The Premier League’s relentless pace brought yet another high-stakes showdown to North London as Arsenal welcomed Sunderland to the Emirates Stadium on Saturday, February 7, 2026. With the Gunners riding high atop the league table and fresh off a string of impressive victories, anticipation buzzed throughout the stadium and beyond—even if fans in the UK couldn’t catch the match live due to the traditional Saturday 3 p.m. blackout.
For Arsenal, the stakes couldn’t have been higher. Mikel Arteta’s squad entered the contest in pole position, boasting 53 points from 24 matches—an enviable record of 16 wins, five draws, and only three defeats. The Gunners had just booked their spot in the Carabao Cup final with a dramatic 1-0 midweek win over Chelsea, thanks to an injury-time strike from Kai Havertz. That result, coupled with a 4-0 dismantling of Leeds United the previous weekend, had the Emirates faithful dreaming of silverware on multiple fronts.
Sunderland, meanwhile, arrived in North London with their own ambitions. Regis Le Bris’s newly promoted side sat eighth in the table, a mere four points adrift of the Champions League places. The Black Cats had shown their mettle by bouncing back from a loss to West Ham with a convincing 3-0 triumph over Burnley, keeping their European hopes alive and well. Sunderland’s record—nine wins, nine draws, six losses—spoke to their resilience and ability to grind out results even in the top flight.
Kickoff was set for 3 p.m. GMT (10 a.m. ET, 7 a.m. PT), and while UK viewers had to settle for radio or digital updates, fans across the globe tuned in via Peacock Premium in the US, Fubo in Canada, and Stan Sport in Australia. Arsenal.com’s pre-match show ‘Live From N5’ helped build the excitement, with Dan Roebuck and Adrian Clarke providing commentary for those following along online.
Team news saw Arsenal field a strong starting XI: David Raya in goal; a back line of White, Saliba, Gabriel, and Calafiori; a midfield trio of Havertz, Zubimendi, and Rice; and a front three of Madueke, Jesus, and Trossard. Injuries had taken their toll—Mikel Merino (foot) and Max Dowman (ankle) remained sidelined, while Bukayo Saka (hip) and Martin Odegaard (knock) were both doubts and ultimately missed out on the squad. Sunderland countered with Roefs between the sticks; defenders Hume, Mukiele, Ballard, Alderete, and Reinildo; midfielders Le Fee, Diarra, Sadiki, and Talbi; and Brobbey leading the line. The Black Cats were without Jocelin Ta Bi, Granit Xhaka, and Bertrand Traore, all nursing injuries.
Historically, Arsenal had dominated this fixture—winning 11 of the previous 18 meetings, with Sunderland claiming just a solitary victory and six encounters ending all square. The last five matchups favored the Gunners, who had secured three wins and two draws, including a 2-2 result at the Stadium of Light in November 2025.
From the opening whistle, Arsenal asserted themselves. The home side controlled possession and pressed high, pinning Sunderland deep in their own half. The breakthrough arrived midway through the first half: Martín Zubimendi, a summer signing who’s quickly become a fan favorite, unleashed a right-footed rocket from outside the box. Assisted by Leandro Trossard, Zubimendi’s strike flew past Robin Roefs and into the center of the net, sending the Emirates crowd into raptures.
Sunderland tried to respond, with Habib Diarra and Brian Brobbey showing flashes of quality, but Arsenal’s defense—anchored by Saliba and Gabriel—held firm. David Raya was called into action to deny Brobbey and Diarra, but the Gunners’ back line absorbed the pressure and snuffed out danger time and again.
As the second half got underway, Arsenal’s intensity didn’t wane. The Gunners doubled their advantage when Viktor Gyökeres, coming off the bench for Gabriel Jesus, made an immediate impact. In the 68th minute, Kai Havertz found Gyökeres in the box, and the Swedish striker coolly slotted home a right-footed shot to the bottom left corner. The Emirates erupted—Gyökeres had delivered a dagger to Sunderland’s hopes of a comeback.
Substitutions followed as both managers looked to inject fresh legs. Arsenal’s Leandro Trossard was forced off with an injury, replaced by Christian Nørgaard, while Eberechi Eze and Piero Hincapié also entered the fray for the hosts. Sunderland shuffled their deck, bringing on Nilson Angulo, Wilson Isidor, Lutsharel Geertruida, and Romaine Mundle as they searched for a lifeline.
But Arsenal weren’t finished. In the dying moments, a lightning-fast break saw Gabriel Martinelli—another substitute—race down the flank and square the ball for Gyökeres. The striker made no mistake, rifling a left-footed shot from close range into the bottom left corner to seal his brace and Arsenal’s comprehensive 3-0 victory.
The match wasn’t without its physical battles. Yellow cards were shown to Sunderland’s Brian Brobbey and Habib Diarra, as well as Arsenal’s William Saliba. Injuries caused several delays, with Trossard, Enzo Le Fée, and Reinildo Mandava all requiring treatment. Despite the stoppages, the Gunners maintained their rhythm and composure, keeping Sunderland at bay and preserving their clean sheet.
According to the official match report, Arsenal outshot their opponents and looked the more dangerous side throughout. Attempts from Eberechi Eze, Declan Rice, and Noni Madueke kept Roefs busy, while Sunderland’s best chances came from Mukiele and Diarra—both narrowly missing the target.
Post-match, the statistics told the story: Arsenal’s dominance in possession, clinical finishing, and defensive solidity proved too much for Sunderland. The Gunners’ depth was on full display, with substitutes making key contributions and the team overcoming the absence of several regular starters. Sunderland, for their part, showed fight but ultimately couldn’t match Arsenal’s quality in either box.
With this result, Arsenal maintained their grip on first place in the Premier League, keeping the chasing pack at arm’s length. Sunderland, though beaten, remained in the hunt for a top-five finish, their resilience and recent form offering hope for the remainder of the campaign.
As the final whistle echoed around the Emirates, the home fans celebrated another statement performance from Arteta’s men. With momentum on their side and silverware in their sights, Arsenal’s title charge rolls on—while Sunderland will look to regroup and reignite their European push in the weeks ahead.