoppage time, putting the ball into an empty net after a fast break.

The Gunners have now extended their lead at the top of the table to nine points.